CA: Establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish
| Number |
H. J. R. No. 1
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| Type |
House Joint Resolution
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| General Assembly |
136
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Government Link
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Legislative Analysis Report CA: Establish a constitutional right to hunt and fish
1. Primary Purpose of the Bill
This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the Ohio Constitution to establish a constitutional right for citizens to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife. It declares hunting and fishing as the preferred method for managing and controlling wildlife populations in the state, while ensuring these rights do not interfere with private property or trespass laws.
Natural ResourcesConstitutional AmendmentsRecreation
2. Changes to Existing Law
Ohio Constitution Art. I, Sec. 23 Enacts a new section to establish a constitutional right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife using traditional methods, subject only to state laws and rules that promote conservation or preserve the future of these activities.
3. Key Information for Citizens
🗳️ What You Need to Know
- Ohio voters will decide on this constitutional amendment during the November 4, 2025, general election.
- If passed, hunting, fishing, and harvesting wildlife will become protected constitutional rights in Ohio.
- The amendment protects the use of traditional hunting and fishing methods.
- Hunting and fishing will be the state's preferred way to manage and control wildlife populations.
- This amendment does not change or limit existing laws regarding trespass or private property rights.
4. Entities Affected
- Hunters
- Anglers
- Property owners
- Wildlife conservation groups
- Ohio Department of Natural Resources (Division of Wildlife)
5. Regulatory Impact & Enforcement
Agency Authority: The Ohio General Assembly and state wildlife agencies retain the authority to make laws and rules to manage wildlife conservation and preserve the future of hunting and fishing.
Penalties & Mandates: Not applicable
Implementation Timeline: If approved by a majority of voters in the November 4, 2025 general election, the amendment will take effect immediately.
6. Estimated Fiscal Impact
State Revenue Impact
Not applicable
Local Government Impact
Not applicable
Implementation Costs
Not applicable
Net Annual Fiscal Effect
Not applicable
Policy doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Meet the representatives and senators who introduced this bill and are pushing it through the chamber. Click on any sponsor to see their district, party affiliation, and what other legislation they’ve championed this session.
Primary Sponsors
Nick Santucci
District
64
Chamber
House of Representatives
Party
Republican
Ron Ferguson
District
96
Chamber
House of Representatives
Party
Republican
Co-Sponsors
Related Topics
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Elections & Voting
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Environment
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Agriculture
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Most legislative decisions are made in committee rooms, not on the chamber floor. Here, you can track which committees have been assigned to review, amend, or report on this bill. Stay informed on where the bill is currently being debated and which chairpersons hold the power to move it forward.
Status Changes
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| House |
Senate |
Governor |
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Referred to committee
Feb 05 2025
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Documents
Access the primary source. This section hosts the full, unedited text of the legislation alongside every official document produced during its journey. From the initial draft to the final enrolled version, you can review the exact language being proposed for state law.
