A view of the Virginia House of Delegates Chamber in Richmond. (Nathaniel Cline/Virginia Mercury)
Hundreds of bills are filed for General Assembly consideration each year. In this weekly series, the Mercury takes a look at a few of lawmakers’ 2024 proposals that might not otherwise make headlines during the whirlwind legislative session.
House Bill 1025 : Letting more people claim roadkill
This bill from Del. Tony Wilt, R-Harrisonburg, allows any person to claim a deer, bear, turkey or elk that appears to have been killed in a motor vehicle collision. Under current law, only the person who hits a deer or bear with their vehicle is permitted to claim the dead animal.
Wilt told the House Natural Resources Subcommittee last month that the animal can only be claimed once it is reported to the Department of Wildlife Resources or local law enforcement.
“If you’ve hit a deer and maybe it’s put your car out of commission, if I come along, I can call the department and they can give me permission to take the animal,” Wilt said.