HB 1396: Votes & Contacts
Virginia landowners deserve the right to enjoy their property without the unwanted disruption of deer and bear hunting dogs. HB 1396 was written to address these real, ongoing problems with hound trespass on private land.
This page explains what happened to HB 1396 in the General Assembly, how your legislators voted, and how you can speak up for stronger protections in the future.
HB 1396 — What Happened?
February 11, 2026
Reported from House Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee, 15–7
February 17, 2026
Passed the House of Delegates, 55–39
Bill Number: HB 1396
Sponsor: Delegate Marty Martinez
HB 1396 proposed meaningful protections for Virginia landowners against trespassing hunting dogs. While a 15–0 Senate vote continued the bill to the next session, this was a procedural step to allow for further review in 2027, rather than a final passage of the reform.
February 24, 2026
Reported from Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee, 8–6
March 4, 2026
Continued to the 2027 session by Senate Finance and Appropriations, 15–0
HB 1396: Virginia House of Delegates Voting Record
On February 17, 2026, the Virginia House of Delegates voted on HB 1396. Use the chart below to see how your delegate voted, then contact them to share how deer and bear hound trespass affects your property and why protections like HB 1396 matter to you.
HB 1396 in the Virginia Senate
After passing the House of Delegates, HB 1396 moved to the Virginia Senate. The timeline below shows how key Senate committees handled the bill and why it was delayed until the 2027 session.
February 24, 2026
Reported with substitute and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations
8–6
March 4, 2026
Continued to the 2027 session
15–0