SB 471: Hunting dogs; releasing on state or local roadway, hunting, fishing, and trapping special license.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

Releasing of hunting dogs; state or local roadway; hunting, fishing, and trapping special license; penalty. Creates a Class 3 misdemeanor for the release of hunting dogs on or within 15 feet of the edge of a roadway owned or maintained by the Department of Transportation or a locality and provides that a second or subsequent offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor. The bill allows a court to prohibit any person who released hunting dogs on or within 15 feet of the edge of a roadway owned or maintained by the Department or locality from hunting, trapping, or fishing in the Commonwealth for a period of up to five years. The bill permits the stopping of a vehicle on a highway for the retrieval of a companion animal from a highway or area adjacent to a highway. The bill allows certain people such as a landowner and other people associated with such landowner, stockholder, tenant, or guest of the landowner in certain circumstances, to apply for a special license to hunt, fish, and trap exclusively on a landowner's property in lieu of other hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses required by state law.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 3, 2026Passed by indefinitely in Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources (10-Y 4-N)
2. January 28, 2026Assigned HACNR sub: Rural Affairs
3. January 13, 2026Referred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
4. January 13, 2026Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102612D