HB 597 Virginia House of Delegates · 2026 Regular Session

Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund; created, voluntary contributions, report.

Summary
Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund established; voluntary contributions; report. Establishes the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund to provide grants for projects that conserve or enhance wildlife corridors prioritized by the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan and associated wildlife crossing infrastructure projects. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall administer the Fund in collaboration with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Department of Forestry, and the Department of Transportation. The Director of the Department of Wildlife Resources shall submit a report to the General Assembly by November 1 of each odd-numbered year concerning the amount of public and private funding received by the Fund, the awarding of grants from the Fund, and the progress of funded projects, including data on the use of project infrastructure by wildlife. The bill also provides mechanisms for individuals to make voluntary contributions to the Fund through a Department of Motor Vehicles electronic transaction and an individual income tax return.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House of Delegates Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
Apr 2026
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Enrolled Chaptered · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was finalized and approved as Chapter 636 of the 2026 Virginia Acts of Assembly. The substantive text of the legislation regarding the Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund and voluntary tax contributions remained unchanged from the enrolled version, though the document now includes official chapter numbering, the approval date of April 13, 2026, and standard formatting adjustments typical of enacted laws.
Scope change
The bill's scope and applicability are unchanged; it remains an amendment to existing Code of Virginia sections regarding voluntary tax contributions and the creation of a new Wildlife Corridor Grant Fund.
TECHNICAL

Added official chapter designation (Chapter 636) and the specific approval date (April 13, 2026) to the document header.

Adjusted line breaks and indentation to conform to standard formatting for enacted Virginia statutes.

Removed the 'ENROLLED' status label from the top of the document, as the bill is now officially 'Chaptered'.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

How they voted

390
Passed
Total votes 39
Mar 9, 2026
D Democratic20
20 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
26
Key actions
10
Committee
6
Apr 13, 2026
Signed into law
Approved by Governor-Chapter 636 (effective 7/1/2026)
executive
Mar 31, 2026
Lower · Passed
Signed by Speaker
lower
Mar 30, 2026
Upper · Passed
Signed by President
upper
Mar 30, 2026
Lower · Passed
Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB597ER)
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate (25-Y 15-N 0-A)
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
upper
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Reported from Finance and Appropriations (10-Y 5-N)
upper
Feb 18, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Finance and Appropriations
upper
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Read third time and passed House (65-Y 32-N 0-A)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported from Appropriations (15-Y 7-N)
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Subcommittee recommends reporting (5-Y 2-N)
lower
Jan 20, 2026
Committee
Assigned HAPP sub: Commerce Agriculture & Natural Resources
lower
Jan 13, 2026
Committee
Referred to Committee on Appropriations
lower
1 primary · 5 co-sponsors

Sponsors