Latest news with #MandySteele
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to repeal PA's Sunday hunting ban heads to Senate
(WJET/WFXP) – A House bill impacting Pennsylvania hunters will soon be making its way to the Senate. On Wednesday, June 11, House Bill 1431 was approved by the House Game and Fisheries Committee by a vote of 131-72. Union City student in the running for wildlife magazine feature The bill, introduced by Representative Mandy Steele, would fully repeal Pennsylvania's Sunday hunting ban. While some exceptions have been made for the Sunday hunting ban, such as Act 107, which allowed for the hunting of foxes, coyotes and crows, House Bill 1431 would fully rescind the ban and allow the PA Game Commission to include Sundays during hunting seasons. Where's Lady Kate? Erie sightseeing boat delays season The PA Game Commission Executive Director, Steve Smith, spoke about his support for the bill. 'Though hunters play an active role in helping to manage wildlife populations, through the purchase of their licenses and other revenue they generate, they also fund wildlife conservation at a larger scale, for all species,' said Smith. 'For those reasons and others, it's important to keep hunters engaged and providing the valuable service they do. These bills would help accomplish that. To stay up to date on the latest PA Game Commission news, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Pennsylvania House Votes to Reverse 19th Century Hunting Law
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Lawmakers have begun to reverse a centuries-old hunting law that banned the practice on Sundays in Pennsylvania. The state legislature voted to overturn the blue law today after centuries of Sunday hunting restrictions, which were originally introduced to preserve the day as a religious occasion. Why It Matters "Blue laws" are pieces of legislation that ban certain activities at certain times for religious reasons. In Pennsylvania's case, the law banned hunting, along with several other activities, on Sundays to maintain the day's status as a day of rest and religious observance. What To Know The hunting ban was reversed today after a 131-72 vote on House Bill 1431, which saw 69 Republicans and three Democrats vote in favor of keeping the ban. The bill's sponsor, Democratic Representative Mandy Steele, stated that the law was outdated and no longer fit for modern-day life in Pennsylvania. "This is an archaic 'blue law,' not based in the reality of today. It's a law that most states have eliminated long ago," Steele said on the floor while debating the bill. "Not being able to hunt on Sundays creates major hurdles for busy families," she said. A man peers through binoculars while hunting for deer in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on May 2016. A man peers through binoculars while hunting for deer in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, on May 2016. Getty Images Steele's bill would allow Pennsylvania's Game Commission to legalize hunting on Sundays of its choosing, while outlining new regulations related to hunting, such as trespassing penalties. The ban, introduced in the 19th century, had previously allowed the hunting of pests like coyotes, foxes and crows. There was also a cut-out for three specific Sundays each calendar year on which hunting traditional game, such as deer, was allowed. What People Are Saying Brook Lender, executive director of the Keystone Trails Association, opposed the bill, arguing that repealing the ban makes hiking trails less safe, because walkers can no longer travel "without having to worry about any safety risks from hunting activity or the startling noise that can accompany it." "I just think we should be allowed to enjoy Penn's woods without risk of being hit by a bullet or hearing gunfire." Steve Smith, the executive director of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, in a statement: "Hunting takes time, and a lack of time is one of the biggest reasons cited by hunters who stop hunting. "Repealing the Sunday hunting ban and allowing the Game Commission to fully regulate Sunday hunting is an opportunity to provide hunters more time, which will help keep them engaged and carrying out their vital role in managing key wildlife populations. This legislation is beneficial to hunting's future and the future of wildlife management in the Commonwealth." What Happens Next The bill will need to be approved by Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro to pass into law.
CBS News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Bill fully repealing Pennsylvania's Sunday hunting ban passes state house, heads to senate
A bill introduced by an Allegheny County state representative, Mandy Steele, passed the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, and it would fully repeal the commonwealth's Sunday hunting ban. House Bill 1431 was approved by the House Game and Fisheries Committee on June 3 and then passed by the full House yesterday by a vote of 131-72. Now, the legislation heads to the Pennsylvania State Senate for consideration. "Though hunters play an active role in helping to manage wildlife populations, through the purchase of their licenses and other revenue they generate, they also fund wildlife conservation at a larger scale, for all species," said Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith. "For those reasons and others, it's important to keep hunters engaged and providing the valuable service they do. These bills would help accomplish that. One of the biggest reasons hunters stop hunting is a lack of time. While no one can add hours to the day or days to the week, removing the prohibition on Sunday hunting holds the potential to add significantly more time to the hunting calendar and keep hunters hunting." Rep. Steele's bill is identical to a similar bill that was introduced in March in the State Senate, and it would end the prohibition on Sunday hunting as well as allow the Pennsylvania Game Commission to include Sundays when they establish yearly hunting seasons. In 2019, Pennsylvania began allowing additional hunting on three designated Sundays, but not on every Sunday.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local legislators introduce bill intended to help people get help faster during severe storms
When debilitating storms moved through Aspinwall on April 29, many felt unprepared, including some state representatives. On Wednesday, three of them introduced legislation that aims to improve communication when natural disasters strike. 'I told my out-of-town people, 'get out,' my employees 'get out as fast as you can,' because it turned out to be a lot worse than we imagined,' Debbie McManus said. McManus has owned and operated an Aspinwall business for 37 years. She and others have seen storms and flooding throughout that time, but nothing quite like this spring. 'We had three major issues with high tension wires on the ground for 10 days and nothing was done,' Aspinwall Mayor Joe Noro said. Mayor Noro says getting information during that time was extremely difficult. 'If you can't get information from Allegheny emergency management, that's a problem,' he said. State Rep. Abigail Salisbury (D-34) agrees, which is why she's joined forces with State Reps. Mandy Steele (D-33) and Valerie Gaydos (R-44) to take action. 'I just want to create a system where it's easier for the state reps to help our constituents and to relay that information directly to PEMA,' Salisbury said. On Wednesday, she introduced a bill which would require PEMA to share weather emergency alerts with state legislative offices, creating a direct channel of communication before, during and after natural disasters strike. 'That would enable us to better prepare to be able to deploy and help people in the community,' she said. Salisbury says the bill already has bipartisan support. There are several steps before this bill goes to the governor. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to allow for Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania passes House
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — A bill that would repeal the state's Sunday hunting ban has made its way through the House. The bill was introduced by Representative Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) and has gained support from some lawmakers alongside the Game Commission. House Bill 1431 has now passed through the House with a 131-72 vote. It's headed to the Senate for their consideration. The bill would end the state's prohibition on Sunday hunting and allow the Game Commission to include Sundays when establishing hunting seasons. The Game Commission noted that there have been Sunday hunting opportunities for foxes, coyotes and crows, but it is otherwise prohibited. 'The initiative to repeal the ban has a broad base of support behind it. Many sportsmen's groups back the proposal, as does the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau. The Game Commission has been working with this coalition to get the bill across the finish line, an outcome that would benefit hunters and help ensure the future of wildlife management,' according to a release from the Game Commission. You can keep up to date with the bill's progress here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
