LEGISLATION

Georgia's State Senate and House passed S.B. 478, bipartisan legislation reauthorizing the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act through 2039. The bill increases sales tax revenue allocation to GOSA from 40 to 60 percent, providing approximately $15 million annually for land conservation, wildlife habitat protection, and regional parks. Since 2019, GOSA has funded 88 projects totaling over $175 million.

Michigan lawmakers voted on March 25 to designate the wood duck as the state's official duck, with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signing HB 4044 into law. Lead bill author Representative Alabas Farhat credited Ducks Unlimited's habitat investments in enabling the wood duck's recovery from near extinction to thriving populations.

Anti-hunting activist groups inserted House Resolution 5017, the Greyhound Protection Act of 2025, into the Farm Bill, which would ban sight hounds, scent hounds, and bird dog training nationwide. The Sportsmen's Alliance urges hunters to contact their representatives and senators to remove the hunting ban language before final passage.

The Virginia General Assembly passed SB749, banning semi-automatic firearms and magazines holding over 15 rounds, despite Second Amendment protections. Governor Abigail Spanberger is expected to sign the bill, which takes effect July 1, 2026. Firearms Policy Coalition President Brandon Combs announced plans to file a federal lawsuit challenging the ban.

Gun Owners of America supports SB 1071 in West Virginia, which would authorize state-run distribution centers to transfer machine guns to qualified citizens under the Hughes Amendment exemption. Erich Pratt and Chris Stone of GOA argue the legislation adheres to existing federal law while defending Second Amendment rights.

South Dakota Governor Rhoden signed SD 2 into law at Silencer Central's headquarters, removing suppressors from the state's controlled weapons definition. The legislation, sponsored by Senator Casey Crabtree and Representative Drew Peterson, was supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation and provides a template for other states seeking suppressor deregulation.

Hawaii's SB433, a restrictive knife ban bill, was deferred indefinitely by the Senate Committee on Safety and Military Affairs. Knife Rights Director Todd Rather testified against the bill, which would ban most knife carry in public places. Over 400 people, including law enforcement and civil rights organizations, opposed the measure.

Silencer Central announced that South Dakota's legislature unanimously voted to deregulate suppressors, with the bill now heading to Governor Rhoden for signature. Founder Brandon Maddox stated the company is working with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to pursue similar legislation in other states and achieve full federal deregulation.

Washington's SB 5098 knife ban bill has passed the Democratic-controlled Senate 29-20 and moved to the House. Knife Rights, with support from Representative Mari Leavitt, will work to restore an amendment protecting hunting, fishing, and food preparation knives on public lands.

Wednesday, the U.S. Senate resoundingly voted to protect science-based wildlife management by rejecting a proposal, S.J. Res. 69, to overturn the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) Barred Owl Management Strategy, an effort influenced by some of the nation’s leading anti-hunting and animal rights activists. Leading up to the vote, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) worked directly with the nearly 60 U.S. Senators in the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus to see this proposal defeated.

The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is happy to report there has been progress on drumming up support for a permitless carry veto override vote in the Tar Heel State. Last week the Committee sent letters to four key North Carolina lawmakers and urged them to support a veto override of SB 50.

NSSF® celebrated Oklahoma’s Gov. Kevin Stitt signing SB 500, the NSSF-priority Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act, yesterday in Oklahoma City. The law prohibits state agencies and local government entities from entering into contracts with corporations that discriminate against the firearm industry.

In Delaware, Knife Rights supported bipartisan SB 108 was signed by Governor Matt Meyer. This bill removed the restrictions on sale or possession of automatic (switchblade) knives in the First State.

Safari Club International (SCI) has long supported science-based wildlife management and have repeatedly litigated against anti-hunting groups that ignore the science in favor of emotional ploys that drive their fundraising.

Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the reconciliation bill, commonly known as the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, which was previously approved by the U.S. Senate on Tuesday. The bill includes NRA-supported language that eliminates the burdensome $200 excise tax imposed by federal law on suppressors, short-barreled firearms, and “any other weapons” as defined by the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Three states will enjoy enactment of bills that advance knife rights. Knife Rights' bills signed into law earlier this year take effect in Tennessee, Idaho and Vermont.

Gun Owners of America and six other gun rights organizations issued a joint statement urging the U.S. Senate to continue to fight to gut the National Firearms Act of 1934 despite the Parliamentarian’s egregiously incorrect ruling that NFA excise taxes cannot be repealed using the budget reconciliation process.

The Firearms Policy Coalition issued a statement in response to reports that the Senate Parliamentarian has advised that key pro-liberty provisions in the Republican reconciliation package would be subject to a 60-vote threshold under the Byrd Rule, essentially striking them from the Senate’s version of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” unless the Senate overrules her.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) and six other gun rights organizations issued a joint statement urging the U.S. Senate to continue to fight to gut the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) despite the Parliamentarian’s egregiously incorrect ruling that NFA excise taxes cannot be repealed using the budget reconciliation process.

In Delaware, Knife Rights supported bipartisan SB 108 unanimously passed the House. This bill would remove the restrictions on sale or possession of automatic (switchblade) knives in the First State. It also amends the “Deadly Weapons” exemption for “ordinary pocketknife” by deleting “folding” in order to cover all types of knives, and increases the length from 3 inches to 3.75 inches. The bill now Heads to Governor Matt Meyer who is expected to sign it.