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HB291 • 2026

Fishing tackle recycling and disposal; educational webpage.

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 29.1-508.2, relating to Department of Wildlife Resources; fishing tackle recycling and disposal; educational webpage.

Education
Enacted

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

Sponsor
Anderson
Last action
2026-04-08
Official status
Acts of Assembly Chapter
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Fishing Tackle Recycling Education

This law requires the Department of Wildlife Resources to create and maintain a webpage that teaches people how to recycle and dispose of fishing gear properly.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates a new section in Virginia's laws about recycling and disposing of fishing tackle.
  • Requires the Department of Wildlife Resources to make an educational webpage on their website.
  • The webpage must have clear instructions, information about dangers to wildlife, visual aids, and resources for recycling programs.
  • Updates the webpage at least every three years with help from other state agencies and people who care about fishing.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Recreational fishermen
  • People interested in protecting wildlife
  • The Department of Wildlife Resources

Terms To Know

fishing tackle
Any equipment used for fishing, like lines, hooks, floats, and lures.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify what happens if the webpage is not updated on time.
  • The effectiveness of the educational materials in reducing improper disposal of fishing tackle is unknown.
  • It does not provide funding for creating or maintaining the webpage.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 379 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0379)

  3. 2026-03-25 House

    Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 25, 2026

  4. 2026-03-25 Governor

    Governor's Action Deadline 11:59 p.m., April 13, 2026

  5. 2026-03-16 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB291)

  6. 2026-03-14 House

    Signed by Speaker

  7. 2026-03-14 Senate

    Signed by President

  8. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled

  9. 2026-03-14 House

    Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB291ER)

  10. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled

  11. 2026-03-14 House

    Enrolled

  12. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  13. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed Senate (36-Y 3-N 0-A)

  14. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  15. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  16. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  17. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  18. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  19. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 2nd reading) (39-Y 0-N 0-A)

  20. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  21. 2026-03-03 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (13-Y 2-N)

  22. 2026-02-04 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  23. 2026-02-04 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

  24. 2026-02-03 House

    Read third time and passed House (74-Y 24-N 0-A)

  25. 2026-02-02 House

    Read second time

  26. 2026-02-02 House

    committee substitute agreed to

  27. 2026-02-02 House

    Engrossed by House - committee substitute

  28. 2026-01-30 House

    Read first time

  29. 2026-01-28 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with substitute (19-Y 3-N)

  30. 2026-01-28 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Committee substitute printed 26105895D-H1

  31. 2026-01-21 Natural Resources

    Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10-Y 0-N)

  32. 2026-01-21 Natural Resources

    House subcommittee offered

  33. 2026-01-21 Natural Resources

    House subcommittee offered

  34. 2026-01-21 Natural Resources

    House subcommittee offered

  35. 2026-01-19 Natural Resources

    Assigned HACNR sub: Natural Resources

  36. 2026-01-09 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102131D

  37. 2026-01-09 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Department of Wildlife Resources; fishing tackle recycling and disposal; educational webpage.
Directs the Department of Wildlife Resources to (i) develop, publish, and maintain a dedicated webpage on its website to educate the recreational fishing community and the general public about the importance of responsible recycling and disposal of fishing tackle, as defined in the bill, and (ii) periodically update such webpage to ensure that educational materials are current, relevant, and effective in promoting responsible fishing practices. The bill directs the Department to update the webpage at least every three years in consultation with relevant state agencies and stakeholders.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
29.1-508.2
, relating to Department of Wildlife Resources; fishing tackle recycling and disposal; educational webpage.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered
29.1-508.2
as follows:
§
29.1-508.2
. Fishing tackle recycling and disposal; educational webpage.
A. For the purposes of this section, "fishing tackle" means any recreational fishing equipment used to take fish in the inland waters of the Commonwealth and includes fishing line, hooks, floats, lures, or other similar equipment.
B. The Department shall (i) develop, publish, and maintain a dedicated webpage on its website to educate the recreational fishing community and the general public about the importance of responsible recycling and disposal of fishing tackle and (ii) periodically update such webpage to ensure that educational materials are current, relevant, and effective in promoting responsible fishing practices. Such webpage shall include:
1. Clear instructions for fishermen on how to properly remove and dispose of fishing tackle when leaving a fishing area;
2. Educational materials outlining the dangers posed to wildlife when fishing tackle is improperly discarded;
3. Visual aids, including photographs and infographics depicting the negative impacts on waterfowl and other wildlife caused by discarded fishing tackle; and
4. Resources for local recycling programs or designated disposal sites for spent fishing line and other fishing tackle.
C. The Department shall at least every three years update the webpage required in subsection B in consultation with relevant state agencies and stakeholders.
2. The Department of Wildlife Resources shall publish a dedicated educational webpage on its website to educate the recreational fishing community and the general public about the importance of responsible recycling and disposal of fishing tackle pursuant to §
29.1-508.2
of the Code of Virginia, as created by this act, no later than January 1, 2027.