Bill
SB 634
SB 634 phases in mandatory nonlead ammunition for all hunting by 2029, reshaping hunters' practices and the ammunition market, with phased deadlines and transition needs.
Status snapshot
- Bill title: Hunting — Nonlead Ammunition, Fox Chasing, and Deer Management
- Introduced: February 20, 2025 (hearing scheduled 3/04 at 1:00 p.m.)
- Effective date specified in bill: July 1, 2025 (with staged regulatory deadlines through 2029)
- Primary subject: Natural resources / hunting regulation
Summary — purpose and intent
SB 634 (2025) (as drafted) aims to (1) reduce wildlife and environmental lead exposure by phasing in mandatory use of nonlead ammunition for hunting, (2) create a Deer Management Assistance Program to help farmers with deer management on private land, and (3) change regulatory treatment of fox chasing by (a) bringing the sport within the statutory definition of “hunt” and (b) requiring participants in unarmed fox chasing to hold a full-season hunting license (with a limited exemption from the firearms safety certificate requirement).
Key provisions and changes
- Deer Management Assistance Program
- Establishes a Deer Management Assistance Program within the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to educate and assist farmers on deer management and hunting on private land.
- Requires the Department of Budget and Management to add one permanent, classified full‑time position in DNR to administer the program by July 1, 2026.
Nonlead ammunition requirement (phased implementation)
Fox chasing / hunting license
Who is affected
- Hunters and participants in fox chasing: will face new ammunition requirements over time and licensing requirements for unarmed fox chasing; may face higher ammunition costs and changes in permitted equipment.
- Farmers/landowners: eligible for education and assistance through the new Deer Management Assistance Program.
- DNR and state budget: new staff and regulatory implementation obligations.
- Ammunition manufacturers/retailers and shooting/sporting businesses: increased demand for nonlead ammunition; potential compliance costs.
- Conservation/federal grant programs: potential increase in federal matching funds tied to eligible wildlife/conservation expenditures.
Fiscal and procedural notes (from fiscal analysis)
- Staffing and operating cost: one new DNR Natural Resources Biologist (salary, benefits, vehicle, O&M) — estimated special/federal fund expenditures of about $121,500 in FY2026 (90‑day start assumption).
- Revenue impacts: estimated increase in hunting license revenue ~ $80,600 beginning FY2026 (based on projected participants in unarmed fox chasing), with potential federal matching funds increasing in subsequent years.
- Timeline obligations for DNR: adopt regulations to implement phased nonlead requirement on or before the listed July 1 dates (2026–2029); add the FTE by July 1, 2026.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Environmental/public‑health benefit: reduced lead deposition and secondary lead poisoning risk to wildlife and scavengers.
- Compliance burden and market effects: hunters and businesses may incur higher costs to switch to nonlead ammunition; availability of appropriate nonlead ammo could affect hunting participation or require outreach/transition support.
- Administrative burden: DNR must promulgate regulations and administer program; funding/appropriation consequences depend on implementation choices and federal matching.
For stakeholders
- Hunters: monitor phased dates and regulatory guidance from DNR; plan for equipment/ammunition transition.
- Farmers: expect outreach and assistance resources from DNR under the new program.
- Ammunition vendors & sporting industry: consider inventory and supply chain adjustments to meet growing nonlead demand.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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