The Pennsylvania Legislature continues to focus on sport dog hunting.
The Board of Directors continue to monitor legislation in Harrisburg..
Current Bills we are Monitoring
- The full text of these bills can be found on the website - https://www.legis.state.pa.usSearch
by letters and numbers for the bills.
- • HB 1075: Introduced by Rep. Mandy Steele (D), District 33,
would lift the current $400.00/per acre cap which limits the Game
Commission’s ability to purchase additional State Game Lands. The bill
was referred to the Game & Fisheries Committee on March 31, 2025.
- • HB 1937: Introduced by Rep. David Rowe (R), District 85
would provide that voter registration applications be made available
any time that Hunting or Fishing Licenses are applied for.
- • HB 376: Would make it illegal to transport hounds in the
exterior of vehicles, unless in an insulated dog box. (Our objection
pertains to the insulation requirement which could be fatal in warmer
weather). Sent to Judiciary January 28, 2025.
- • HB 495: (There
are no visible discussions concerning the 2024 Pennsylvania HB495 at
this time., However we are expecting a reintroduction and will
update with new HB Number when issued for 2025 session) While
at first glance, this bill seems to address a clearly debatable issue
– Monday vs Saturday deer opener, it would set a dangerous precedent
wherein the political body (Legislature) would make wildlife decisions
instead of professional wildlife biologists and wildlife staff
personnel. There is ample evidence in seven or eight other states
wherein Wildlife Advisory Boards have been infiltrated and taken over
by anti-hunting legislators. This would be clearly against the North
American Model of Wildlife Management. It would also jeopardize
Pennsylvania’s share of Pittman-Robertson revenue ($38,340,930) for
2022). The P-R Act allows allocation of such funds only when the fish
and wildlife department of the State has overall responsibility and
accountability for the program.
- • Project Coyote: Would ban coyote tournaments. No bill
introduced in Pennsylvania to this point, however proponents have
vowed to do so. They have been successful in seven or eight states so
far.
