GA HB 491

enacted

Game and fish; remove an exception for use of air guns to hunt wildlife

Georgia · 2025_26 · lower

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Quick answers

Did GA HB 491 pass?

Yes. GA HB 491 has been enacted into law. Latest recorded action (2025-07-01): Effective Date

What is GA HB 491 about?

A BILL to be entitled an Act to amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 and Article 2 of Chapter 4 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to hunting and noncommercial fishing, respectively, so as to remove an exception for the use of air guns to hunt wildlife; to revise provisions concerning the taking of catfish by bow and arrow; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

Who sponsors GA HB 491?

Johnny Chastain, Trey Rhodes, Justin Howard and 3 others are the primary sponsors of GA HB 491.

Description

Introduced: 2025-02-18
Latest action: 2025-07-01 — Effective Date
Bill type: bill
Last updated: —

Subjects

GAME AND FISH

Committees

Not provided by source.

Action timeline

Newest first

2025-07-01
Effective Date
2025-05-14
Act 268
executive-signature
2025-05-14
House Date Signed by Governor
executive-signature
2025-04-10
House Sent to Governor
executive-receipt
2025-04-04
Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
2025-04-04
House Agreed Senate Amend or Sub As Amended
2025-04-02
Senate Passed/Adopted As Amended
passage
2025-04-02
Senate Third Read
reading-3
2025-04-02
Senate Taken from Table
2025-03-31
Senate Tabled
2025-03-21
Senate Read Second Time
reading-2
2025-03-20
Senate Committee Favorably Reported
committee-passage-favorable
2025-03-10
Senate Read and Referred
referral-committee
2025-03-06
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
passage
2025-03-06
House Third Readers
reading-3
2025-02-27
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
committee-passage-favorable
2025-02-20
House Second Readers
reading-2
2025-02-19
House First Readers
reading-1
2025-02-18
House Hopper
introduction

Versions

LC 44 3040/aCompare
LC 44 3109S/hsCompare
Sen Floor Amend 1 AM 60 0007Compare
LC 44 3109S/hcsCompare
Floor Amendment AM 44 0230Compare
HB 491/AP*Compare

