Pennsylvania Senate Bill SB1238

Pennsylvania 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/18/26
• Refer: 3/18/26

Caption

In hunting and furtaking, further providing for unlawful devices and methods and for prohibited devices and methods.

Summary

SB1238 amends Pennsylvania’s Game Code to expand when semiautomatic firearms may be used for hunting big game. Under the bill, a semiautomatic centerfire rifle firing .223 caliber or larger ammunition would be allowed for big game hunting if the rifle is limited to a capacity of no more than three cartridges. The bill also revises the general prohibition on automatic and semiautomatic firearms for big game hunting to expressly incorporate this new allowance. The measure also preserves and restates the existing accommodation for hunters with certain disabilities. A person who has suffered an amputation or lost the total use of one or both hands may still use a semiautomatic firearm, provided it is modified to allow one shell in the chamber and no more than four shells in the magazine. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Impact

SB1238 would amend Title 34 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, specifically sections 2308(b.1) and 2322(a)(2), by creating a new statutory exception for semiautomatic centerfire rifles in big game hunting and by updating the list of prohibited devices and methods accordingly. It would affect hunters, firearm owners, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s enforcement and regulatory framework, while leaving the disability-related exception in place with clarified wording.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or vote record is available with the bill materials, so there is no documented legislative debate or recorded vote to gauge support or opposition. Based on the text alone, the bill appears to be a targeted hunting-law adjustment rather than a broad policy overhaul, with a likely focus on expanding lawful hunting options while retaining existing safety and disability accommodations.

Contention

The main point of potential contention is the expansion of semiautomatic rifle use for big game hunting, which may draw differing views from hunters, firearm advocates, wildlife managers, and animal welfare or conservation stakeholders. Supporters would likely emphasize modernization, consistency with current firearm use patterns, and broader access for hunters, while opponents may raise concerns about hunting ethics, safety, and the appropriateness of semiautomatic firearms for big game. The disability accommodation is less likely to be controversial and appears to be preserved rather than altered.