Urge U.S. Congress to enact legislation to include airguns and airbows as items taxed under the Pittman-Robertson Act.

2026 Regular Session

Mississippi urges Congress to amend the Pittman-Robertson Act to tax airguns and airbows (and other methods of take) like firearms and archery gear to fund wildlife conservation.

Died In Committee

#rules

Overview

Type: Senate Resolution (non-binding)

Session/Jurisdiction: Mississippi, Regular Session 2026

Subject: Urges the United States Congress to enact legislation that would include airguns and airbows (and other methods of take) as items taxed under the federal Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act.

Current Status: Died in Committee (as of action history)

Purpose and Intent

The resolution seeks federal action to amend the Pittman-Rroberson Act (the federal Wildlife Restoration Program) so that airguns and airbows are treated like traditional firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment for purposes of federal excise taxes that fund wildlife conservation.

It argues that airgun technology has advanced (including arrow-shooting airguns) and that airguns/airbows currently fall outside the scope of the Pittman-Robertson tax framework, leading to a potential gap in conservation funding.

Key Provisions

Main Request: Urges Congress to enact legislation to add airguns and airbows to the list of items taxed under the Pittman-Robertson Act, alongside existing taxed categories (firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment).

Scope Clarification: Includes airguns, airbows, and “other methods of take” as potential eligible items subject to Pittman-Robertson taxes, requiring a change in federal tax statute.

Method of Action: The resolution directs the Mississippi Secretary of State to:

Transmit the resolution to Mississippi’s congressional delegation.
Send copies to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
Make it available to the Capitol Press Corps.

Who/What Would Be Affected

Federal Level: Any modification to the Pittman-Robertson Act would affect federal excise taxes collected on airguns, airbows, and related hunting equipment once enacted.

Conservation Funding: Potentially increases or formalizes revenue streams for wildlife conservation programs funded by Pittman-Robertson, depending on how the Act is amended (the resolution itself does not change law; it seeks Congressional action).

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Intended Action: The resolution is an urging step intended to influence federal legislation, not a change in Mississippi law.

Action History:

Referred to Rules on January 9, 2026
Died in Committee on April 15, 2026

Implication of Status: As a non-binding resolution that did not advance, it does not produce immediate legal changes but signals state-level support for a federal policy shift.

Potential Impact if Adopted Federally

If Congress enacts the change, airguns and airbows could be taxed under Pittman-Robertson, increasing federal wildlife funding used for conservation, habitat programs, and related initiatives.

Could affect consumers and manufacturers of airguns/airbows through taxation at purchase or manufacturer levels, depending on the statute's design (the resolution itself does not specify rate changes).

If you’d like, I can compare this proposal to current Pittman-Robertson coverage and provide a brief policy rationale outline for stakeholders.

Bill