Documents

Votes

House Vote #224 - 2025-2026 Regular Session
2025-03-06 · pass · 171-3
Member-level votes (165)
- ADESANYA: yes
- ADEYINA: yes
- ALEXANDER: yes
- ANDERSON: yes
- AU: yes
- BAKER: yes
- BALLARD: yes
- BALLINGER: yes
- BARNES: yes
- BARRETT: yes
- BARTON: yes
- BAZEMORE: yes
- BECKLES: yes
- BELL: yes
- BENNETT: yes
- BERRY: other
- BLACKMON: yes
- BONNER: yes
- BUCKNER: yes
- BURCHETT: yes
- BURNOUGH: yes
- BURNS: other
- BYRD: yes
- CAMERON: yes
- CAMP: yes
- CAMPBELL: yes
- CANNON: other
- CARPENTER: yes
- CARSON: yes
- CARTER: yes
- CHASTAIN: yes
- CHEOKAS: yes
- CLARK: yes
- CLIFTON: yes
- COOPER: yes
- CORBETT: yes
- COX: no
- CRAWFORD: yes
- CROWE: yes
- CUMMINGS: yes
- DAVIS: yes
- DAWSON: yes
- DELOACH: yes
- DEMPSEY: yes
- DICKEY: yes
- DONATUCCI: yes
- DOUGLAS: yes
- DRAPER: yes
- DRENNER: yes
- DUBNIK: yes
- DUNAHOO: yes
- EFSTRATION: yes
- EHRHART: yes
- ERWIN: yes
- EVANS: yes
- FLEMING: yes
- FLOURNOY: yes
- FORD: yes
- FRANKLIN: yes
- FRYE: yes
- GAINES: yes
- GAMBILL: yes
- GILLIARD: yes
- GLAIZE: yes
- GREENE: yes
- GRIFFIN: yes
- GULLETT: yes
- GUNTER: yes
- HAGAN: yes
- HATCHETT: yes
- HAWKINS: yes
- HEFFNER: yes
- HENDERSON: yes
- HERRING: yes
- HILTON: yes
- HITCHENS: yes
- HOLCOMB: yes
- HOLLAND: yes
- HOLLY: other
- HONG: yes
- HORNER: yes
- HOWARD: yes
- HUDDLESTON: yes
- HUGLEY: yes
- HUTCHINSON: other
- JACKSON: yes
- JASPERSE: yes
- JENKINS: yes
- JONES: yes
- KAHAIAN: yes
- KELLEY: yes
- KENDRICK: yes
- LAHOOD: yes
- LEVERETT: yes
- LEWIS-WARD: yes
- LIM: yes
- LUMSDEN: yes
- LUPTON: other
- MARTIN: yes
- MARTINEZ: yes
- MATHIAK: yes
- MATHIS: yes
- MCCLAIN: yes
- MCCOLLUM: yes
- MCDONALD III: yes
- MCQUEEN: yes
- MEEKS: yes
- MILLER: yes
- MITCHELL: yes
- MOMTAHAN: yes
- MOORE: no
- MYLES: yes
- NEAL: yes
- NEW: yes
- NEWTON: yes
- OKOYE: yes
- OLALEYE: yes
- OLIVER: yes
- O'STEEN: yes
- PANITCH: yes
- PARIS: yes
- PARK: yes
- PARRISH: yes
- PARSONS: yes
- PERSINGER: yes
- PETREA: yes
- POWELL: yes
- PRINCE: yes
- REESE: yes
- REEVES: yes
- RHODES: yes
- RICE: yes
- RICHARDSON: yes
- RIDLEY: yes
- ROBERTS: yes
- ROMMAN: yes
- SAINZ: yes
- SAMPSON: yes
- SANCHEZ: yes
- SANTOS: yes
- SCHOFIELD: yes
- SCOGGINS: yes
- SCOTT: yes
- SEABAUGH: yes
- SHARPER: yes
- SILCOX: yes
- SMITH: yes
- STEPHENS: yes
- STINSON: yes
- TARVIN: yes
- TAYLOR: yes
- THOMAS: yes
- TOWNSEND: yes
- TRAN: yes
- WADE: yes
- WASHBURN: yes
- WERKHEISER: yes
- WESTBROOK: yes
- WIEDOWER: yes
- WILKERSON: yes
- WILLIAMS: no
- WILLIAMS, JR.: yes
- WILLIAMSON: yes
- WILLIS: yes
- YEARTA: yes
Senate Vote #424 - 2025-2026 Regular Session
2025-04-02 · pass · 52-3
Member-level votes (54)
- ALBERS: yes
- ANAVITARTE: yes
- ANDERSON: yes
- BEACH: yes
- BEARDEN: yes
- BRASS: no
- BURNS: yes
- COWSERT: yes
- DAVENPORT: yes
- DIXON: yes
- DOLEZAL: yes
- ECHOLS: yes
- ESTEVES: yes
- GINN: yes
- GOOCH: yes
- GOODMAN: yes
- HALPERN: yes
- HARBIN: yes
- HARBISON: yes
- HARRELL: yes
- HATCHETT: yes
- HICKMAN: yes
- HODGES: yes
- HUFSTETLER: yes
- JACKSON: yes
- JAMES: yes
- JONES: yes
- JONES II: yes
- KEMP: yes
- KENNEDY: yes
- KIRKPATRICK: yes
- LUCAS: yes
- MALLOW: yes
- MANGHAM: yes
- MCLAURIN: yes
- MERRITT: yes
- MOORE: yes
- ORROCK: yes
- PARENT: yes
- PARKES: yes
- PAYNE: yes
- RAHMAN: yes
- RHETT: yes
- ROBERTSON: yes
- SETZLER: other
- SIMS: yes
- STILL: yes
- STRICKLAND: yes
- SUMMERS: yes
- TILLERY: no
- WALKER, III: no
- WATSON: yes
- WICKS: yes
- WILLIAMS: yes
House Vote #424 - 2025-2026 Regular Session
2025-04-04 · pass · 170-0
Member-level votes (165)
- ADESANYA: yes
- ADEYINA: yes
- ALEXANDER: yes
- ANDERSON: yes
- AU: yes
- BAKER: other
- BALLARD: yes
- BALLINGER: yes
- BARNES: yes
- BARRETT: yes
- BARTON: yes
