Virginia · Senate Bill 261 · 2026 Regular Session

Cruelty to animals; malicious killing of a dog or cat, penalty.

SB 261 Sponsored by William M. Stanley, Jr. Passed one chamber, then died

  1. Introduced Jan 12, 2026
  2. In committee Jan 12, 2026
  3. Passed the Senate Feb 9, 2026
  4. Died  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law  

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Cruelty to animals; malicious killing of a dog or cat; penalty. Creates, under the animal cruelty provisions, a Class 6 felony for any person who maliciously kills any dog or cat that is a companion animal whether belonging to him or another. Currently, such felony applies only to a person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation…

Read the full title (150 words)

Cruelty to animals; malicious killing of a dog or cat; penalty. Creates, under the animal cruelty provisions, a Class 6 felony for any person who maliciously kills any dog or cat that is a companion animal whether belonging to him or another. Currently, such felony applies only to a person who (i) tortures, willfully inflicts inhumane injury or pain not connected with bona fide scientific or medical experimentation, or cruelly and unnecessarily beats, maims, or mutilates any dog or cat that is a companion animal whether belonging to him or another and (ii) as a direct result causes serious bodily injury to such dog or cat that is a companion animal, the death of such dog or cat that is a companion animal, or the euthanasia of such animal on the recommendation of a licensed veterinarian upon determination that such euthanasia was necessary due to the condition of the animal.

Every action

30 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

Show the 22 earlier steps
  1. SenatePrefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101240D
  2. CommitteeReferred to Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources · Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources
  3. SenateFiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/14/2026 6:34 pm)
  4. SenateAssigned HACNR sub: Companion Animals
  5. SenateFiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (SB261)
  6. CommitteeReported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 0-N 1-A) · Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources12–0 vote
  7. CommitteeRereferred to Finance and Appropriations · Senate Finance and Appropriations
  8. CommitteeReported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N) · Senate Finance and Appropriations15–0 vote
  9. SenateRules suspended
  10. SenateConstitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)40–0 vote
  11. SenatePassed by for the day (Voice Vote)
  12. SenateRead second time
  13. SenateEngrossed by Senate (Voice Vote)
  14. SenateRead third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A)40–0 vote
  15. House of DelegatesPlaced on Calendar
  16. House of DelegatesRead first time
  17. CommitteeReferred to Committee for Courts of Justice · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  18. CommitteeAssigned HCJ sub: Criminal · House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Criminal
  19. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  20. CommitteeSubcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N) · House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Criminal9–0 vote
  21. CommitteePlaced on Courts of Justice Agenda · House of Delegates Courts of Justice
  22. CommitteeReported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (20-Y 2-N) · House of Delegates Courts of Justice20–2 vote
  1. CommitteeReferred to Committee on Appropriations · House of Delegates Appropriations
  2. CommitteeAssigned HAPP sub: Transportation & Public Safety · House of Delegates Appropriations: Transportation and Public Safety Subcommittee
  3. CommitteePlaced on Appropriations Agenda · House of Delegates Appropriations
  4. CommitteeReported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N) · House of Delegates Appropriations22–0 vote
  5. House of DelegatesRead second time
  6. House of DelegatesMotion to rerefer to Appropriations agreed to
  7. CommitteeRereferred to Appropriations · House of Delegates Appropriations
  8. CommitteeLeft in Appropriations · House of Delegates Appropriations

Roll calls

7 recorded votes: 2 on the floor, 5 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · Full Senate

40–0
Feb 5, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 40 No 0
Party not listed: 1 yes, 0 no Democrats: 20 yes, 0 no Republicans: 19 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 40

Read third time and passed Senate (40-Y 0-N 0-A) · Full Senate

Passed 40–0
Feb 9, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 40 No 0
Party not listed: 1 yes, 0 no Democrats: 20 yes, 0 no Republicans: 19 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 40

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Jan 27, 2026 Senate Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources and rereferred to Finance and Appropriations (12-Y 0-N 1-A)
Members

Yes · 12

Not voting · 3

 Passed 12–0
Feb 4, 2026 Senate Finance and Appropriations Reported from Finance and Appropriations (15-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 15

 Passed 15–0
Feb 20, 2026 House of Delegates Courts of Justice: Criminal Subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations (9-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 9

Not voting · 2

 9–0
Mar 2, 2026 House of Delegates Courts of Justice Reported from Courts of Justice and referred to Appropriations (20-Y 2-N)
Members

Yes · 20

No · 2

 Passed 20–2
Mar 4, 2026 House of Delegates Appropriations Reported from Appropriations (22-Y 0-N)
Members

Yes · 22

 Passed 22–0

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

From Virginia's official records (lis.blob.core.windows.net), checked Nov 13, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.