On Friday, April 4, the Georgia 2025 regular legislative session adjourned sine die.
Good news, no gun-control bills that would affect sportsmen made it to the governor and the following sportsmen bills are headed to the governor for consideration.
House Bill 167 allows a hunter to wear fluorescent pink hunting outer garments, as well as fluorescent orange. HB 167 passed the House by a vote of 164 to 0 and also passed the Senate by a unanimous vote.
House Bill 443 establishes a new recreational reef/migratory fish endorsement with a $10 annual fee for residents and $20 annual fee for non-residents. HB 443 passed the House by a vote of 165 to 1 and passed the Senate by a vote of 48 to 5.
House Bill 491 extends the use of air guns for hunting big game during primitive weapon hunts, primitive weapon seasons, and firearm seasons to July 1, 2030. HB 491 passed the House by a vote of 171 to 3 and passed the Senate by a vote of 52 to 1.
Sportsmen-Related Bills that Failed
The following bills made it through crossover, but failed to receive a final vote before time ran out.
House Bill 432 required a person 16 years of age or older to have a Georgia turkey permit in their possession, in addition to all other required hunting licenses. The bill also stated any resident of Georgia may be issued a Georgia turkey permit at no cost and the fee for such permit for non-residents shall be $100. The Department of Natural Resources would also design and sell collectible Georgia turkey stamps. The purchase of such stamps were to be voluntary and shall not be required in order to hunt turkeys in this Georgia. HB 432 passed the House by a vote of 166 to 1 and was referred to the Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee.
House Bill 451 allowed local boards of education to provide hunting safety education for grades 6-12. HB 451 passed the House by a vote of 159 to 16 and was referred to the Senate Education and Youth Committee.
Senate Bill 163 strengthened the Peach State’s firearm preemption laws by allowing individuals and organizations who are adversely affected to file suit against the offending political subdivision in court for declaratory and injunctive relief. SB 163 passed the Senate by a vote of 33 to 23 and was referred to the House Judiciary Committee.
If you would like to view the bills the Sportsmen’s Alliance monitored during the legislative session, check out our interactive legislative map.
Even though the 2025 legislative session is over, the Sportsmen’s Alliance will continue to monitor activities in the Peach State. You never know when issues that sportsmen need to be aware of may arise.
Please share this message with your family and friends as sportsmen. Urge them to join you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance in standing up to fight, protect, and defend against the relentless attacks from animal extremists. The extremists work tirelessly to crater our rights, values and heritage and we must work harder to ensure they are secure today, tomorrow, and for the future.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
