(SB1125)

GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 1125, which makes it illegal to separate captive-born mammalian wildlife from their mothers before the appropriate weaning time and prohibits the intentional hybridization of different mammalian wildlife species.

While I appreciate the intent behind this legislation, I do not believe it is appropriate to establish precedent-setting policy to address the actions of a single bad actor. This bill raises broader concerns about the potential for future legislative overreach in wildlife management.

Additionally, I have significant reservations about tasking the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) with enforcement responsibilities that fall outside its core mission and expertise. Although DWR has indicated it could absorb the workload, doing so would divert critical resources away from its primary conservation and wildlife management duties. Furthermore, this legislation would place the department in the realm of non-native exotic wildlife regulation, an area in which it currently has no authority.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.