Today, Governor Josh Shapiro reversed one of the state’s last remaining “blue laws"—Sunday hunting is now fully legal in Pennsylvania.

Dedication from long time advocates, and a push for change from legislative newcomers, helped address concerns and get the Sunday hunting ban repealed.

HB1431 was signed into law today. It allows Pennsylvania’s Game Commission to open up multiple Sundays during hunting season.

“For 50 years people have fought to lift this unjust constraint on the freedom of hunters,” said Rep. Mandy Steele, a Democrat from Allegheny County. Steele sponsored the bill—and brought fresh passion to the issue.

She got into hunting as an adult, for her own enjoyment and as a way to bond with her kids.

“I've seen the way that their brains awaken when we're out in the forest,” Steele said, “Studying plants, animals, weather patterns.”

Several years ago, Republican Sen. Dan Laughlin of Erie sponsored a law to allow hunting on three Sundays; advocates today said the small start cracked open the chance for a full repeal.

Laughlin says as families go out to be in the outdoors, he’s proud to have played a part in changing the law. He says hunters can expect immediate change

“I spoke with the game commission, and even though they had already set up seasons and bag limits for for this year— they are going to make an amendment and change that and allow Sundays this fall,” Laughlin said.

Pennsylvania has 850,000 licensed hunters. Advocates say an extra weekend day is critical for workers with Monday thru Friday jobs. Shapiro also says tourism economy could benefit.

“I think it is going to open up the doors for not only more Pennsylvanians, but more out-of-staters who used to have to plan their visit to the Commonwealth really around one day,” Shapiro said. “And now they have the opportunity to build a whole weekend.”

The law also strengthens enforcement of trespassing violations— addressing concerns from farmers.

For years, the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau opposed Sunday Hunting, which is why the blue law stayed in place while others got repealed. Farmers were protective of their relaxing Sundays.

The traditionalist view on this still has roots; the bill passed the House finally with 142-61 votes in favor and it passed the Senate at 34-16 in favor at the end of June.

Beyond concerns about but the issue also got tied up in trespassing concerns.

Eventually, Bureau members saw Sunday Hunting as one solution to crop damage from deer overpopulation. Eagerness to address that issue inspired action on overcoming differences on other concerns.

Compromising on the law has helped dissolve a legislative feud between farmers and hunters.

“That is a good thing. It’s going to foster more collaboration and minimizing crop damage,” said Andy Bater, the chairman of the wildlife and fisheries committee at the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

The law goes into effect in 60 days. Hunters will be able to check which Sundays will be open for hunting this fall.