Relating to the Oregon Hazards Lab at the University of Oregon.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Wlnsvey Campos and 12 co-sponsors

Permits deer hunting with a wildlife rifle, a centerfire rifle with up to 3 rounds (magazine + chamber) by redefining rifles and defining straight-walled cartridges.

In committee upon adjournment.

Purpose

HB 3219 amends the Illinois Wildlife Code to change how "rifles" used to take deer are defined and regulated. The bill replaces references to a “single shot centerfire rifle” with a new category called a “wildlife rifle” and adds a statutory definition for “straight‑walled centerfire cartridge.”

Key provisions

Adds two new definitions to the Wildlife Code:

“Straight‑walled centerfire cartridge”: a centerfire cartridge whose diameter is uniform across its length and that has a metallic case extending to the projectile.
“Wildlife rifle”: a centerfire rifle that can hold up to 3 rounds in the magazine and chamber combined.

Amends Section 2.25 of the Wildlife Code to authorize taking deer with a “wildlife rifle” (as defined) rather than restricting the statute to “single shot” centerfire rifles. This effectively permits centerfire rifles with up to three rounds total capacity for deer hunting under statutory seasons and rules.

Repeals the statute’s prior definition and references to “single shot,” replacing them with the new terminology.

Existing statutory provisions related to legal ammunition, seasons (gun, bow, muzzleloader), special harvest periods, tagging/roll‑over of unused permits, and Department rulemaking authority remain in place. (The bill text retains provisions prohibiting full metal jacket bullets for deer and other ammunition/handgun requirements already in the statute.)

Who would be affected

Hunters: hunters who use rifles for deer will be allowed to use centerfire rifles with up to three rounds rather than being limited to single‑shot rifles.

Firearms/ammunition retailers and manufacturers: demand and marketing for rifles and magazines meeting the “3‑round” definition could be affected, as could production/distribution of specified cartridges.

Illinois Department of Natural Resources (or “the Department”): will continue to set seasons, limits, and management rules; may need to update administrative rules and guidance to reflect the new definitions and enforcement criteria.

Law enforcement and wildlife officers: will need to enforce the new capacity limit (magazine + chamber ≤ 3 rounds) and the statutory cartridge definitions.

Procedural / timeline notes

Introduced in mid‑February 2025; referred to Rules Committee and Public Health; committee substitute reported favorably April 28, 2025; placed on the General State Calendar May 12, 2025.

If enacted, administrative rules and agency guidance will be needed to implement and clarify enforcement details.

Potential impacts and considerations

Expands the types of rifles legally usable for deer hunting (up to 3 rounds), which could affect hunter success, public‑safety assessments, and enforcement practices.

Clarifies a statutory definition for straight‑walled centerfire cartridges (relevant to which cartridges are allowed).

Some portions of the existing statute concerning permissible ammunition and energy/caliber requirements are complex in the current text; implementers and stakeholders should review final enrolled language and subsequent administrative rules to confirm precise ammo and firearm compliance standards.

Bill