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PA HB851
Bill
Status
3/10/2025
Primary Sponsor
Mandy Steele
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AI Summary
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Authorizes temporary Sunday hunting on all days of the week (subject to commission regulations) until June 30, 2029, after which Sunday hunting reverts to three designated Sundays per year during deer rifle season, archery season, and one additional commission-determined day; Sunday hunting remains prohibited on State park lands.
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Requires written permission from landowners, agents, or lessees to hunt on private land on Sundays, with hunters required to possess and produce this documentation upon request.
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Establishes escalating penalties for trespass while hunting on private land: first violations are summary offenses with potential 1-2 year hunting privilege forfeiture; second violations increase to first-degree summary offenses with 2-3 year forfeiture; third or subsequent violations become misdemeanors with 3-4 year forfeiture.
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Prohibits the Pennsylvania Game Commission from hiring lobbyists, lobbying firms, or political consultants to influence other Commonwealth agencies or the General Assembly, with violations treated as prohibited lobbying activities under state law.
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Requires the Governor to ensure at least one Game Commission member is both knowledgeable in wildlife management and actively engaged in agricultural operations, and mandates the commission adopt an ethics policy emphasizing respect for sportsmen.
Legislative Description
In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions; in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further providing for organization of commission, providing for prohibition and further providing for accountability; in hunting and furtaking, repealing provisions relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited, providing for temporary Sunday hunting authorized and for hunting and training on Sunday, repealing provisions relating to trespass on private property while hunting and to hunting on Sunday without written permission, providing for the offense of trespass on private land while hunting or furtaking and for the offense of hunting, trapping or taking game or wildlife without written permission and further providing for training dogs on small game; in special licenses and permits, further providing for field dog trials; imposing penalties; and making an editorial change.
Last Action
Referred to Game & Fisheries
3/10/2025