HB 851 — An Act amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, 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.

PRINTER'S NO.   881

                     THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA



                         HOUSE BILL
                         No. 851
                                               Session of
                                                 2025

     INTRODUCED BY STEELE, PROBST, GIRAL, HADDOCK, PIELLI, KHAN,
        HILL-EVANS, WEBSTER AND GREEN, MARCH 10, 2025

     REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON GAME AND FISHERIES, MARCH 10, 2025


                                    AN ACT
 1   Amending Title 34 (Game) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated
 2      Statutes, in preliminary provisions, further providing for
 3      definitions; in Pennsylvania Game Commission, further
 4      providing for organization of commission, providing for
 5      prohibition and further providing for accountability; in
 6      hunting and furtaking, repealing provisions relating to
 7      hunting on Sunday prohibited, providing for temporary Sunday
 8      hunting authorized and for hunting and training on Sunday,
 9      repealing provisions relating to trespass on private property
10      while hunting and to hunting on Sunday without written
11      permission, providing for the offense of trespass on private
12      land while hunting or furtaking and for the offense of
13      hunting, trapping or taking game or wildlife without written
14      permission and further providing for training dogs on small
15      game; in special licenses and permits, further providing for
16      field dog trials; imposing penalties; and making an editorial
17      change.
18      The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
19   hereby enacts as follows:
20      Section 1.    Section 102 of Title 34 of the Pennsylvania
21   Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding definitions to read:
22   § 102.   Definitions.
23      Subject to additional definitions contained in subsequent
24   provisions of this title which are applicable to specific
25   provisions of this title, the following words and phrases when
 1   used in this title shall have the meanings given to them in this
 2   section unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
 3      * * *
 4      "Lobbying."    As defined in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03 (relating to
 5   definitions).
 6      "Lobbying firm."     As defined in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03.
 7      "Lobbyist."    As defined in 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A03.
 8      * * *
 9      Section 2.    Section 301(a) of Title 34 is amended and the
10   section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
11   § 301.   Organization of commission.
12      (a)   Composition.--[The] Subject to subsection (b.1), the
13   independent administrative commission known as the Pennsylvania
14   Game Commission shall consist of nine competent citizens of this
15   Commonwealth who shall be well informed on the subject of
16   wildlife conservation and restoration and who shall be appointed
17   by the Governor, by and with the advice and consent of a
18   majority of the elected members of the Senate.
19      * * *
20      (b.1)   Additional consideration.--The Governor shall ensure
21   that at least one member of the commission is:
22            (1)   knowledgeable in the area of wildlife management;
23      and
24            (2)   actively engaged in a normal agricultural operation,
25      as defined in section 2 of the act of June 10, 1982 (P.L.454,
26      No.133), referred to as the Right-to-Farm Law.
27      * * *
28      Section 3.    Title 34 is amended by adding a section to read:
29   § 305.   Prohibition.
30      The commission may not hire or be represented by a lobbyist,

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 1   lobbying firm or political consultant to engage in lobbying or
 2   otherwise influence the decision-making process of another
 3   Commonwealth entity or agency, including the General Assembly or
 4   a member of the General Assembly. A violation of this subsection
 5   shall be deemed to be a violation of 65 Pa.C.S. § 13A07
 6   (relating to prohibited activities).
 7      Section 4.    Section 328 heading and (a) of Title 34 is
 8   amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to
 9   read:
10   § 328.   Accountability and ethics.
11      (a)   Relationship with public.--The commission shall
12   implement policies and programs to improve its relationship with
13   the general public and with its licensees in accordance with its
14   strategic plan. The policies and programs under this subsection
15   shall incorporate the ethics policy under subsection (g).
16      * * *
17      (g)   Ethics policy.--The commission shall adopt and
18   periodically review an ethics policy applicable to members of
19   the commission, the director and employees of the commission,
20   which shall include material about the ethical obligations under
21   State law and to emphasize the importance for members of the
22   commission, the director and employees of the commission, to
23   maintain respect for sportsmen in this Commonwealth.
24      Section 5.    Section 522(b)(2) of Title 34 is amended to read:
25   § 522.   Appropriation and audit of moneys.
26      * * *
27      (b)   Audit and report.--
28            * * *
29            (2)   No later than January 31 of each year the commission
30      through its executive director shall submit an annual written

