Maryland 2024 Regular Session

Maryland Senate Bill SB611 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	sb0611
6	6
7	7	SENATE BILL 611
8	8	M2 4lr2150
9	9
10	10	By: Senators Folden, Bailey, McKay, and Salling
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 26, 2024
12	12	Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Frederick and Washington Counties – Bow Hunting – Openly Carrying 2
19	19	Handguns 3
20	20
21	21	FOR the purpose of prohibiting the Department of Natural Resources from prohibiting 4
22	22	certain licensed bow hunters from openly carrying a handgun under certain 5
23	23	circumstances in Frederick County and Washington County during deer hunting 6
24	24	season; and generally relating to bow hunting in Frederick County and Washington 7
25	25	County. 8
26	26
27	27	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
28	28	Article – Natural Resources 10
29	29	Section 10–408 11
30	30	Annotated Code of Maryland 12
31	31	(2023 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 13
32	32
33	33	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 14
34	34	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 15
35	35
36	36	Article – Natural Resources 16
37	37
38	38	10–408. 17
39	39
40	40	(a) In this section, “handgun” means a firearm: 18
41	41
42	42	(1) With a barrel length not exceeding 6 inches; and 19
43	43
44	44	(2) That does not have a scope or an electronic device attached. 20
45	45
46	46	(b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department 21
47	47	shall: 22
48	48	2 SENATE BILL 611
49	49
50	50
51	51	(i) Prescribe by regulation the means or weapons for hunting 1
52	52	designated wildlife; and 2
53	53
54	54	(ii) Set forth any restrictions relating to weapons used to hunt 3
55	55	designated wildlife, including the amount and size of ammunition for designated game 4
56	56	birds or mammals. 5
57	57
58	58	(2) The Department may not prohibit a licensed bow hunter from openly 6
59	59	carrying a handgun that the hunter is otherwise authorized to carry under § 4–203 of the 7
60	60	Criminal Law Article if the bow hunter: 8
61	61
62	62	(i) Is at least 21 years old; 9
63	63
64	64	(ii) Is hunting in [deer]: 10
65	65
66	66	1. DEER management Region A as defined by the 11
67	67	Department’s Guide to Hunting and Trapping; OR 12
68	68
69	69	2. FREDERICK COUNTY OR WASHINGTON COUNTY 13
70	70	DURING DEER HUNTING SEASON; 14
71	71
72	72	(iii) Is carrying the handgun for personal protection; and 15
73	73
74	74	(iv) Does not use the handgun to kill wildlife wounded by a vertical 16
75	75	bow or crossbow. 17
76	76
77	77	(c) The Department shall make the regulations available for distribution with 18
78	78	each hunting license purchased. 19
79	79
80	80	(d) This section does not authorize the Department to restrict the use of firearms 20
81	81	except in the activity of hunting designated wildlife. 21
82	82
83	83	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 22
84	84	1, 2024. 23