State Sen. Dan Laughlin, R-Erie, has reintroduced Senate Bill 67, which would end the state’s prohibition on Sunday hunting.

The bill picked up momentum last year in Harrisburg, when it passed the Senate and gained preliminary approval in the House of Representatives before time ran out in the legislative session. The bill now has a fresh start, with a broad base of support behind it.

The Game Commission said that it looks forward to working with a coalition of many sportsmen’s groups that back the initiative, as does the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said, “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 [it] 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.”