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HB645 • 2026

Marine Resources Commission; marking of commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices.

An Act to amend and reenact § 28.2-234 of the Code of Virginia and to repeal § 28.2-235 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Marine Resources Commission; license tags and identification numbers; marking of commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices.

Enacted

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

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

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details on penalties for non-compliance beyond mentioning it is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Rules for Marking Fishing Equipment

This law changes how commercial fishing boats, nets, and other equipment must be marked with license tags or identification numbers as required by the Marine Resources Commission.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes where and how license tags and identification numbers should be placed on different types of fishing gear.
  • Requires fixed fishery devices to have tags attached to offshore stakes.
  • Nets anchored in water must display tags on a flagstaff or buoy that is visible from the surface.
  • Vessels using certain nets and traps need tags on the starboard side or mast.
  • Businesses buying seafood must show their license tag at their business place, boat, or vehicle.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Commercial fishermen who use boats, nets, and other fishing equipment.
  • Seafood businesses that buy fish from commercial fishermen.

Terms To Know

License tag
A special label given to commercial fishing vessels or gear by the Marine Resources Commission.
Identification number
A unique code assigned to specific fishing devices like nets and traps.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The law does not specify what happens if a tag is lost or destroyed.
  • It removes the requirement for fishermen to get new tags within 24 hours of losing an old one.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Approved by Governor-Chapter 409 (effective 7/1/2026)

  2. 2026-04-08 Governor

    Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0409)

  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 (HB645)

  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 (HB645ER)

  10. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Read third time

  11. 2026-03-09 Senate

    Passed Senate Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  12. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  13. 2026-03-06 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  14. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  15. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  16. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day

  17. 2026-03-05 Senate

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

  18. 2026-03-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  19. 2026-03-04 Finance and Appropriations

    Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)

  20. 2026-02-24 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (14-Y 0-N)

  21. 2026-02-24 Water Usage

    Assigned HACNR sub: Water Usage

  22. 2026-02-11 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed (on 1st reading)

  23. 2026-02-11 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

  24. 2026-02-10 House

    Read third time and passed House Block Vote (98-Y 0-N 0-A)

  25. 2026-02-09 House

    Read second time and engrossed

  26. 2026-02-06 House

    Read first time

  27. 2026-02-04 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (22-Y 0-N)

  28. 2026-02-02 Chesapeake

    Subcommittee recommends reporting (10-Y 0-N)

  29. 2026-01-30 Chesapeake

    Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake

  30. 2026-01-23 House

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB645)

  31. 2026-01-13 House

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101720D

  32. 2026-01-13 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Marine Resources Commission; license tags and identification numbers; marking of commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices.
Provides that license tags or identification numbers for commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices shall be attached and displayed in a manner prescribed by the Marine Resources Commission and repeals a provision that requires a licensee to apply for a new tag within 24 hours after the discovery of the destruction or loss of the original tag. Currently, the requirements for attaching and displaying license tags or identification numbers are set forth in state law.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
An Act to amend and reenact §
28.2-234
of the Code of Virginia and to repeal §
28.2-235
of the Code of Virginia, relating to Marine Resources Commission; license tags and identification numbers; marking of commercial fishing boats, nets, and other devices.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
28.2-234
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
28.2-234
. License tags and identification numbers to be fastened; penalty.
A. License tags or identification numbers shall be attached and displayed in
the following
a
manner
prescribed by the Commission
:

1. License tags for fixed fishery devices, including pound nets, fyke nets, crab traps, and staked gill nets, shall be fastened to one of the offshore stakes.
2. License tags for anchored gill nets and drift gill nets shall be fastened to a flagstaff or a buoy that is visible from the surface.
3. License tags for vessels using haul seines, purse nets, trawl nets, crab pots, trotlines, and crab scrapes shall be fastened at a conspicuous place on the starboard side or the mast of the vessel.
4. License tags issued for businesses purchasing seafood shall be affixed in a conspicuous place on the business establishment, boat or motor vehicle.
5. Identification numbers when issued for particular devices shall be applied by the license holder and shall be in place at all times when the gear is deployed
.
B. Any such licensee who fails to properly attach or display such a license tag or identification number is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
2. That §
28.2-235
of the Code of Virginia is repealed.