Test Drive Our New Site! We have some improvements in the works that we're excited for you to experience. Click here to try our new, faster, mobile friendly beta site. We will be maintaining our current version of the site thru mid 2025, so you can switch back as our improvements continue.
Legislation Quick Search
Advanced Search
Pennsylvania State Senate
12/18/2024 05:38 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?SPick=20250&chamber=S&cosponId=43307
Share:
Home / Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

Subscribe to PaLegis Notifications
NEW!

Subscribe to receive notifications of new Co-Sponsorship Memos circulated

By Member | By Date | Keyword Search


Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2025 - 2026 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: December 1, 2024 07:03 AM
From: Senator Daniel Laughlin
To: All Senate members
Subject: Repealing Sunday Hunting Prohibition in Pennsylvania
 
In the near future, I will be reintroducing Senate Bill 67 from last session. This legislation proposes a complete repeal of the prohibition on hunting and trapping on Sundays, transferring full authority for wildlife management decisions to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

For years, Pennsylvania's restrictions on Sunday hunting have limited access for hunters and hindered our ability to align with neighboring states that permit more flexible hunting schedules. Pennsylvania remains one of the few states with such a restriction—a holdover from outdated "blue laws" that no longer reflect today’s values and lifestyles. Repealing this restriction would bring us in line with many states nationwide, offering greater opportunities for outdoor recreation and fostering economic growth.

Removing the prohibition on Sunday hunting will:
 
  • Expand recreational opportunities for Pennsylvania’s hunters and trappers.
  • Boost wildlife conservation efforts through increased engagement.
  • Enhance economic activity in rural areas.
  • Increase revenue from hunting licenses.
  • Reflect modern values, making our state more attractive for sportsmen and sportswomen.
Though Pennsylvania has taken incremental steps toward Sunday hunting by allowing limited permissions, a full repeal would maximize these benefits without the need for constant adjustments to hunting schedules and regulations. This legislation would position Pennsylvania as a more competitive and desirable destination for outdoor recreation while underscoring our commitment to conservation and community well-being.

In the previous session, a broad coalition of stakeholders—including sportsmen and women, as well as the agricultural community—collaborated to address concerns and propose solutions for ending the Sunday hunting ban. These efforts led to considerations such as implementing an agricultural access permit list, strengthening trespassing laws, and allowing big game harvested to mitigate crop damage to be delivered to processors.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation to support our hunters, strengthen our economy, and modernize Pennsylvania's approach to outdoor recreation.