UPDATE: The Governor vetoed this bill! This bill was pushed by PeTA and animal rights groups to advance their agenda of removing animals from our lives. The Governor did the right thing.
UPDATE 2/17/25: The bill passed the House and will go to the Governor. The vote was 55 – 41.
UPDATE 2/4/25: The bill barely passed the Senate with a 21-18. It was amended again and the text is at https://lis.blob.core.windows.net/files/1038436.PDF. The bill now bans hybridizing and hand-raising mammals. Zoos have some exemptions.
Senate Bill 1125 (SB1125) in Virginia would ban breeding “wildlife” unless permitted by the VA Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR). Testimony by the bill sponsor, Senator Boysko, is very alarming, and the legislative intent is very different from the bill’s actual language. Boysko stated that her intent with the bill was to stop certain breeding of exotic (non-native and non-domesticated) animals.
While the bill states that this only pertains to “wildlife,” which under state definition means only Virginia native species found in the wild, the sponsor’s stated intent and fact that this went through the Companion Animal Subcommittee raise serious concerns of overreach. With an 8-5-1 vote in the Senate Committee, it is clear that Senators who are taking a hard look at the bill understand that it is flawed.
With the harsh overreach occurring in Virginia regarding animals, the best action is to stop this bill. Even the bill sponsor and her “expert” could not answer questions from other Senators, leaving a vague understanding of the bill before the Senate. Virginia animal owners should let their opposition be known; otherwise, this bill could open the door to the end of breeding parrots, tortoises, geckos, and all other non-domesticated animals. If DWR does not issue a permit, then you cannot breed. Any hybridization/crossing would also be illegal.
You can get all bill details and bill text at https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/SB1125. The bill has passed the Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee and will next go to the full Senate.
Sample Letter: (Be professional and civil. Please edit and personalize)
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email list: DelBAnthony@house.virginia.gov, DelJArnold@house.virginia.gov, DelAAskew@house.virginia.gov, DelTAustin@house.virginia.gov, DelJBallard@house.virginia.gov, DelABatten@house.virginia.gov, DelEBennett-Parker@house.virginia.gov, DelRBloxom@house.virginia.gov, DelDBulova@house.virginia.gov, DelKCallsen@house.virginia.gov, DelECampbell@house.virginia.gov, DelBCarr@house.virginia.gov, DelMCherry@house.virginia.gov, DelNClark@house.virginia.gov, DelLJCohen@house.virginia.gov, DelJCole@house.virginia.gov, DelKConvirs-Fowler@house.virginia.gov, DelACCordoza@house.virginia.gov, DelRCousins@house.virginia.gov, DelCCoyner@house.virginia.gov,DelWDavis@house.virginia.gov, DelKDelaney@house.virginia.gov, DelMEarley@house.virginia.gov, DelBEnnis@house.virginia.gov, DelMFeggans@house.virginia.gov, DelBFowler@house.virginia.gov, DelNFreitas@house.virginia.gov, DelDGardner@house.virginia.gov, DelTGarrett@house.virginia.gov, DelTGilbert@house.virginia.gov, DelJGlass@house.virginia.gov, DelCGreen@house.virginia.gov, DelTGriffin@house.virginia.gov, DelCHayes@house.virginia.gov, DelDHelmer@house.virginia.gov, DelRHenson@house.virginia.gov, DelPHernandez@house.virginia.gov,DelCHerring@house.virginia.gov, DelGHiggins@house.virginia.gov, DelKHodges@house.virginia.gov, DelPHope@house.virginia.gov, DelMJones@house.virginia.gov, DelHKent@house.virginia.gov, DelKKeys-Gamarra@house.virginia.gov, DelTKilgore@house.virginia.gov, DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov,DelPKrizek@house.virginia.gov, DelALaufer@house.virginia.gov, DelJLeftwich@house.virginia.gov,DelDLeVereBolling@house.virginia.gov, DelALopez@house.virginia.gov, DelILovejoy@house.virginia.gov, DelMMaldonado@house.virginia.gov, DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov,DelMMartinez@house.virginia.gov, DelAMcClure@house.virginia.gov, DelJMcNamara@house.virginia.gov, DelDMcQuinn@house.virginia.gov, DelPMilde@house.virginia.gov, DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov, DelCMundonKing@house.virginia.gov, DelDOates@house.virginia.gov, DelCObenshain@house.virginia.gov, DeliOquinn@house.virginia.gov, DelBOrrock@house.virginia.gov, DelDOwen@house.virginia.gov, DelEPhillips@house.virginia.gov, DelMPrice@house.virginia.gov,DelSRasoul@house.virginia.gov, DelAReaser@house.virginia.gov, DelDReid@house.virginia.gov, DelCRunion@house.virginia.gov, DelDScott@house.virginia.gov, DelPScott@house.virginia.gov, DelHSeibold@house.virginia.gov, DelBSewell@house.virginia.gov, DelIShin@house.virginia.gov, DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov, DelMSimon@house.virginia.gov, DelSSimonds@house.virginia.gov,DelJSingh@house.virginia.gov, DelRSullivan@house.virginia.gov, DelAFTata@house.virginia.gov,DelKTaylor@house.virginia.gov, DelJThomas@house.virginia.gov, DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov, DelKTran@house.virginia.gov, DelOWachsmann@house.virginia.gov, DelWWalker@house.virginia.gov,DelJWard@house.virginia.gov, DelLWare@house.virginia.gov, DelVWatts@house.virginia.gov, DelMWebert@house.virginia.gov, DelBWiley@house.virginia.gov, DelRWillett@house.virginia.gov, DelWWilliams@house.virginia.gov, DelTWilt@house.virginia.gov, DelTWright@house.virginia.gov, DelSWyatt@house.virginia.gov, DelEZehr@house.virginia.gov
NO to SB1125
I oppose SB1125 as a Virginia resident and responsible animal owner. SB1125 is an unnecessary and unjust law being pushed by groups who believe people should not own animals. SB1125 was introduced just because someone doesn’t like it and not because there is a problem to fix. It’s a bad law driven by bias to advance a radical agenda. Responsible animal owners should not be facing such overreach in our Commonwealth.
Please stop SB1125 before this bad bill is used to attack good people in our state. I appreciate the amendments, but this bill is wasting your time and my tax dollars. Thank you for your time, and have a good day.
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
