The Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is pleased to provide this report pursuant to the direction of the Chairman of the Senate General Laws and Technology Committee in his letter dated March 24, 2023. That letter directed the subject matter of Senate Bill 1348 (2023) to DWR for study.

Senate Bill 1348 addressed three primary topics, two of which were related to DWR’s rulemaking and administrative procedures. As introduced, it would have removed existing Administrative Process Act (APA) exemption for case decisions made or regulations promulgated under the Virginia Endangered Species Act (§ 29.1-563 et seq.) or related to the incidental take of wildlife. It also directed certain DWR guidance documents to be published in the Virginia Register of Regulations.