Virginia · 2026 Regular Session · Bill
HB 1049: Menhaden reduction fishery; quota periods in Chesapeake Bay.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
HB 1049 is a bill introduced in the Virginia House on January 14, 2026. According to its official title, it concerns: Menhaden reduction fishery; quota periods in Chesapeake Bay. Primary sponsor: Betsy Carr (Democratic). Most recent recorded action (February 18, 2026): Left in Committee Appropriations.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Marine Resources Commission; Chesapeake Bay; menhaden reduction fishery; quota periods; observers. Directs the Marine Resources Commission to develop and maintain a quota period management system for the menhaden reduction fishery Bay Cap, as defined in the bill, that is designed to ensure that the removal of menhaden from the Chesapeake Bay is more evenly distributed throughout the harvest season and to mitigate the negative impacts of concentrated, high volume menhaden removals from the Bay. The bill directs the Commission to establish either a monthly-based system or a trimester-based system and provides that no unused or underutilized portion of a quota period may be carried or rolled over into the following quota period. Finally, the bill requires the Commission to ensure that (i) 10 percent of all trips for the menhaden reduction fishery carry at least one trained observer to document the composition and weight of the actual catch and (ii) such observers report such documentation to the Commission.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betsy Carr | Primary sponsor | Democratic | House | 78 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Committee Appropriations
- Reported from Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources with amendment(s) and referred to Appropriations (12-Y 10-N)
- Subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) and referring to Appropriations (7-Y 3-N)
- House subcommittee offered
- Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB1049)
- Assigned HACNR sub: Chesapeake
- Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources
- Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26103931D