A BILL to amend and reenact § 28.2-1001 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Potomac River Compact; Potomac River Fisheries Commission; appointment of members.
HB843 would amend Virginia’s codification of the Potomac River Compact to update the structure and operation of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission, a bi-state body shared by Virginia and Maryland. The bill largely restates the compact framework governing conservation and management of fishery resources in the Potomac River, including the Commission’s authority over licensing, regulation of finfish and shellfish harvests, oyster-bar surveys and reseeding, research, enforcement, and financing.
The most notable substantive change is to the appointment language for Virginia’s members on the Commission. The bill clarifies how Virginia’s four seats are filled when the membership of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission changes, and it includes a transition provision allowing any Virginia member serving on both commissions when the act first takes effect to finish the remainder of that term. It also directs the Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources to notify Maryland’s legislative leaders by October 1, 2026, that Virginia has ratified the amendment and is requesting Maryland’s matching ratification, because the compact change does not become effective until Maryland also approves it.
If enacted and ratified by Maryland, HB843 would amend § 28.2-1001 of the Code of Virginia and revise the Potomac River Compact as it applies to the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. The bill would affect the appointment and continuity of Virginia commissioners, while leaving the compact’s broader fishery-management, licensing, enforcement, and funding structure largely intact. Because the compact is interstate, the amendment would not take effect in Virginia alone; it requires reciprocal Maryland ratification under Article VIII of the compact.
The bill appears to be a technical, cooperative interstate measure rather than a controversial policy overhaul. The absence of recorded votes or committee testimony suggests there was no documented floor debate in the available materials, and the bill was ultimately left in committee. Overall, the proposal seems aimed at maintaining the existing Potomac River fisheries governance structure while updating appointment mechanics to reflect current Virginia agency organization.
The main point of potential contention is the appointment structure for Virginia’s seats on the Commission, especially the bill’s effort to tie membership to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission and to preserve the term of any current dual-hatted member. Another possible issue is the interstate nature of the compact amendment: Virginia can approve its side, but the change cannot become operative without Maryland’s consent, which can make timing and coordination a practical obstacle. No explicit opposition or debate is recorded in the provided materials.