HB 1431 Pennsylvania House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in game or wildlife protection, further providing for regulations and for unlawful activities; and, in hunting and furtaking, repealing provisions relating to hunting on Sunday prohibited, further providing for unlawful devices and methods and for trespass on private property while hunting and repealing provisions relating to hunting on Sunday without written permission.

HB 1431 repeals Pennsylvania’s prohibition on hunting on Sundays without written permission, making Sunday hunting legal statewide for those with proper authorization. The bill directly affects hunters by removing a longstanding restriction on Sunday hunting activities. Key provisions include eliminating the requirement for written permission to hunt on Sundays and updating regulations related to unlawful hunting devices, trespass on private property during hunting, and wildlife protection. This amendment became law on July 9, 2025 (Act No. 36 of 2025), modifying existing hunting rules under Title 34 of Pennsylvania’s statutes.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
May 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced May 8, 2025 Signed Jul 9, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN1896 Printer's No. PN1998 · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended by the Senate to reorganize sections, update sponsor lists, and add a new exception allowing hunting on three specific Sundays per year. It also expanded the penalty for trespassing while hunting from one year to five years and clarified rules for donating game carcasses.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded by adding a specific exemption for hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, whereas the previous version did not include this exception.
ENFORCEMENT

The penalty for trespassing on private property while hunting was increased from a one-year forfeiture of hunting privileges to a five-year forfeiture.

ELIGIBILITY

A new exception was added allowing hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, provided the hunter has written permission from the landowner.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was reorganized to move the repeal of the Sunday hunting prohibition section to a later number and added a new section regarding the donation of game carcasses.

REQUIREMENT

The default hunting seasons and bag limits were updated to open and close one calendar day earlier than the previous year if the commission fails to set new regulations.

The list of bill sponsors was updated to reflect the Senate's amendment, adding Senator Rothman and removing Representative Staats.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 26, 2025 · House Jun 10, 2025

How they voted

3416
Passed
Total votes 50
Jun 26, 2025
D Democratic23
16 Yea 7 Nay
69% Yea
R Republican27
18 Yea 9 Nay
66% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
25
Key actions
11
Committee
11
Amendments
1
Jul 9, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor
lower
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendments
lower
Jun 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported on concurrence, as committed
lower
Jun 30, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules
lower
Jun 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jun 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Re-reported as committed
upper
Jun 25, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
upper
Jun 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as amended
upper
Jun 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Game & Fisheries
upper
Jun 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Jun 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 10, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (203-0)
house
Jun 10, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Appropriations
lower
Jun 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 3, 2025
Committee
Re-committed to Rules
lower
Jun 3, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
May 8, 2025
Committee
Referred to Game & Fisheries
lower
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors