By Tanya Metaksa
What’s New—Trump Administration: Department of the Interior: On May 26, the Department of the Interior announced significant steps to expand hunting and fishing access on lands and waters it manages; House Oversight Subcommittee Hearing: ATF Director Robert Cekada testified at a House Oversight subcommittee hearing on May 14 about ATF oversight; Oregon Initiative Petition 28 (IP28), officially titled the PEACE Act: Extreme: Anti-hunting initiative to ban all cruelty to animals. As of late May 29, backers have submitted more than 120,000 signatures for the hunting ban referendum; State Legislation: Arizona: Governor Kathie Hobbs vetoed SB1058; California: Four bills are awaiting Senate action; Connecticut: On May 26th, Governor Ned Lamont signed H5043; Florida: HB 7031-E includes holiday sales tax exemptions for ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories (including suppressors); New Hampshire: HB609: The bill is scheduled for votes in both houses on June 4, 2026; New York: Governor Kathy Hochul signed the budget bill that included more gun restrictions on May 27; South Carolina: H3872 was signed by Governor Henry MacMaster; Virginia: HB1525 included immediate effective date, and ten Virginia prosecutors have publicly stated they will not enforce Governor Abigail Spanberger’s new “assault firearm” restrictions,
Trump Administration
Department of the Interior
On May 26, the Department of Interior announced major steps to increase hunting and fishing access on lands and waters under its management. These include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed largest expansion of hunting and sport fishing opportunities in the agency’s history, along with actions by the National Park Service to remove unnecessary hunting restrictions on units of the National Park System where hunting is permitted by law.
“America’s public lands belong to the American people, and they should be able to access them without unnecessary bureaucracy standing in the way,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “Under President Donald J. Trump’s leadership, we are expanding opportunities for hunters and anglers, reducing duplicative restrictions, and making federal land management more practical, consistent, and accessible.”
As part of today’s announcement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to open or expand more than 1,450 hunting and sport fishing opportunities across 111 stations in 32 states, including 107 national wildlife refuges and four national fish hatcheries.
The proposal would open more than 92 million acres, or over 95% of National Wildlife Refuge System, for hunting. It also includes the first-ever hunting and sport-fishing opportunities at 14 refuges and three hatcheries.
House Oversight Subcommittee Hearing
Newly appointed ATF Director Robert Cekada testified before a House Oversight subcommittee on May 14 about ATF oversight and the Tiahrt Amendment. His testimony and attitude signaled a shift in the agency’s stance on Second Amendment issues, as lawmakers examined past practices.
He acknowledged that the Tiahrt Amendment limits the ATF from widely sharing firearms trace data, with the goal of protecting investigations, informants, and gun owner privacy. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Clay Higgins argued that the ATF had previously violated both the letter and spirit of the law, citing disclosures of protected trace data through FOIA responses, including one that allegedly helped gun control groups and another that led to litigation with Gun Owners of America. Higgins also criticized earlier enforcement policies, including a “zero-tolerance” approach toward federal firearms licensees (FFLs) and an expansive interpretation of who qualifies as “engaged in the business” of dealing firearms.
Cekada emphasized that the ATF is entering a “new era of reform,” aimed at rebuilding trust with law-abiding gun owners and the firearms industry while prioritizing public safety. He confirmed that the zero-tolerance policy has been rescinded in favor of a framework that emphasizes fairness and transparency. He also highlighted ongoing rulemaking efforts aligned with Second Amendment protections.
Cekada addressed concerns about data handling, explaining that the ATF does not keep an illegal firearms registry and that any past improper disclosures of trace data were unintentional. He stated that new internal systems are being implemented to prevent future violations.
Regarding enforcement priorities, Cekada opposed regulatory approaches that target lawful owners, asserting that violent crime is best addressed by prosecuting offenders. He previously highlighted past failures to pursue trafficking cases and mandatory sentencing as factors that weaken deterrence, and noted that new trafficking prosecutions are now underway.
Overall, the hearing highlighted ongoing concerns about ATF accountability. However, even the NRA, in reporting on the hearing, stated, “Yet Cekada’s testimony and actions to date provide reasons to be optimistic that ATF is being steered toward a culture and mission more respectful of the Second Amendment, with enforcement focused on actual violent offenders and the traffickers that supply them with guns, rather than on law-abiding licensees and gun owners.”
Oregon Initiative Petition 28 (IP28), officially titled the PEACE Act
Oregon Initiative Petition 28 (IP28), officially called the PEACE Act (People for Elimination of Animal Cruelty Exemptions), is a proposed ballot measure to remove statutory exemptions in Oregon’s animal cruelty laws that currently protect hunting, fishing, trapping, farming, and animal research from criminal charges. The initiative aims to criminalize the deliberate injury of protected animals, including nonhuman mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish.
To qualify for the November 2026 ballot, IP28 supporters must gather 117,173 valid signatures by July 2, 2026. As of May 29, they have submitted over 120,000 signatures to the state, just exceeding the required threshold. If those signatures are verified, the measure will probably appear on the Nov. 3, general election ballot.
Legislative History
IP28 is the third version of this proposal—initially called IP13 in 2020 (which failed to qualify), then IP3 for the 2024 ballot (which was blocked), and now reintroduced for 2026. All versions aim to eliminate legal exemptions that allow intentional harm to animals.
Activities That Would Be Criminalized:
- Hunting: All licensed hunting would be considered animal abuse.
- Fishing: Both sport and commercial fishing would be illegal statewide.