- BAZEMORE: yes
- BECKLES: yes
- BELL: yes
- BENNETT: yes
- BERRY: yes
- BLACKMON: yes
- BONNER: yes
- BUCKNER: yes
- BURCHETT: yes
- BURNOUGH: yes
- BURNS: other
- BYRD: yes
- CAMERON: yes
- CAMP: yes
- CAMPBELL: yes
- CANNON: yes
- CARPENTER: yes
- CARSON: yes
- CARTER: yes
- CHASTAIN: yes
- CHEOKAS: yes
- CLARK: yes
- CLIFTON: yes
- COOPER: yes
- CORBETT: yes
- COX: yes
- CRAWFORD: yes
- CROWE: yes
- CUMMINGS: yes
- DAVIS: yes
- DAWSON: yes
- DELOACH: yes
- DEMPSEY: other
- DICKEY: yes
- DONATUCCI: yes
- DOUGLAS: yes
- DRAPER: yes
- DRENNER: yes
- DUBNIK: yes
- DUNAHOO: yes
- EFSTRATION: yes
- EHRHART: yes
- ERWIN: yes
- EVANS: yes
- FLEMING: yes
- FLOURNOY: yes
- FORD: yes
- FRANKLIN: yes
- FRYE: yes
- GAINES: yes
- GAMBILL: yes
- GILLIARD: yes
- GLAIZE: yes
- GREENE: yes
- GRIFFIN: yes
- GULLETT: yes
- GUNTER: yes
- HAGAN: yes
- HATCHETT: yes
- HAWKINS: yes
- HEFFNER: yes
- HENDERSON: other
- HERRING: yes
- HILTON: yes
- HITCHENS: yes
- HOLCOMB: yes
- HOLLAND: yes
- HOLLY: yes
- HONG: yes
- HORNER: yes
- HOWARD: yes
- HUDDLESTON: yes
- HUGLEY: yes
- HUTCHINSON: other
- JACKSON: yes
- JASPERSE: yes
- JENKINS: yes
- JONES: yes
- KAHAIAN: yes
- KELLEY: yes
- KENDRICK: yes
- LAHOOD: yes
- LEVERETT: yes
- LEWIS-WARD: yes
- LIM: yes
- LUMSDEN: yes
- LUPTON: yes
- MARTIN: yes
- MARTINEZ: yes
- MATHIAK: yes
- MATHIS: yes
- MCCLAIN: yes
- MCCOLLUM: yes
- MCDONALD III: yes
- MCQUEEN: yes
- MEEKS: yes
- MILLER: yes
- MITCHELL: yes
- MOMTAHAN: yes
- MOORE: yes
- MYLES: yes
- NEAL: yes
- NEW: yes
- NEWTON: yes
- OKOYE: yes
- OLALEYE: yes
- OLIVER: yes
- O'STEEN: yes
- PANITCH: yes
- PARIS: yes
- PARK: yes
- PARRISH: yes
- PARSONS: yes
- PERSINGER: yes
- PETREA: yes
- POWELL: yes
- PRINCE: yes
- REESE: yes
- REEVES: yes
- RHODES: yes
- RICE: yes
- RICHARDSON: yes
- RIDLEY: yes
- ROBERTS: yes
- ROMMAN: yes
- SAINZ: yes
- SAMPSON: yes
- SANCHEZ: yes
- SANTOS: yes
- SCHOFIELD: yes
- SCOGGINS: yes
- SCOTT: yes
- SEABAUGH: yes
- SHARPER: yes
- SILCOX: yes
- SMITH: yes
- STEPHENS: yes
- STINSON: other
- TARVIN: yes
- TAYLOR: yes
- THOMAS: yes
- TOWNSEND: yes
- TRAN: yes
- WADE: yes
- WASHBURN: yes
- WERKHEISER: other
- WESTBROOK: other
- WIEDOWER: yes
- WILKERSON: yes
- WILLIAMS: yes
- WILLIAMS, JR.: yes
- WILLIAMSON: yes
- WILLIS: yes
- YEARTA: yes
Senate Vote #487 - 2025-2026 Regular Session
2025-04-04 · pass · 52-1
Member-level votes (54)
- ALBERS: yes
- ANAVITARTE: yes
- ANDERSON: yes
- BEACH: yes
- BEARDEN: yes
- BRASS: yes
- BURNS: yes
- COWSERT: yes
- DAVENPORT: yes
- DIXON: yes
- DOLEZAL: yes
- ECHOLS: yes
- ESTEVES: yes
- GINN: yes
- GOOCH: yes
- GOODMAN: yes
- HALPERN: yes
- HARBIN: yes
- HARBISON: yes
- HARRELL: yes
- HATCHETT: yes
- HICKMAN: yes
- HODGES: yes
- HUFSTETLER: yes
- JACKSON: yes
- JAMES: yes
- JONES: yes
- JONES II: yes
- KEMP: yes
- KENNEDY: yes
- KIRKPATRICK: yes
- LUCAS: other
- MALLOW: yes
- MANGHAM: yes
- MCLAURIN: yes
- MERRITT: yes
- MOORE: yes
- ORROCK: yes
- PARENT: yes
- PARKES: yes
- PAYNE: yes
- RAHMAN: yes
- RHETT: yes
- ROBERTSON: yes
- SETZLER: yes
- SIMS: other
- STILL: yes
- STRICKLAND: yes
- SUMMERS: yes
- TILLERY: no
- WALKER, III: yes
- WATSON: yes
- WICKS: yes
- WILLIAMS: yes

Related bills

No related bills recorded for this bill.

Official source

https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70415

Attribution

Data from openstates_bulk_csv, retrieved 2026-07-24T05:19:40.450420Z

Inspect retained evidence for changes recorded after evidence tracking began:

Source and document changes Status and relationship changes

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Bulk imports for this session Session dates and activity

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