Chesapeake Subcommittee

Monday, February 2, 2026·1h 32m·▶ Watch / Listen

The Chesapeake Bay Subcommittee advanced six bills — including a controversial diamondback terrapin bycatch reduction measure that passed narrowly amid sharp opposition from commercial watermen — while carrying HB 1436 on stormwater right-of-entry over to 2027 after DEQ testified the legislation was unnecessary.

Key Actions

·HB 1013 – Diamondback Terrapin Bycatch Reduction DevicesNo Vote

+ 7 more actions

Controversies

Whether VMRC previously rejected HB 1013's bycatch reduction device proposal

Emory Rice testified that HB 1013 had been presented to VMRC and was unanimously denied back in June, calling VMRC the governing body for commercial fishing in Virginia. Chris Moore, when asked by Delegate Bloxham how many times MRC had voted the proposal down, stated he did not think VMRC had ever voted on the proposal and that it had only been discussed at CMAC without reaching VMRC.

+ 4 more controversies

Notable Quotes

“HB 1013 has been presented to VMRC, which is the agency who presides and creates all legislation for commercial fishing in the state of Virginia. And it was unanimously denied back in June. Let me repeat that the governing body of the commercial fishing for the state of Virginia unanimously denied the need for these excluders.”
Emory Rice, commercial waterman — Rice, a CMAC committee member, was testifying in opposition to HB 1013, which would require bycatch reduction devices on crab pots in diamondback terrapin protection areas.

+ 3 more quotes

Votes

Report HB 1013 as amendedNo Vote

HB 1013 Amendment 3 revised language – 'develop recommendations for reducing terrapin interactions with crab pots'Passed

Carry HB 1436 over until 2027Passed

Report HB 390 with substitutePassed

Report HB 645Passed

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TranscriptPreview

All right. The Chesapeake Bay subcommittee is going to come to order if the clerk can open the roll to take attendance. All right, close the roll. We have a quorum. Thank you so much. We have some administrative matters that we can take care of. If I could have a motion for House Bill 387 to go by for the day. It's been properly moved and seconded that House Bill 387 go by for the. All in favor? Aye. As opposed. All right, if I could have a motion for House Bill 487 to go by for the day. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Right. I can have a motion for House Bill 1356 to go by for the day, so move. Second. All in favor? Aye. Those opposed? All right. That bill goes by for the day, Madam Chair. Yes. So I just left a meeting with the stakeholders and the Secretary of Natural Resources, Secretary of Agriculture, and we are going to. I'd like to also take HB952 by for the day. Right. HB2952 by for the day. Second, this has been properly moved. And a second, that. That bill go by for the day. All…

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