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*hb1067*
HOUSE BILL 1067
M2 6lr2452
By: Delegates Guyton and Allen, Allen, and Healey
Introduced and read first time: February 9, 2026
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: March 9, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Hunting – Lead and Lead–Based Ammunition – Phase–Out 2
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Natural Resources to require, through a 3
certain phasing–out process, the use of nonlead ammunition for the hunting of all 4
game species on or before a certain date under certain circumstances; establishing a 5
certain penalty for a first violation of this Act, subject to a certain termination date; 6
and generally relating to phasing out the use of lead or lead –based ammunition for 7
hunting. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Natural Resources 10
Section 10–408 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 14
Article – Natural Resources 15
Section 10–408(e) 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 18
(As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) 19
Preamble 20
2 HOUSE BILL 1067
WHEREAS, The 1991 federal ban on the use of lead ammunition in waterfowl 1
hunting is considered one of the greatest conservation and animal welfare achievements in 2
wildlife management in the last century; and 3
WHEREAS, The federal ban on the use of lead ammunition in waterfowl hunting 4
saves over 1.4 million ducks annually from lead poisoning, enabling larger fall flights of 5
ducks and geese, and increasing opportunities for hunters; and 6
WHEREAS, England, Scotland, and Wales will phase out the use of lead ammunition 7
by 2029 in recognition of the serious cumulative health and environmental impacts on 8
humans and animals; and 9
WHEREAS, Over 500 peer–reviewed studies recognize that there is no safe level of 10
lead exposure for humans; and 11
WHEREAS, Peer –reviewed studies have proven that there is a direct connection 12
between the use of lead ammunition and an increase in health, neurological, emotional, 13
and intellectual deficiencies in humans; and 14
WHEREAS, It has been shown that the shattering of lead ammunition upon striking 15
bone in an animal can spread into dozens of lead fragments that are not readily visible by 16
the naked eye, but are detectable using X–ray technology; and 17
WHEREAS, Over 50,000 deer are killed by firearms in the State annually, and the 18
meat is consumed by hunters and family members; and 19
WHEREAS, Venison is donated in substantial amounts to food banks, and those 20
receiving the donated meat may be unknowingly ingesting lead; and 21
WHEREAS, Wildlife, such as the bald eagle, are being poisoned by ingesting lead 22
particles that are left in abandoned pieces of animal carcasses; now, therefore, 23
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 24
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 25
Article – Natural Resources 26
10–408. 27
(a) (1) In this section [, “handgun” ] THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE 28
MEANINGS INDICATED. 29
(2) “HANDGUN” means a firearm: 30
[(1)] (I) With a barrel length not exceeding 6 inches; and 31
HOUSE BILL 1067 3
[(2)] (II) That does not have a scope or an electronic device attached. 1
(3) “NONLEAD AMMUNITION” INCLUDES: 2
(I) AMMUNITION IN WHICH T HERE IS LESS THAN 1% LEAD 3
CONTENT; AND 4
(II) ANY FEDERALLY APPROVED NONTOXIC AMMUNITION. 5
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department 6
shall: 7
(i) Prescribe by regulation the means or weapons for hunting 8
designated wildlife; and 9
(ii) Set forth any restrictions relating to weapons used to hunt 10
designated wildlife, including the amount [and], size, AND TYPE of ammunition for 11
designated game birds or mammals. 12
(2) The Department may not prohibit a licensed bow hunter from openly 13
carrying a handgun that the hunter is otherwise authorized to carry under § 4 –203 of the 14
Criminal Law Article if the bow hunter: 15
(i) Is at least 21 years old; 16
(ii) Is hunting in deer management Region A as defined by the 17
Department’s Guide to Hunting and Trapping; 18
(iii) Is carrying the handgun for personal protection; and 19
(iv) Does not use the handgun to kill wildlife wounded by a vertical 20
bow or crossbow. 21
(c) The Department shall make the regulations available for distribution with 22
each hunting license purchased. 23
(d) This section does not authorize the Department to restrict the use of firearms 24
except in the activity of hunting designated wildlife. 25
(E) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 26
ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2029 2030, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQUIRE THE USE OF 27
NONLEAD AMMUNITION FOR THE HUNTING OF ALL GAME SPECIES. 28
(2) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AUTHORIZE THE USE OF LEAD 29
AMMUNITION FOR MUZZL ELOADERS, HANDGUNS, RIFLES, AND SHOTGUNS IF 30
4 HOUSE BILL 1067
NONLEAD AMMUNITION I S NOT COMMERCIALLY A VAILABLE FOR THE SPE CIFIC 1
FIREARM. 2
(3) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES REGULATIONS OF THE DEPARTMENT 3
REQUIRING THE USE OF NONLEAD AMMUNITION F OR HUNTING FOR A FIR ST 4
OFFENSE IS SUBJECT TO A CIVIL FINE NOT EXCEEDING $750. 5
(4) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOP T REGULATIONS TO CAR RY OUT 6
THIS SUBSECTION. 7
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 8
as follows: 9
Article – Natural Resources 10
10–408. 11
(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, on or before July 12
1, 2030, the Department shall require the use of nonlead ammunition for the hunting of all 13
game species. 14
(2) The Department shall authorize the use of lead ammunition for 15
muzzleloaders, handguns, rifles, and shotguns if nonlead ammunition is not commercially 16
available for the specific firearm. 17
(3) [A person who violates regulations of the Department requiring the use 18
of nonlead ammunition for hunting for a first offense is subject to a civil fine not exceeding 19
$750. 20
(4)] The Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this subsection. 21
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 22
(a) On or before July 1, 2027, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 23
regulations requiring the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting pen –raised birds on 24
regulated shooting areas. 25
(b) On or before July 1, 2028, the Department of Natural Resources sh all adopt 26
regulations requiring the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting: 27
(1) upland game birds; 28
(2) webless migratory game birds; and 29
(3) wild turkey. 30
HOUSE BILL 1067 5
(c) On or before July 1, 2029, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 1
regulations requiring nonlead ammunition for: 2
(1) muzzleloaders, handguns, rifles, and shotguns used for hunting deer; 3
and 4
(2) hunting any other game species not specified in this section. 5
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take 6
effect January 1, 2031. 7
SECTION 3. 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That , except as provided in 8
Section 3 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 9
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.