House Passes Coffee’s Hunting and Fishing Constitutional Amendment

Tuesday the State House of Representatives passed Senate Joint Resolution 38 by Co-President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee that creates a constitutional amendment protecting the inherent right of Oklahoma citizens to hunt and fish. Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, is the bill’s House author.

If approved by a vote of the people, the resolution will add a new section to the State Constitution giving all Oklahomans the right to hunt, trap, fish, and take game and fish. The legislation would not allow state laws to prohibit anyone from engaging in such activities.

Coffee praised the House’s 97-2 vote in favor of the legislation.

“I am very pleased that the House voted overwhelmingly to support this legislation to protect our state’s rich hunting and fishing heritage,” said Coffee, R-Oklahoma City. “Unfortunately, the rights of hunters and fishers are coming under attack across the country, such as efforts to ban fishing by declaring that fish feel pain. SJR 38 gives the Oklahomans a chance to vote to add protections for hunting and fishing to our constitution,” Coffee said.

SJR 38 now goes back to the Senate for final consideration.