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SB461 • 2026

Commercial electrofishing; MRC to temporarily prohibit in portions of Rappahannock River, report.

<p class=ldtitle>A BILL to direct the Marine Resources Commission to temporarily prohibit electrofishing in certain portions of the Rappahannock River; report.</p>

Enacted

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

Sponsor
Stuart
Last action
2026-02-25
Official status
Failed
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify if the ban applies only to certain types of fish or all species, nor does it provide details on how many fishermen will be affected.

Ban on Commercial Electrofishing in Part of Rappahannock River

This law stops commercial electrofishing north of the Downing Bridge in Tappahannock for one year and asks the Marine Resources Commission to study it.

What This Bill Does

  • Stops commercial electrofishing in a part of the Rappahannock River until January 1, 2027.
  • Requires the Marine Resources Commission to examine commercial electrofishing practices in Virginia's waters and submit a report by January 1, 2027.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Commercial fishermen who use electrofishing north of the Downing Bridge in Tappahannock.
  • The Marine Resources Commission which must study and report on commercial electrofishing practices.

Terms To Know

Electrofishing
A method used to catch fish by shocking them with electricity.
Marine Resources Commission
An agency that manages and protects Virginia's marine resources.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The ban only applies to commercial electrofishing north of the Downing Bridge in Tappahannock.
  • It is not clear how many fishermen will be affected by this ban.
  • The report from the Marine Resources Commission may or may not lead to further changes.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-25 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Tabled in Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources (15-Y 7-N)

  2. 2026-02-18 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB461)

  3. 2026-02-12 House

    Placed on Calendar

  4. 2026-02-12 House

    Read first time

  5. 2026-02-12 Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources

  6. 2026-02-09 Senate

    Read third time and passed Senate (32-Y 8-N 0-A)

  7. 2026-02-06 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Committee substitute printed 26107161D-S1

  8. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Read second time

  9. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute (Voice Vote)

  10. 2026-02-06 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Substitute agreed to

  11. 2026-02-06 Senate

    Engrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)

  12. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  13. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Rules suspended

  14. 2026-02-05 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Senate committee offered

  15. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)

  16. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)

  17. 2026-02-03 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources with substitute (10-Y 2-N 2-A)

  18. 2026-01-27 Senate

    Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB461)

  19. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26100334D

  20. 2026-01-13 Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

    Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

Official Summary Text

Marine Resources Commission; prohibition of commercial electrofishing in the Rappahannock River; report.
Directs the Marine Resources Commission to temporarily prohibit commercial electrofishing in the portion of the Rappahannock River north of the Downing Bridge in Tappahannock until January 1, 2027, and to examine the practice of commercial electrofishing in the waters of the Commonwealth and submit a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than January 1, 2027.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SENATE BILL NO. 461

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources

on February 3, 2026)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Stuart)

A BILL to direct the Marine Resources Commission to temporarily prohibit electrofishing in certain portions of the Rappahannock River; report.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.
§ 1.
That the Marine Resources Commission s
hall

(i)
prohibit
commercial
electrofishing in the
portion of the
Rappahannock River
north of the Downing Bridge in Tappahannock
until January 1, 2027
,
and (ii)
examine the practice of commercial electrofishing in the waters of the Commonwealth and submit
a report of its findings and recommendations to the Chairs of the House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources no later than January 1, 2027.