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*sb0181*
SENATE BILL 181
M2 6lr0628
(PRE–FILED)
By: Senator Lewis Young Senators Lewis Young, Brooks, Harris, Kagan, M.
Washington, Watson, and West
Requested: July 7, 2025
Introduced and read first time: January 14, 2026
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
Senate action: Adopted with floor amendments
Read second time: March 21, 2026
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Hunting – Lead and Lead–Based Ammunition – Phase–Out Restrictions of 2
Venison Donation 3
FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Natural Resources to require, through a 4
certain phasing–out process, the use of nonlead ammunition for the hunting of all 5
game species on or before a certain date prohibit the donation of certain processed 6
venison to certain entities except under certain circumstances; establishing a certain 7
penalty for a first violation of this Act, subject to a certain termination date; and 8
generally relating to phasing out the use of lead or lead –based ammunition for 9
hunting venison donation. 10
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 11
Article – Natural Resources 12
Section 10–408 13
Annotated Code of Maryland 14
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 15
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 16
Article – Natural Resources 17
Section 10–408(e) 18
Annotated Code of Maryland 19
(2023 Replacement Volume and 2025 Supplement) 20
(As enacted by Section 1 of this Act) 21
2 SENATE BILL 181
Preamble 1
WHEREAS, The 1991 federal ban on the use of lead ammunition in waterfowl 2
hunting is considered one of the greatest conservation and animal welfare achievements in 3
wildlife management in the last century; and 4
WHEREAS, The federal ban on t he use of lead ammunition in waterfowl hunting 5
saves over 1.4 million ducks annually from lead poisoning, enabling larger fall flights of 6
ducks and geese, and increasing opportunities for hunters; and 7
WHEREAS, England, Scotland, and Wales will phase out the use of lead ammunition 8
by 2029 in recognition of the serious cumulative health and environmental impacts on 9
humans and animals; and 10
WHEREAS, Over 500 peer–reviewed studies recognize that there is no safe level of 11
lead exposure for humans; and 12
WHEREAS, Peer–reviewed studies have shown that individuals working at shooting 13
ranges have developed severe toxicity and increased health challenges as a result of 14
exposure to lead ammunition; and 15
WHEREAS, Peer –reviewed studies have proven that there is a dir ect connection 16
between the use of lead ammunition and an increase in health, neurological, emotional, 17
and intellectual deficiencies in humans; and 18
WHEREAS, It has been shown that the shattering of lead ammunition upon striking 19
bone in an animal can spread into dozens of lead fragments that are not readily visible by 20
the naked eye, but are detectable using X–ray technology; and 21
WHEREAS, Over 50,000 deer are killed by firearms in the State annually, and the 22
meat is consumed by hunters and family members; and 23
WHEREAS, Venison is donated in substantial amounts to food banks, and those 24
receiving the donated meat may be unknowingly ingesting lead; and 25
WHEREAS, Wildlife, such as the bald eagle, are being poisoned by ingesting lead 26
particles that are left in abandoned pieces of animal carcasses; and 27
WHEREAS, The health care system, educational system, and criminal justice system 28
are being unnecessarily burdened by exposure to and ingestion of lead ammunition; now, 29
therefore, 30
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 31
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 32
Article – Natural Resources 33
SENATE BILL 181 3
10–408. 1
(a) (1) In this section [, “handgun” ] THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE 2
MEANINGS INDICATED. 3
(2) “HANDGUN” means a firearm: 4
[(1)] (I) With a barrel length not exceeding 6 inches; and 5
[(2)] (II) That does not have a scope or an electronic device attached. 6
(3) “NONLEAD AMMUNITION” INCLUDES: 7
(I) AMMUNITION IN WHICH T HERE IS LESS THAN 1% LEAD 8
CONTENT; AND 9
(II) ANY FEDERALLY APPROVED NONTOXIC AMMUNITION. 10
(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department 11
shall: 12
(i) Prescribe by regulation the means or weapons for hunting 13
designated wildlife; and 14
(ii) Set forth any restrictions relating to weapons used to hunt 15
designated wildlife, including the amount [and], size, AND TYPE of ammunition for 16
designated game birds or mammals. 17
(2) The Department may not prohibit a licensed bow hunter from openly 18
carrying a handgun that the hunter is otherwise authorized to carry under § 4 –203 of the 19
Criminal Law Article if the bow hunter: 20