- Trapping: Legal trapping, including pest and wildlife management, would become illegal
- Farming and ranching: Raising animals for food, dairy, eggs, and fiber; slaughtering livestock; managing commercial poultry operations; castrating or neutering livestock.
- Scientific research: Use of animals in education, research, and wildlife management programs
- Rodeos: Employing animals in rodeo events
Impact on Tribal Rights
IP28 does not offer exemptions for Oregon Tribes, so treaty-protected hunting and fishing rights could be at risk.
Economic and Conservation Impacts
The criminalization of hunting and fishing would eliminate about $1.9 billion in economic activity that supports jobs, local businesses, and conservation efforts across Oregon communities. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife would lose approximately $180 million annually from hunting and fishing license sales and federal excise taxes under the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts, which serve as its main funding source for habitat management, species research, and public access programs.
Affected Oregonians and Opposition
About 1 million Oregonians participate in activities that would be affected by IP28, including Oregon’s more than 330,000 licensed hunters and over 500,000 licensed anglers, as well as those involved in agriculture and related industries.
The measure faces strong opposition from Oregon’s hunting, fishing, farming, and tribal communities, with groups like the Oregon Hunters Association, National Wild Turkey Federation, and various farm organizations actively campaigning against it.
Proponents
The initiative is mainly backed by out-of-state animal rights groups, including In Defense of Animals, and its supporters acknowledge they don’t expect it to pass in 2026 but view it as an educational effort.
State Legislatures
Legislatures adjourned sine die:
Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
State legislatures not in session: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas.
Arizona: Governor Kathie Hobbs vetoed SB1058, which would have prevented payment processors from using firearm-specific merchant category codes for guns, ammunition, and components.
California: The bills listed below have passed the Assembly and are awaiting Senate approval.
AB2047 prohibits the sale or transfer of 3-dimensional printers unless equipped with so-called “firearm blueprint detection algorithms,” which are designed to detect and prevent the printing of known firearm blueprint designs. Furthermore, AB 2047 requires all certified 3-D printer manufacturers to obtain state approval before selling in California.
AB1743 expands the state’s firearm owner data-sharing system by allowing greater access to information stored in California’s Automated Firearms System and related databases.
AB1753 would expand California’s Gun Violence Restraining Order (GVRO) violation framework by explicitly including ammunition possession in the same hearing and enforcement procedures used for firearms.
SB948 would greatly expand California’s Firearm Safety Certificate (FSC) requirements by mandating a minimum four-hour training course starting in 2028. The bill also introduces a new requirement for individuals moving to California. Although the committee amended the classroom requirement from an original eight hours to four hours and added an exemption for CCW holders, these holders still need to purchase the FSC. The bill has just passed the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Connecticut: On May 26, Governor Ned Lamont restricted Connecticut citizens’ 2nd Amendment rights by signing H5043, which bans the future manufacture, sale, and importation of many commonly owned handguns in the state.
Florida: HB 7031-E includes holiday sales tax exemptions for ammunition, firearms, and firearm accessories, including suppressors. The bill passed the legislature on the last day of the special session, and the sales tax exemption will be in effect from September 1, 2026,, to December 31, 2026. Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign it.
New Hampshire: HB609: A joint conference committee released its report on May 28. The bill is scheduled for votes in both chambers on June 4, 2026. This amended bill establishes a firearms preemption law to ensure uniformity across the Granite State.
New York: In a party-line vote, the New York legislature added more gun restrictions to the budget bill passed on May 21. As expected, Governor Kathy Hochul signed it on May 27.
Oregon: As of May 29, backers of anti-hunting IP28 have submitted over 120,000 signatures to the state, slightly surpassing the required threshold. The measure appears likely to qualify for the Nov. 3 general election ballot. See section above.
South Carolina: H3872, the Hunting Heritage Protection Act, was passed unanimously in both chambers. It was signed by Governor MacMaster on May 15 and will take effect on July 1, 2026. The act directs the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to prevent any reduction in department-managed hunting and fishing land by adopting policies that ensure no net loss of public acreage. The legislature has adjourned.
Virginia: When Governor Abigail Spanberger signed HB1525, she included an emergency clause that mandated an immediate effective date and added a section requiring the Virginia State Police to enforce the enjoined background checks. These checks had been enjoined last October by the Lynchburg Circuit Court, following a case brought by the Virginia Citizens Defense League (VCDL). VCDL has stated that it plans to file a motion for contempt.
On another note, VCDL has reported that about ten Virginia prosecutors have publicly stated they will not enforce Gov. Spanberger’s new “assault firearm” restrictions, calling them unconstitutional under both the Second Amendment and Article I, § 13 of the Virginia Constitution. Most of these prosecutors are from non-urban counties.
Mark W. Smith, Second Amendment attorney (@FourBoxesDiner on X.com and the Four Boxes Diner on YouTube.com), in a video, points to two Virginia Code provisions as independent grounds for non‑enforcement.
- First, he cites Va. Code § 15.2‑1627(B), which states that a Commonwealth’s attorney “may in his discretion prosecute” certain misdemeanors; because the new gun ban is a Class 1 misdemeanor, he argues this language explicitly allows a Commonwealth’s attorney to decline to prosecute.
- Second, he emphasizes Va. Code § 19.2‑265.6, enacted in 2020, which directs courts to grant the Commonwealth’s motion to dismiss charges (with defendant’s consent) unless the court finds, by clear and convincing evidence, that the motion results from bribery or unlawful bias; he asserts this applies to both misdemeanors and felonies and provides broad discretion for dismissals.
