A bill that would fully repeal Pennsylvania’s longstanding ban on Sunday hunting passed the state House of Representatives today by a vote of 131-72 and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

House Bill 1431, introduced by Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny), would eliminate one of the last blue laws in the state, giving the Pennsylvania Game Commission the authority to include Sundays when setting hunting seasons.

The measure mirrors Senate Bill 67, introduced in March by Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-Erie), which also has the backing of the Game Commission.

While current law permits limited Sunday hunting — including for coyotes, foxes, crows, and on three designated Sundays under a 2019 law — broader Sunday hunting remains prohibited.

The proposal has gained strong support from sportsmen’s groups, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, and the Game Commission, which cited the importance of keeping hunters engaged in conservation efforts.

“One of the biggest reasons hunters stop hunting is a lack of time,” said Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. “Removing the prohibition on Sunday hunting holds the potential to add significantly more time to the hunting calendar and keep hunters hunting.”

Smith thanked Rep. Steele and House Game and Fisheries Committee Chair Anita Kulik for their leadership in advancing the bill.