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EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXISTING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0447*
HOUSE BILL 447
M2 CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 6lr0902
By: Delegate Grammer
Introduced and read first time: January 23, 2026
Assigned to: Rules and Executive Nominations
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Right to Hunt, Fish, and Harvest Wildlife 2
FOR the purpose of establishing that every person has the right to hunt, fish, and harvest 3
wildlife, including the right to use traditional methods to hunt, fish, and harvest 4
wildlife, subject to certain regulations and restrictions; establishing that the right to 5
hunt and fish is forever preserved for the public good; establishing that fishing and 6
hunting are preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife in the State; and 7
generally relating to the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife in the State. 8
BY proposing an addition to the Maryland Constitution 9
Declaration of Rights 10
Article 49 11
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 12
Article – Natural Resources 13
Section 4–103 and 10–102 14
Annotated Code of Maryland 15
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 16
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 17
(Three–fifths of all the members elected to each of the two Houses concurring), That it be 18
proposed that the Maryland Constitution read as follows: 19
Declaration of Rights 20
ARTICLE 49. 21
(A) EVERY PERSON SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO HUNT, FISH, AND HARVEST 22
WILDLIFE, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO USE TRADITIONAL METHODS TO HUNT, FISH, 23
2 HOUSE BILL 447
AND HARVEST WILDLIFE , SUBJECT TO REGULATIO NS AND RESTRICTIONS UNDER 1
LAWS THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ENACTS, TO: 2
(1) PROMOTE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT; AND 3
(2) PRESERVE THE FUTURE OF HUNTING AND FISHING. 4
(B) NOTHING IN THIS ARTICLE MAY BE CONSTR UED TO LIMIT THE 5
APPLICATION OF ANY P ROVISION OF LAW RELA TING TO TRESPASS OR PROPERTY 6
RIGHTS. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 8
as follows: 9
Article – Natural Resources 10
4–103. 11
(a) The General Assembly finds that: 12
(1) Fishing is a valued part of the State’s cultural and social heritage that 13
provides unique recreational benefits to residents of the State; and 14
(2) Fishing plays an important part in the State’s economy by contributing 15
to tax revenues and employment and supports the conservation, preservation, and 16
management of the State’s fisheries, natural areas, and water resources. 17
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that [residents]: 18
(1) RESIDENTS of the State have [a] THE right to fish, INCLUDING THE 19
RIGHT TO USE TRADITIONAL METHODS TO FISH, subject to regulations and restrictions 20
under laws that the General Assembly enacts; 21
(2) THE RIGHT TO FISH SHALL BE FOREVE R PRESERVED FOR THE 22
PUBLIC GOOD; AND 23
(3) FISHING SH ALL BE A PREFERRED M EANS OF MANAGING AND 24
CONTROLLING WILDLIFE IN THE STATE. 25
10–102. 26
(a) The General Assembly finds that: 27
(1) Hunting is a valued part of the State’s cultural and social heritage that 28
provides unique recreational benefits to residents of the State; and 29
HOUSE BILL 447 3
(2) Hunting plays an important part in the State’s economy by contributing 1
to tax revenues and employment and, through the receipt of federal funds, supports the 2
conservation, preservation, and management of the State’s wildlife, natur al areas, and 3
related resources. 4
(b) It is the intent of the General Assembly that [residents]: 5
(1) RESIDENTS of the State have [a] THE right to hunt, INCLUDING THE 6
RIGHT TO USE TRADITIONAL METHODS TO HUNT, subject to regulations and restrictions 7
under laws that the General Assembly enacts; 8
(2) THE RIGHT TO HUNT SHA LL BE FOREVER PRESER VED FOR THE 9
PUBLIC GOOD; AND 10
(3) HUNTING SHALL BE A PR EFERRED MEANS OF MAN AGING AND 11
CONTROLLING WILDLIFE IN THE STATE. 12
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the General Assembly 13
determines that the amendment to the Maryland Constitution proposed by Section 1 of this 14
Act affects multiple jurisdictions and that the provisions of Article XIV, § 1 of the Maryland 15
Constitution concerning local approval of constitutional amendments do not apply. 16
SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the amendment to the 17
Maryland Constitution proposed by Section 1 of this Act shall be submitted to the qualified 18
voters of the State at the next general election to be held in November 2026 for adoption or 19
rejection in accordance with Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution. At that general 20
election, the vote on the proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be by ballot, and on 21
each b allot there shall be printed the words “For the Constitutional Amendment” and 22
“Against the Constitutional Amendment”, as now provided by law. Immediately after the 23
election, all returns shall be made to the Governor of the vote for and against the proposed 24
amendment, as directed by Article XIV of the Maryland Constitution, and further 25
proceedings held in accordance with Article XIV. 26
SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act is 27
contingent on the passage of Section 1 of this Act, a co nstitutional amendment, and its 28
ratification by the voters of the State. 29
SECTION 6. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, subject to Section 5 of this 30
Act, Section 2 of this Act shall take effect on the proclamation of the Governor that the 31
constitutional ame ndment, having received a majority of the votes cast at the general 32
election, has been adopted by the people of Maryland. 33