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Virginia bills · 2026 Regular Session

Virginia SB 261

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

  1. Introduced
  2. In committee
  3. Passed Senate
  4. Passed House
  5. To Governor
  6. Became law

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Summary

Official abstract published by the Virginia legislature· SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED

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.

Text versions

Roll-call votes

State vote data last updated Oct 16, 2026, 4:04 AM.

DateVoteResultYour legislators
Mar 4, 2026
House		Reported from AppropriationspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Mar 2, 2026
House		Reported from Courts of JusticepassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 20, 2026
House		Subcommittee recommends reportingpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 9, 2026
Senate		Passage RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 5, 2026
Senate		Constitutional reading dispensed RpassSet your home in Virginia to see
Feb 4, 2026
Senate		Reported from Finance and AppropriationspassSet your home in Virginia to see
Jan 27, 2026
Senate		Reported from Agriculture, Conservation and Natural ResourcespassSet your home in Virginia to see

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