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 1      report to the Game and Fisheries Committee and the
 2      Appropriations Committee of the Senate and the Game and
 3      Fisheries Committee and the Appropriations Committee of the
 4      House of Representatives which shall include the complete
 5      budget for the current fiscal year and for the next fiscal
 6      year. The commission shall meet with the specified committees
 7      of the General Assembly to receive oral testimony in relation
 8      to the annual written reports and to examine the commission's
 9      compliance with section 328 (relating to accountability and
10      ethics) when so requested.
11      * * *
12      Section 6.    Section 2303 of Title 34 is repealed:
13   [§ 2303.    Hunting on Sunday prohibited.
14      (a)     General rule.--Except as otherwise provided in this
15   title, it is unlawful for any person to hunt for any furbearer
16   or game on Sunday.
17      (b)     Construction of section.--This section shall not be
18   construed to prohibit:
19            (1)   The training of dogs.
20            (2)   The participation in dog trials as provided for in
21      this title.
22            (3)   The removal of lawfully taken game or wildlife from
23      traps or the resetting of the traps on Sunday.
24      (b.1)    Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to:
25            (1)   The hunting of foxes.
26            (2)   The hunting of coyotes.
27            (3)   Any hunting which occurs on noncommercial regulated
28      hunting grounds holding a valid permit under section 2928(b)
29      (2) (relating to regulated hunting grounds permits).
30            (4)   Hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, as

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 1      follows:
 2                  (i)    One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted by
 3            the commission during the deer rifle season.
 4                  (ii)    One day of Sunday hunting shall be instituted
 5            by the commission during the Statewide deer archery
 6            season.
 7                  (iii)    One day of Sunday hunting as determined by the
 8            commission shall be instituted by the commission.
 9      Authority to hunt on any Sunday instituted by the commission
10      under this paragraph shall not apply to any person required
11      to secure a hunting license who attempts to hunt on private
12      land without obtaining written permission of the landowner,
13      an agent of the landowner or lessee.
14      (c)   Penalty.--A violation of this section is a summary
15   offense of the fifth degree.]
16      Section 7.        Title 34 is amended by adding sections to read:
17   § 2303.1.      Temporary Sunday hunting authorized.
18      (a)   Authorization.--
19            (1)    Subject to sections 2316 (relating to trespass on
20      private land while hunting or furtaking) and 2317 (relating
21      to hunting, trapping or taking game or wildlife without
22      written permission), an individual may, subject to commission
23      regulations, lawfully hunt for furbearer or game any day of
24      the week, including Sunday.
25            (2)    Sunday hunting shall not be permitted on lands
26      designated as a State park.
27            (3)    An individual may participate in Sunday hunting if
28      the individual:
29                  (i)    has a valid hunting license; and
30                  (ii)    if the land is private land, obtains written

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 1             permission to hunt on the private land from the owner, an
 2             agent of the owner or a lessee of the private land or
 3             another authorized person.
 4      (b)    Expiration.--This section shall expire June 30, 2029.
 5   § 2303.2.       Hunting and training on Sunday.
 6      (a)    General rule.--Beginning on July 1, 2029, it shall be
 7   unlawful for any person to hunt for any furbearer or game on
 8   Sunday.
 9      (b)    Construction of section.--This section shall not be
10   construed to prohibit:
11             (1)    Except as provided under subsection (d), the
12      training of dogs.
13             (2)    The participation in dog trials as provided for in
14      this title.
15             (3)    The removal of lawfully taken game or wildlife from
16      traps or the resetting of the traps on Sunday.
17      (c)    Exceptions.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to:
18             (1)    The hunting of foxes.
19             (2)    The hunting of coyotes.
20             (3)    Hunting that occurs on noncommercial regulated
21      hunting grounds on which a valid permit has been issued under
22      section 2928(b)(2) (relating to regulated hunting grounds
23      permits).
24             (4)    (i)    Hunting on three Sundays each calendar year, as
25             follows:
26                          (A)   One day of Sunday hunting shall be
27                   instituted by the commission during the deer rifle
28                   season.
29                          (B)   One day of Sunday hunting shall be
30                   instituted by the commission during the Statewide

