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Bill Summary · SB 449

Summary — SB 449: Frederick and Washington Counties — Bow Hunting — Openly Carrying Handguns

Status: Hearing scheduled 3/26 at 1:00 p.m.
Introduced (MD): Jan. 21, 2025. Effective date in bill: July 1, 2025.
Primary sponsor (MD): Senator Folden. Cross-file: HB 511 (Frederick County Delegation).

Main purpose

Allow licensed bow hunters in Frederick County and the remainder of Washington County to openly carry a handgun for personal protection while bow hunting during deer hunting season, by preventing the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) from prohibiting that conduct when specified conditions are met.

Key provisions

  • DNR prohibition barred: The DNR may not prohibit a licensed bow hunter from openly carrying a handgun in Frederick County or Washington County during deer hunting season if the hunter:
    • Is at least 21 years old;
    • Is otherwise authorized to carry the handgun under §4‑203 of the Criminal Law Article (i.e., has the applicable permit/authorization);
    • Is carrying the handgun for personal protection; and
    • Does not use the handgun to kill wildlife wounded by a vertical bow or crossbow.
  • Handgun defined: A firearm with a barrel length not exceeding 6 inches and without a scope or electronic device attached (consistent with existing statutory language in the bill).
  • DNR transparency: The Department must make its hunting regulations available for distribution with each hunting license purchase.
  • Scope: The bill does not expand DNR’s authority to restrict firearm use generally — it only modifies prohibitions related to hunting activities.
  • Effective date: July 1, 2025.

Who is affected

  • Primary: Licensed bow hunters aged 21+ hunting deer in Frederick County and Washington County who are otherwise authorized to carry a handgun.
  • Secondary: DNR (regulatory materials/distribution), hunting-license vendors (distribution of regulations), and public-safety stakeholders (wildlife officers, law enforcement).
  • The change expands an existing exception that previously applied in Deer Management Region A (parts of Allegany, Garrett, and western Washington County) to additional geographic areas.

Fiscal and administrative impact

  • Fiscal note (MD Department of Legislative Services) states the bill is not expected to materially affect State or local government operations or finances.
  • DNR indicates the change aligns with existing practice that allows handguns for personal protection from bears in parts of the State; this bill expands that authorization geographically.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced in the Maryland Senate (Jan. 21, 2025). Assigned to the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee.
  • Hearing noted for March 26 (1:00 p.m.). The bill text specifies a July 1, 2025 effective date.
  • Cross-filed as HB 511 for consideration in the House.

If you want, I can:
- Extract and compare the existing statute (current §10‑408) to show exact changes, or
- Summarize stakeholder positions or testimony from the committee hearing (if available).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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