(i) Is at least 21 years old; 21
(ii) Is hunting in deer management Region A as defined by the 22
Department’s Guide to Hunting and Trapping; 23
(iii) Is carrying the handgun for personal protection; and 24
(iv) Does not use the handgun to kill wildlife wounded by a vertical 25
bow or crossbow. 26
(c) The Department shall make the regulations available for distribution with 27
each hunting license purchased. 28
4 SENATE BILL 181
(d) This section does not authorize the Department to restrict the use of firearms 1
except in the activity of hunting designated wildlife. 2
(E) (1) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH (2) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 3
ON OR BEFORE JULY 1, 2029 2030, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REQUIRE THE USE OF 4
NONLEAD AMMUNITION FOR THE HUNTING OF ALL GAME SPECIES. 5
(2) (I) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AUTH ORIZE THE USE OF LEA D 6
AMMUNITION FOR MUZZL ELOADERS, HANDGUNS, RIFLES, AND SHOTGUNS IF 7
NONLEAD AMMUNITION I S NOT COMMERCIAL LY AVAILABLE FOR THE SPECIFIC 8
UNLESS THE DEER WAS H ARVESTED USING NONLEAD AMMUNITION OR A B OW AND 9
ARROW, THE DEPARTMENT SHALL PROH IBIT A PERSON FROM D ONATING 10
PROCESSED DEER MEAT TO A VENISON DONATION PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY AN 11
ORGANIZATION THAT IS EXEMPT F ROM TAXATION UNDER § 501(C)(3) OF THE 12
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE WEAPON FIREARM. 13
(II) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL AUTH ORIZE THE USE OF LEA D 14
AMMUNITION BY AN INDIVIDUAL HUNTING DEER UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF A DEER 15
MANAGEMENT PERMIT ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30, 2031. 16
(3) (2) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES REGULATIONS OF THE 17
DEPARTMENT REQUIRING THE USE OF NONLEAD A MMUNITION FOR HUNTING THE 18
PROHIBITION IN PARAG RAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION FOR A FIRST OFFENSE IS 19
SUBJECT TO A CIVIL FINE NOT EXCEEDING $750. 20
(4) (3) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL ADOPT REGULATIONS TO CARRY 21
OUT THIS SUBSECTION. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, on or before December 1, 23
2030, the Department of Natural Resources shall report to the Senate Committee on 24
Education, Energy, and the Environment and the House Environment and Transportation 25
Committee, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State Government Article, on inspections 26
performed by the Natural Resources Police Force detailing violations in venison processing 27
facilities under § 10–408(e) of the Natural Resources Article, as enacted by Section 1 of this 28
Act. 29
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Laws of Maryland read 30
as follows: 31
Article – Natural Resources 32
10–408. 33
SENATE BILL 181 5
(e) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, on or before July 1
1, 2030, the Department shall require the use of nonlead ammunition for the hunting of all 2
game species. 3
(2) (i) The Department shall authorize the use of lead ammunition for 4
muzzleloaders, handguns, rifles, and shotguns if nonlead ammunition is not commercially 5
available for the specific firearm. 6
(ii) The Department shall authorize the use of lead ammunition by 7
an individual hunting deer under the authority of a deer managemen t permit on or before 8
June 30, 2031. 9
(3) [A person who violates regulations of the Department requiring the use 10
of nonlead ammunition for hunting for a first offense is subject to a civil fine not exceeding 11
$750. 12
(4)] The Department shall adopt regulations to carry out this subsection. 13
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That: 14
(a) On or before July 1, 2027, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 15
regulations requiring the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting pen –raised birds on 16
regulated shooting areas. 17
(b) On or before July 1, 2028, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 18
regulations requiring the use of nonlead ammunition for hunting: 19
(1) upland game birds; 20
(2) webless migratory game birds; and 21
(3) wild turkey. 22
(c) On or before July 1, 2029, the Department of Natural Resources shall adopt 23
regulations requiring nonlead ammunition for: 24
(1) muzzleloaders, handguns, rifles, and shotguns used for hunting deer; 25
and 26
(2) hunting any other game species not specified in this section. 27
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 2 of this Act shall take 28
effect January 1, 2031. 29
SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That, except as provided in Section 30
3 of this Act, this Act shall take effect July 1, 2026 2027. 31