2025 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: There is an air of heightened anti-hunting
sentiment in Annapolis these days. One could fairly argue that it’s a
combination of few hunter-lawmakers, widespread opposition to 2A,
coupled with the anti-hunting groups which vehemently oppose any
expansion of Sunday hunting and repeal of the 10:30 am stoppage
requirement for Sunday deer hunting where allowed...two bills we pursued
this Session, but were unable to secure any movement (identified herein);
but, the 2025 Session was not without success on the policy front.
House Bill 387 (Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act):
Proposed an 11% excise tax on firearms in addition to the existing 6%
sales tax; but, failed. The bill and its accompanying fiscal note are shown
below.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0387F.pdf
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/fnotes/bil_0007/hb0387.pdf
House Bill 937 (Sales and Use Tax - Firearms, Firearm Accessories,
and Ammunition - Rate Alteration): Proposed an increase in the sales
and use tax rate for firearms, ammunition, and accessories to 12%; but,
failed as well. The bill and its accompanying fiscal note are shown below.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0937F.pdf
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/fnotes/bil_0007/hb0937.pdf
NOTE: The 2025 General Assembly faced a budgetary structural deficit
b/c projected revenues for fiscal year 2026 and beyond are woefully behind
projected expenditures. In short, lawmakers enacted funding programs --
like the multi-billion-dollar Blueprint for Educational Excellence. Firearms
are also an easy target as evidenced by the two referenced bills...b/c they
failed in 2025, expect some version again in 2026.
Senate Bill 634 (Hunting - Nonlead Ammunition, Fox Chasing, and
Deer Management): Similar to legislation proposed in 2024 which failed,
Senate Bill 634 would have mandated DNR to phase in a requirement that
nonlead ammunition be used for hunting of all game species, by July 1,
2029 (with the phase-in beginning July 1, 2026). Senate Bill 634 also
failed. The bill and its accompanying fiscal note are shown below.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0634F.pdf
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/fnotes/bil_0004/sb0634.pdf
Senate Bill 272 (Prince George’s County - Natural Resources - Sunday
Deer Hunting and Archery Hunting Safety Zones): Proposed to reverse
the Sunday hunting statutory prohibition in Prince George’s County dating
back to 1723...yep, no Sunday hunting there in 302 years. Our effort was
gallant; but, the push-back from both PG Senators on the Senate
Education, Energy and Environment Committee -- coupled with same from
the anti-hunting community – could not be overcome and the bill failed.
The bill and its accompanying fiscal note are shown below.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0272F.pdf
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/fnotes/bil_0002/sb0272.pdf
House Bill 654 (Wicomico County - Sunday Hunting Time Restrictions
- Repeal): For 9 straight years, the hunting community has had to quit
hunting deer on Sundays -- in many counties -- by 10:30 am. This Session
we worked closely with Wicomico County in trying to repeal this onerous,
non-sensical statutory restriction. This one appeared to be moving out of
the House; but word the Senate had reservations and the bill stalled in the
House.
The bill and its accompanying fiscal note are shown below.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0654F.pdf
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/fnotes/bil_0004/hb0654.pdf
NOTE: DNR has expressed an interest of working with all impacted
stakeholder groups during the 2025 Interim with an eye towards
overcoming objections from both State lawmakers, et al, so a more uniform
Sunday hunting law could be enacted in 2026...hope springs eternal.
House Bill 857 (Natural Resources - Pursuing Wounded Deer After
Legal Hunting Hours and Using a Light - Authorization): Enables a
person who is authorized by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
to hunt deer, who wounds a deer during legal hunting hours, to pursue and
kill the deer after legal hunting hours, and to use a light or throw or cast the
rays of a spotlight, a headlight, an artificial light, a battery, or any other
device while pursuing the wounded deer.
The bill passed...a copy and the accompanying fiscal note shown
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/hb/hb0857T.pdf
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/fnotes/bil_0007/hb0857.pdf
Senate Bill 335 (Natural Resources - Canada Geese - Bag Limits):
Establishes that during the migratory Canada goose (Atlantic population)
hunting season, the bag limit for all Canada geese in the State, including
geese found in the Atlantic Flyway Resident Population Hunt Zone and the
Atlantic Population Hunt Zone, must conform to the bag limit for Atlantic
population Canada geese adopted annually by the Department of the
Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The bill, however, does
not apply in Allegany, Frederick, Garrett, and Washington counties and the
portion of Carroll County geographically west of Route 31 and Route 97.
The bill and its accompanying fiscal note are shown below + our testimony
is attached.
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/bills/sb/sb0335T.pdf
https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2025RS/fnotes/bil_0005/sb0335.pdf
One final point: Our annual legislative luncheon has become a much-
anticipated event at the start of every Session...the 2025 luncheon was our
5th one (announcement attached). Subsequent feedback is always the
most impressive and the 2025 luncheon was no exception.
The Hunters of Maryland, LLC have much to be proud of as evidenced not
only by our standing in the Halls of Annapolis; but, also as evidenced on
the national scene as witnessed on April 10th when our Founder was
bestowed the prestigious P&Y Stewardship Award in Arizona.