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 1                  deer archery season.
 2                         (C)   One day of Sunday hunting as determined by
 3                  the commission shall be instituted by the commission.
 4                  (ii)    Subparagraph (i) shall not apply to a person
 5            required to secure a hunting license who attempts to hunt
 6            on private land without obtaining written permission of
 7            the landowner, an agent of the landowner or lessee.
 8      (d)     Limitation on training dogs on small game.--
 9            (1)   Beginning on July 1, 2029, it shall be unlawful to
10      train dogs on private land on Sunday.
11            (2)   Paragraph (1) shall not apply to:
12                  (i)    National or State forest land.
13                  (ii)    State game lands.
14                  (iii)    Private land when the consent of the person in
15            charge of the private land is first obtained.
16      (e)     Limitation on trials for raccoons.--Beginning on July 1,
17   2029, it shall be lawful to hold trials or meets where dogs may
18   work on drags or live raccoons at any hour, if permission is
19   obtained to use privately owned land when the meet or trial is
20   to be held on Sunday.
21      (f)     Penalties.--A violation of subsections (a) and (d) is a
22   summary offense of the fifth degree.
23      Section 8.        Sections 2314 and 2315 of Title 34 are repealed:
24   [§ 2314.    Trespass on private property while hunting.
25      (a)     General rule.--A person, while engaged in hunting or
26   furtaking, commits an offense if, knowing that the person is not
27   licensed or privileged to do so, the person:
28            (1)   enters or remains on any land of another without
29      authorization to do so, when the land is posted in a manner
30      prescribed by law or reasonably likely to come to the

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 1      person's attention or is fenced or enclosed in a manner
 2      manifestly designed to exclude trespassers; or
 3             (2)   enters or remains on any land of another without
 4      authorization and defies an order not to enter or to leave
 5      that has been personally communicated to the person by the
 6      owner of the land or other authorized person.
 7      (b)     Applicability.--This section shall not apply to an
 8   unarmed person who enters onto posted property for the sole
 9   purpose of retrieving a hunting dog.
10      (c)     Penalty.--An offense under this section shall be graded
11   as follows:
12             (1)   A person who violates subsection (a)(1) commits a
13      summary offense of the third degree.
14             (2)   A person who violates subsection (a)(2) commits a
15      misdemeanor.
16             (3)   A person who commits a second or subsequent
17      violation of this section within a seven-year period commits
18      a misdemeanor, and the second or subsequent violation shall
19      result in forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or take game or
20      wildlife anywhere within this Commonwealth for a period of
21      one year.
22      (d)     Enforcement.--The director shall authorize the police
23   department of each municipal corporation to assist in the
24   enforcement of this section as necessary, in addition to those
25   under section 903 (relating to delegation of enforcement
26   powers).
27   § 2315.    Hunting on Sunday without written permission.
28      (a)     General rule.--A person required to secure a hunting
29   license to hunt commits an offense if, while engaged in hunting
30   on Sunday under section 2303(b.1)(4) (relating to hunting on

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 1   Sunday prohibited), the person enters private land without
 2   obtaining written permission of the landowner, an agent of the
 3   landowner or lessee.
 4      (b)    Penalty.--A person who violates subsection (a) commits a
 5   summary offense of the third degree.]
 6      Section 9.         Title 34 is amended by adding sections to read:
 7   § 2316.    Trespass on private land while hunting or furtaking.
 8      (a)    Offense defined.--An individual, while engaged in
 9   hunting or furtaking, commits an offense if, knowing that the
10   individual is not licensed or privileged to do so or using dogs
11   for the hunting or furtaking, the individual enters or remains,
12   without authorization to do so, on private land:
13             (1)   posted in a manner prescribed by law or reasonably
14      likely to come to the individual's attention;
15             (2)   in defiance an order not to enter or an order to
16      leave that has been personally communicated to the individual
17      by the owner, an agent of the owner or a lessee of the
18      private land or another authorized person;
19             (3)   that is fenced or enclosed in a manner manifestly
20      designed to exclude trespassers; or
21             (4)   where notice against trespass is given by the
22      placement of identifying purple paint marks on trees or posts
23      on the private land as prescribed by 18 Pa.C.S. § 3503(b)(1)
24      (vi) (relating to criminal trespass).
25      (b)    Grading.--
26             (1)   For a first violation:
27                   (i)    An individual who violates subsection (a)(1),
28             (3) or (4) commits a summary offense of the second degree
29             and may be subject to the forfeiture of the privilege to
30             hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere in this

