Legislative record
Summary
Department of Wildlife Resources; permits; use of dogs in hunting game animals, fur-bearing animals, and nuisance species; civil penalties. Directs the Department of Wildlife Resources to establish a permit for persons and a permit for organizations that hunt game animals, fur-bearing animals, or nuisance species with the aid of dogs and makes it unlawful for any person to (i) release a dog to hunt, pursue, or chase any game animal, fur-bearing animal, or nuisance species on any tract of real property or (ii) engage in hunting for any game animal, fur-bearing animal, or nuisance species with the aid of any dog unless such person has been issued a permit to hunt with dogs by the Department. The bill exempts from permitting requirements any person or organization (a) engaged in mounted fox hunting or hunting waterfowl, migratory birds, or upland game birds; (b) using a tracking dog to retrieve a wounded or dead bear, turkey, or deer; (c) whose dog remains in the immediate visual presence and control of such person or organization; or (d) on public lands where hunting is allowed. Finally the bill subjects any person who violates the provisions of the bill to a civil penalty of no more than $50 for a first violation and no less than $100 but no more than $250 for a second or subsequent violation within three years.
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Bill text
The full text of this bill isn't on Heard yet. The official documents are linked below.
- IntroducedOfficial document (HTML)
- IntroducedOfficial document (PDF)
- Agriculture Subcommittee SubstituteOfficial document (HTML)
- Agriculture Subcommittee SubstituteOfficial document (PDF)
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (PDF)
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (HTML)
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (HTML)
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (PDF)
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (HTML)
- Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (PDF)
- Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (PDF)
- Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (HTML)
- Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (PDF)
- Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources SubstituteOfficial document (HTML)
Roll-call record
How representatives voted
0 yea·0 nay
No roll-call votes recorded for this bill yet.
Docket history
Action history
- 7/21/2026Continued from last session
- 3/4/2026Continued to next session in Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
- 3/3/2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1396)
- 2/26/2026Committee substitute printed 26108421D-S1
- 2/25/2026Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1396)
- 2/24/2026Assigned HACNR sub: Companion Animals
- 2/24/2026Senate subcommittee offered
- 2/24/2026Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (8-Y 6-N)
- 2/18/2026Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
- 2/18/2026Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources