Legislation Tracker

Introducing the 2025 Wildlife for All Legislation Tracker

This wildlife legislation tracker highlights wildlife-related legislation introduced in state legislatures across the U.S. in 2025 that are being tracked and worked on by the Wildlife for All Coalition. It is intended as a tool for advocates, policymakers, and the public to understand how wildlife policies are evolving, where reforms are gaining traction, and which bills may threaten or support ecological and democratic values. The tracker is updated annually, and each bill entry includes the state, title, summary, introduction date, and outcome (if available). We will also maintain a full archive for historical reference; please email us for access to previous years (note that 2025 is the first year we’ve had this tool available).

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State	Bill Number	Bill Description	Key Issues/ Tags	Coalition Stance	Current Status	Links/ References
Arizona	HB 2552	Prohibiting Arizona Game and Fish from banning hunting with dogs	hunting, dogs	Oppose	In Committee	https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/57leg/1R/bills/HB2552P.pdf
Arizona	HB 2083	Relating to game and fish commission, not less than one member shall be a cattleman or rancher	commission, agriculture/ranching	Oppose	In Committee
California	AB 1038	Authorizes the use of dogs in black bear hunting	bears, hunting	Oppose	In Committee	https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1038
Colorado	SB 25 003	Banning the use of many semi-automatic and rifles and shotguns commonly used in hunting and recreational shooting	guns, hunting	Support	Introduced	https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/sb25-003
Colorado	HB 1258	In Colorado's wildlife statutes, the legislative declaration commits the state to use hunting, trapping, and fishing as the primary methods of effecting wildlife harvests. The bill requires the parks and wildlife commission to use the best available wildlife and ecological science to adopt rules that benefit wildlife, whole ecosystem health, and all Coloradans.	department mission reform	Support	Introduced	https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb25-1258
Florida	HJR 1625	Appointments to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; Proposes amendment to State Constitution to revise appointments to Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission.	Commission reform	Support	In Committee	https://www.flhouse.gov/Sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?FileName=_h1625__.docx&DocumentType=Bill&BillNumber=1625&Session=2025
Illinois	HB 2726	Provides that the Department of Natural Resources has the power to exercise all rights, powers, and duties conferred by law and to take measures that are necessary for the implementation of rewilding as a conservation strategy	rewilding	Support	In Committee	https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=2726&GAID=18&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=160722&SessionID=114&SpecSess=&Session=&GA=104
Illinois	SB 1210	School districts may offer a firearm safety training course to students in grades 9 to 12, which may include instructions on hunting safety	education, hunting		Introduced	https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/104/SB/10400SB1210.htm
Indiana	SB 32	Establishing a pilot program to identify, breed, and release certain white-tailed deer onto Indiana's landscape- prevention of chronic wasting disease	deer		Introduced	https://iga.in.gov/pdf-documents/124/2025/senate/bills/SB0032/SB0032.01.INTR.pdf
Iowa	HJR 1	Proposed constitutional amendment to make hunting, fishing, trapping, and harvesting wildlife rights for Iowans	hunting, rights	Oppose	Introduced	https://legiscan.com/IA/bill/HJR1/2025
Maryland	SB 983	Bans use of lead or lead-based ammunition for hunting and requires Department of Natural Resources to establish a process to certify ammunition as being nonlead (lead ammunition to be phased out on or before December 31, 2026)	hunting, lead	Support	Introduced	https://fastdemocracy.com/bill-search/md/2024/bills/MDB00030795/
Massachusetts	HD 427/HD 95/HD 2292/HD 1604/HD 1714/SD 415	Sunday hunting legislation- ending the statewide ban on Sunday hunting	hunting	Oppose	Introduced	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD2292
Massachusetts	HD 1127	An Act relative to hunting with artificial light	hunting	Oppose	Introduced	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD1127
Massachusetts	SD 415/HD 1714	Removes certain prohbitions on carrying firearms, complicating the enforcement of poaching laws	guns, poaching	Oppose	Introduced	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD415
Massachusetts	SD 548/HD 4280	An Act relative to ivory and rhinoceros horn trafficking	rhinoceroses	Support	Introduced	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD4280
Massachusetts	SD 1447/HD 1721	Restricting the use of Anticoagulant Rodenticides (ARs)	environment, toxins	Support	Introduced	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD1447
Massachusetts	SD 2179/HD 1597	Trapping legislation- would remove or weaken current restrictions on cruel body-gripping traps used to capture animals like beaver and coyote	trapping	Oppose	Introduced	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/HD1597
Massachusetts	SD 2613/SD 749/HD 2508/HD 1574	Authorizes towns to prohibit or restrict the application of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides	environment, toxins	Support	Introduced	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/SD2613
Michigan	HJR 15	Proposing an amendment to the state's constitution to recognize a right to hunt, fish, trap, and harvest wildlife	rights, hunting	Oppose	Introduced	https://legislature.mi.gov/documents/2025-2026/jointresolutionintroduced/House/pdf/2025-HIJR-C.pdf
Michigan	SB 58	Adopting and making available a model program of firearm safety instruction in schools for students in grades 6 to 12	education, hunting		Introduced	https://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2025-2026/billintroduced/Senate/pdf/2025-SIB-0058.pdf
Mississippi	HB 1103	Require that the MDWFP be reimbursed for any lost revenue resulting from the issuance of free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses, admission to state parks, and other fees through the State General Fund			Passed House	https://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2025/pdf/HB/1100-1199/HB1103IN.pdf
Missouri	HJR 56	Proposed constitutional amendment to make hunting and fishing rights for Missourians	hunting, rights	Oppose	Introduced	https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HJR56&year=2025&code=R
Montana	HB 96	Creating a trapping apprentice certificate program	youth, hunting	Oppose	Passed House	https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0514?open_tab=sum
Montana	HB 101	Reclassifies wolves as furbearers and aligns existing wolf tagging and furbearer hunting restrictions	wolves		In Committee	https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0517?open_tab=sum
Montana	HB 176	An Act Revising Wolf Hunting Laws	wolves, hunting	Oppose	Passed House
Montana	HB 219	An Act permitting reimbursements to all individuals for receipts of costs incurred related to the hunting or trapping of wolves for all lawfully harvested wolves	wolves, hunting	Oppose	In Committee	https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3065?open_tab=sum
Montana	HB 222	Creates open wolf hunting season until population is 600-650 or fewer	wolves, hunting	Oppose	Passed House	https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1743?open_tab=sum
Montana	HB 258	Proposes to extend current wolf hunting season to align with bear hunting season	bears, wolves, hunting	Oppose	Passed House	https://legiscan.com/MT/bill/HB258/2025
Montana	HB 259	An Act revising laws related to the management of gray wolves- allows use of thermal and infrared scopes for gray wolf management	wolves	Oppose	Passed House	https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC3034?open_tab=bill
Montana	HB 436	Requires trappers to post notice signs within certain distances of trailheads and trails on public lands administered by the DFW	trapping	Support	In Committee	https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC2112?open_tab=bill
Montana	HB 554	An Act removing the requirement that the DFW protect, classify, or regulate wolves as game animals or furbearers	wolves	Oppose	In Committee	https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC1321?open_tab=bill
Montana	LC 1743	Create open wolf hunting season until population is 600 or fewer		Oppose
Montana	LC 2548	Require unlimited wolf hunting quota when population is at or above 450 wolves		Oppose
Montana	SB 63	Revises law related to the use of motion-tracking devices while hunting animals, like wolves (restricting use)	wildlife, hunting	Support	Passed Senate	https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/2/LC0506?open_tab=sum
New Hampshire	HB 202	Making the New Hampshire fish and game commission advisory only		Support	Introduced	https://files.constantcontact.com/3e6edfb9901/ce7cd181-96cb-456a-a41f-7e5c6340575a.pdf?rdr=true
New Hampshire	HB 573	Using general funds for search and rescue operations of the fish and game department		Support	Introduced	https://files.constantcontact.com/3e6edfb9901/8180fcb3-5490-4996-818e-482f25acbe60.pdf?rdr=true
New Hampshire	HB 589	Defining and prohibiting wanton animal waste and prohibiting certain wildlife hunting contests	wildlife, hunting contests	Support	Introduced	https://files.constantcontact.com/3e6edfb9901/e5dbd936-f885-4556-a90f-4c1882dceb3c.pdf?rdr=true
New Hampshire	HB 655	Increasing penalties for hunting violations	hunting		Introduced	https://files.constantcontact.com/3e6edfb9901/58692397-3307-4849-945f-5aa9f863011d.pdf?rdr=true
New Mexico	SB 5	Game Commission Reform		Support
New Mexico		stripping Game Commission of land and water acquisition		Oppose
New York	SB 2428	Proposed constitutional amendment to make hunting, trapping, and fishing rights for New Yorkers	hunting, rights	Oppose	Introduced	https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/S02428/2025
Oregon	HB 2252	Allows electors of county to approve hunting cougars with dogs within county	cougars, hunting	Oppose	In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB2252
Oregon	HB 2403 and SB 333	Authorizes landowners who meet certain criteria to petition for formation of a predator damage control district as a funding mechanism to pay the actual costs to the county of preventing, reducing, and mitigating damage to property from predatory animals	predators	Oppose	In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2403
Oregon	HB 2559	Allows electors of county to approve hunting cougars with dogs within county	cougars, hunting	Oppose	In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB2559
Oregon	HB 2888	Relating to fish hatcheries- ODFW must get approval from legislature before closing certain hatcheries	hatchery, fish		In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2888
Oregon	HB 2897	Allows using dogs to hunt cougars on private property or with consent of private property owner	cougars, hunting	Oppose	In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/HB2897
Oregon	HB 2965	Relating to aquaculture- establishes Aquatic Animals Fund	aquaculture		In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2965
Oregon	HB 2980	Relating to wildlife- tells ODFW to set up a Wildlife Stewardship Program			In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2980
Oregon	SB 222	Relating to the protection of salmon- directing ODFW to create program that controls salmon predator species	salmon		Introduced	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB222
Oregon	SB 331	Relating to native fish- tells ODFW to treat some hatchery and natural fish stock as a single population	hatchery, fish		Introduced	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB331
Oregon	SB 349	Cougar hunting	cougars, hunting	Oppose	Introduced	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB349/Introduced
Oregon	SB 412	Cougar tags- hunting cougars with dogs	cougars, hunting	Oppose	Introduced	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB412/Introduced
Oregon	SB 472	County is exempt from banning use of dogs to hunt cougars if voters approve county measure proposed by initiative petition	cougars, hunting	Oppose	In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2023R1/Measures/Overview/SB472
Oregon	SB 769	Cougar hunting	cougars, hunting		Introduced	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SB769/Introduced
Oregon	SB 776	Relating to predator management in drought-stricken areas- instructs the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify certain areas as wildlife management units or herd ranges and undertake predator control in these units/ranges until certain criteria are met	predator control	Oppose	In Committee	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB776
Oregon	SJR 13	Proposed amendment to Oregon Constitution to make fishing, hunting, harvesting wildlife, and gathering wild foods constitutional rights	state constitution, rights	Oppose	Introduced	https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/SJR13
Tennessee	HB 24 and SB 14	Increasing penalties for removing a wild animal, wild fowl, or fish when trespassing from Class C to Class B misdemeanor and increasing certain fines	poaching, fines		In Committee	https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/default.aspx?BillNumber=HB0024&GA=114
Tennessee	HB 2141 and SB 1751	Increasing poaching penalties and fines in Tennessee	poaching, fines		Vetoed	https://www.capitol.tn.gov/Bills/113/Bill/SB1751.pdf
Utah	HB 309	Requires all members of the state's Wildlife Board to be licensed hunters	wildlife, hunting		Introduced	https://le.utah.gov/~2025/bills/static/HB0309.html
Virginia	HB 2523	Amend and reenact part of Code of Virginia related to the Department of Wildlife Resources that allows free or partially discounted fees to hunt, fish, and trap	hunting, fees	Oppose	Introduced	https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2523/text/HB2523
Washington	HB 1311	Override commission's decision to keep wolves on Washington's endangered species list	wolves, endangered species	Oppose	Introduced	https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2025-26/Pdf/Bills/House%20Bills/1311.pdf
Washington	HB 1399	Modernizing, harmonizing, and clarifying laws concerning sheriffs, chiefs, marshals, and police matrons	law enforcement	Support	Introduced	https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?Year=2025&BillNumber=1399
Washington	HB 1442	Providing flexibility for the department of fish and wildlife to collaborate with local governments to manage gray wolves	wolves	Oppose	Introduced	https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1442&Chamber=House&Year=2025
Washington	HB 1685	Resturcturing the WDFW governance structure			In Committee	https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1685&Year=2023&Initiative=false
Washington	SB 5171	Expands compensation for livestock producers to include claims for indirect damages caused by wolves	wolves, livestock		Introduced	https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5171&Year=2025&Initiative=false
Washington	SB 5203	Ensuring connectivity for Washington wildlife through safe passages	wildlife	Support	Introduced	https://legiscan.com/WA/bill/SB5203/2025
Washington	SB 5343	Establishes a permanent funding source for Northeast Washington's wolf-livestock management program	wolves, livestock		Introduced	https://app.leg.wa.gov/BillSummary/?BillNumber=5343&Year=2025&Initiative=false
Washington	SB 5354	Remove endangered species protections for wolves in areas where they aren't listed under ESA	wolves, endangered species	Oppose	Introduced	https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5354&Year=2025&Initiative=false
Wyoming	HB 0003	Animal Abuse - predatory animals	Predator Control/Wildlife Abuse	Oppose	Introduced	https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0003
Wyoming	HB 0045	Relating to game and fish- removing otters from the definition of protected animals for hunting regulation purposes	wildlife, otters, hunting	Oppose	Introduced	https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0045
Wyoming	HB 0110	Relating to game and fish- amending qualifications for a nonresident trapping license	trapping		Introduced	https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0110
Wyoming	HB 0186	Bear coupons - game and fish	Grizzly bears and lack of charging for licenses to kill bears	Oppose	Introduced	https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0186
Wyoming	HB 0211	Relating to game and fish- authorizing persons to hunt specified animals from aircrafts, automotive vehicles, trailers, motor-propelled wheeled vehicles or snowmobiles	hunting		Introduced	https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0211
Wyoming	HB 0275	Clean Kill Bill, Establishes felony penalties for anyone who intentionally tortures wildlife in Wyoming	wildlife, felony		Introduced	https://wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/HB0275
Wyoming	SF 0139	Relating to game and fish- authorizing Wyoming game and fish commission to promote rules to establish trap setback specifications	trapping	Support	Introduced	https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/SF0139
Wyoming	SF 0140	Relating to game and fish- requiring any person born on or after January 1, 2000 to obtain a certificate of trapping education to be qualified to trap wildlife	trapping, wildlife		Introduced	https://www.wyoleg.gov/Legislation/2025/SF0140
Wyoming	HB 286	Mountain lion hunting season-changes; no season	wildlife, hunting	Oppose	In Committee
Wyoming	HB 331	Take of predators on public lands		Support	In Committee