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 1            Commonwealth for a period of one year.
 2                  (ii)    An individual who violates subsection (a)(2)
 3            commits a summary offense of the second degree and may be
 4            subject to the forfeiture of the privilege to hunt or
 5            take game or wildlife anywhere in this Commonwealth for a
 6            period of two years.
 7            (2)   For a second violation:
 8                  (i)    An individual who violates subsection (a)(1),
 9            (3) or (4) for a second time commits a summary offense of
10            the first degree and may be subject to the forfeiture of
11            the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere
12            in this Commonwealth for a period of two years.
13                  (ii)    An individual who violates subsection (a)(2)
14            for a second time commits a summary offense of the first
15            degree and may be subject to the forfeiture of the
16            privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere in
17            this Commonwealth for a period of three years.
18            (3)   For a third or subsequent violation:
19                  (i)    An individual who violates subsection (a)(1),
20            (3) or (4) for a third or subsequent time commits a
21            misdemeanor and may be subject to the forfeiture of the
22            privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere in
23            this Commonwealth for a period of three years.
24                  (ii)    An individual who violates subsection (a)(2)
25            for a third or subsequent time commits a misdemeanor of
26            the second degree and may be subject to the forfeiture of
27            the privilege to hunt or take game or wildlife anywhere
28            in this Commonwealth for a period of four years.
29      (c)   Enforcement.--The director shall authorize the police
30   department of each municipal corporation, in addition to any

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 1   person described under section 903 (relating to delegation of
 2   enforcement powers) to assist in the enforcement of this section
 3   as necessary.
 4         (d)    Penalties cumulative.--The penalties prescribed under
 5   this section shall be in addition to any other penalty
 6   prescribed by law.
 7         (e)    Applicability.--Subsection (a)(4) shall not apply in a
 8   county of the first class.
 9   § 2317.       Hunting, trapping or taking game or wildlife without
10                      written permission.
11         (a)    Offense defined.--An individual commits an offense if
12   the individual enters or remains on private land while engaged
13   in the hunting, trapping or taking of game or wildlife, by any
14   means or manner or device, including the use of dogs, and fails
15   to:
16                (1)   possess written permission of the owner, an agent of
17         the owner or a lessee of the private land or another
18         authorized person to use, occupy or access the property; or
19                (2)   produce the written permission described under
20         paragraph (1) upon request to the owner, an agent of the
21         owner or a lessee of the private land, another authorized
22         person or an officer or other person whose duty is to assist
23         in the enforcement of this title.
24         (b)    Grading.--An offense under subsection (a) constitutes a
25   summary offense of the third degree.
26         Section 10.      Sections 2382(c) and 2943(c) of Title 34 are
27   amended to read:
28   § 2382.       Training dogs on small game.
29         * * *
30         [(c)    Sunday limitation.--It is unlawful to train dogs on

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 1   privately owned property on Sunday. This limitation shall not
 2   apply to:
 3             (1)   National or State forest land.
 4             (2)   State game lands.
 5             (3)   Privately owned property when the consent of the
 6      person in charge of the land is first obtained.]
 7   § 2943.    Field dog trials.
 8      * * *
 9      (c)    Trials for raccoons.--It is lawful to hold trials or
10   meets where dogs may work on drags or live raccoons at any hour,
11   if permission is obtained to use privately owned land [when the
12   meet or trial is to be held on Sunday]:
13             (1)   During the period of the year when dog training is
14      permitted by this title.
15             (2)   During the period of the year when dog training is
16      prohibited by this title if a raccoon dog field trial permit
17      is obtained.
18      * * *
19      Section 11.     The following shall not affect any fine or other
20   penalty imposed for a violation under this title that was
21   committed before the effective date of this section:
22             (1)   The repeal of 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303, 2314 or 2315.
23             (2)   The addition of 34 Pa.C.S. § 2303.1, 2316 or 2317.
24             (3)   The amendment of 34 Pa.C.S. § 2382(c) or 2943(c).
25      Section 12.     The addition of 34 Pa.C.S. §§ 2316 and 2317
26   shall apply to an offense committed on or after the effective
27   date of this section.
28      Section 13.     This act shall take effect in 60 days.




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