CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Virginia General Assembly passed a pair of PETA-backed animal welfare bills this week, aiming to ban the sale of newborn captive animals and stop crossbreeding.

The House version of the bill was introduced by Del. Amy Laufer (HD-55), while the Senate version came from Sen. Jennifer Boysko (SD-38).

“I am so proud to patron HB 112 and take a stance against irresponsible and unethical animal welfare practices,” Del. Laufer said in a statement released by PETA. “HB 112 will eliminate bad actors in this field and establish a clear foundation for proper animal care and treatment.”

Laufer’s bill passed Tuesday by a vote of 71-27. Boysko’s Senate version passed Monday, 26-14.

“We’ve been working for several years to stop the abuse and exploitation of animals in unaccredited zoo settings that sell babies for massive profits,” Sen. Boysko said in a statement. “My bill will prevent the premature separation of captive mammalian animals and prohibit their intentional hybridization.”

In announcing the passage, PETA specifically called out the practices at the Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County, which it said has sold baby animals for decades. That facility’s owners and former owners were indicted on 55 counts.

“At unaccredited roadside menageries like the Natural Bridge Zoo, infant animals are prematurely separated from their mothers when they’re only days, weeks, or even hours old so that they can be sold off and shipped out,” says PETA Senior Vice President Daphna Nachminovitch. “PETA thanks Senator Boysko and Delegate Laufer for leading the effort to ban this abhorrent practice and urges Virginians to contact their legislators and urge them to vote ‘Yes’ on protections for captive wild animals.”

The Virginia Animal Owners Alliance opposes the legislation, claiming it criminalizes standard care measures including bottle feeding, and is hoping Gov. Abigail Spanberger will veto the bill.

“This legislative effort is going to harm animal welfare and will violate the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment,” VAOA president Heidi Crosky told Cville Right Now. “It is targeting a small group of citizens over common husbandry practices, simply because PETA doesn’t like them. This is wrong.  For the very first time, baby bottles and milk replacer will be able to be used as evidence to a crime. Certain people are saying that these bills do not outlaw bottle-feeding, but such statements are disingenuous. The way you bottle-feed a baby is by separating it. We will continue to fight this effort and hope to change hearts and minds.

A similar bill passed the General Assembly last year but was vetoed by former Gov. Glenn Youngkin.