HB1013 • 2026

Diamondback terrapin protection areas; MRC to develop in portions of Chesapeake Bay, etc.

A BILL to amend and reenact § 28.2-701 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 28.2 a section numbered 28.2-208.4 relating to Marine Resources Commission; Chesapeake Bay; diamondback terrapin protection areas; use of bycatch reduction devices on crab traps; penalty.

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Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Tran
Last action: 2026-04-02
Official status: Failed
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about the exact locations for diamondback terrapin protection areas, the number of crab fishermen affected, or enforcement and penalties beyond a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Protecting Diamondback Terrapins in Chesapeake Bay

This bill requires the Marine Resources Commission to create diamondback terrapin protection areas and use bycatch reduction devices on crab traps.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Marine Resources Commission, Crab Management Advisory Committee, and Virginia Institute of Marine Science to develop diamondback terrapin protection areas in parts of Chesapeake Bay where interactions may occur between diamondback terrapins and fishing gear.
Directs the Commission to require bycatch reduction devices on all recreational crab pots placed within these protection areas.
Defines a bycatch reduction device as a rigid rectangular piece, often made of bright orange plastic, that fits into the entrance funnel of a crab pot to prevent terrapins from entering.
Makes it illegal for anyone to violate regulations about using bycatch reduction devices on crab traps in diamondback terrapin protection areas.

Who It Names or Affects

Marine Resources Commission
Crab fishermen and recreational crabbers who use pots in the Chesapeake Bay

Terms To Know

bycatch reduction device: A rigid rectangular piece, often made of bright orange plastic, that fits into a crab pot to prevent terrapins from entering.
Class 3 misdemeanor: A type of minor criminal offense with penalties such as fines or short jail time.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify the exact locations for diamondback terrapin protection areas.
It is unclear how many crab fishermen will be affected by this regulation.
There are no details on enforcement and penalties beyond a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB1013AHC2

2026-02-03 • Committee

Chesapeake Subcommittee Amendment

Plain English: The amendment modifies the bill to include recreational activities and adds a requirement for the Crab Management Advisory Committee to develop recommendations for reducing diamondback terrapin interactions with crab pots.

Adds 'recreational' after 'all' in line 27, indicating that the new protections apply to both commercial and recreational fishing.
Inserts 'Crab Management Advisory Committee' after 'Commission' in line 35, specifying a particular committee's role.
Includes developing recommendations for reducing diamondback terrapin interactions with crab pots after 'act,' in line 39.

The exact nature and scope of the Crab Management Advisory Committee's recommendations are not detailed in this amendment text.

HB1013AHC1

2026-02-04 • Committee

Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds input from the Crab Management Advisory Committee and specifies that the Marine Resources Commission must assess if more strategies are needed to protect diamondback terrapins.

Adds 'Crab Management Advisory Committee' as a group consulted by the Marine Resources Commission when developing protection areas for diamondback terrapins.
Specifies that the assessment of crab trap use in these areas should include recreational activities.
Requires the Marine Resources Commission to determine if additional strategies are needed to reduce accidental capture (bycatch) of diamondback terrapins and report findings to the General Assembly.

The exact nature of the 'additional strategies' is not specified in the amendment text.

HB1013AH1

2026-02-04 • Committee

Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Amendment

Plain English: The amendment adds references to the Crab Management Advisory Committee and specifies that it should assess whether more strategies are needed to protect diamondback terrapins from being caught accidentally.

Adds 'Crab Management Advisory Committee' after certain mentions of other committees or groups in the bill text.
Inserts language requiring the committee to determine if additional measures are necessary to reduce accidental capture (bycatch) of diamondback terrapins and report findings to the General Assembly.

The exact impact on current practices and regulations is not detailed in this amendment text.

Bill History

2026-04-02 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1013)
2026-03-31 Senate
Floor Offered
2026-03-14 Senate
Failed to pass
2026-03-12 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-12 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-11 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-11 Senate
Reading of substitute waived
2026-03-11 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute
2026-03-11 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-11 Senate
Engrossed by Senate - floor substitute
2026-03-11 Senate
Reading of amendment waived (Voice Vote)
2026-03-11 Senate
Senator Marsden Substitute agreed to (Voice Vote)
2026-03-11 Senate
Defeated by Senate (18-Y 22-N 0-A)
2026-03-11 Senate
Floor substitute printed 26109672D-S1 (Marsden)
2026-03-11 Senate
Reconsideration of Defeated Action by Senate (38-Y 2-N 0-A)
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-10 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-09 Senate
Read third time
2026-03-09 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-06 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-05 Senate
Rules suspended
2026-03-05 Senate
Passed by for the day
2026-03-05 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)
2026-03-05 Senate
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
2026-03-03 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (8-Y 7-N)
2026-02-24 Water Usage
Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage
2026-02-18 House
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1013)
2026-02-11 Senate
Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)
2026-02-11 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
2026-02-10 House
Read third time and passed House (61-Y 35-N 0-A)
2026-02-09 House
Read second time
2026-02-09 House
committee amendments agreed to
2026-02-09 House
Engrossed by House as amended
2026-02-06 House
Read first time
2026-02-04 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) (14-Y 8-N)
2026-02-04 House
House committee offered
2026-02-03 Chesapeake
Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1013)
2026-02-02 Chesapeake
Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (6-Y 4-N)
2026-02-02 Chesapeake
House subcommittee offered
2026-01-30 Chesapeake
Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake
2026-01-14 House
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26105052D
2026-01-14 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Marine Resources Commission; Chesapeake Bay; diamondback terrapin protection areas; use of bycatch reduction devices on crab traps; penalty.
Requires the Marine Resources Commission, in collaboration with the Crab Management Advisory Committee and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, to develop and establish by December 1, 2027, diamondback terrapin protection areas in those portions of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries where interactions may occur between diamondback terrapins and any nets, traps, pots, or other fishing devices or gear. The bill directs the Commission to require by regulation bycatch reduction devices, as defined in the bill, on all recreational crab pots placed within any such diamondback terrapin protection area established by the Commission. A violation of such regulation is a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HOUSE BILL NO. 1013
FLOOR AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by Senator Marsden
on March 11, 2026)
(Patron Prior to Substitute—Delegate Tran)
A BILL to amend and reenact §
28.2-701
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Marine Resources Commission; use of bycatch reduction devices on crab traps; penalty.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
28.2-701
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
28.2-701
. Crab traps, crab pots, and crab pounds; regulations; penalty.
A. The Commission shall promulgate regulations governing the use, placement, and maintenance of crab traps and crab pounds.
B. The Commission may promulgate regulations establishing the mesh size of crab pots and peeler pots. The regulation may provide for the interchangeable use of the two types of pots, provided that each respective gear is appropriately marked and cull rings in conformance with Commission requirements are installed in each pot.
C.
The Commission shall require by regulation the use of bycatch reduction devices on all recreational crab pots, including such pots exempted from licensing requirements pursuant to §
28.2-226
. For the purpose of this subsection, "bycatch reduction device" means a rigid rectangular device, often made of bright orange plastic, fitted to the entrance funnel of a crab pot through which crabs can enter but most terrapins cannot.
D.
Any person convicted of violating any provision of a regulation promulgated under this section is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.