Game wardens' warrantless entry rules rewritten into law 93 days after the court ruling

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a bill on Oct. 22 that rewrites the rules for when Pennsylvania Game Commission officers and other wildlife officers can go onto private property. The new law ends enforcement powers that went beyond what police can normally do without a warrant or probable cause, and it takes effect in December, the Pennsylvania Capital-Star reported.

The change matters to anyone who owns or hunts on rural land. Until this summer, state law let game officers go onto much of that land without a warrant.

Why the law changed

On July 21, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled unanimously in a case brought by two hunting clubs against the Game Commission. The court held that the state constitution gives property owners more privacy protection on their land than the U.S. Constitution, and that officers generally need a warrant based on probable cause before entering private land that owners have taken steps to keep people off, the Capital-Star reported via WPSU. The ruling overturned the court's 2007 decision in Commonwealth v. Russo. Justice Kevin Brobson wrote that the reasoning in that case had "not aged well."

The Game Commission said it was disappointed but respected the ruling, and that "laws protecting wildlife remain in place," according to the same report.

Sen. Dan Laughlin, an Erie County Republican and the bill's sponsor, said supporting wildlife enforcement and protecting private property are "not mutually exclusive goals," Erie News Now reported. Officers can still investigate suspected violations, get warrants when needed and act under recognized legal exceptions, according to that report.

What the records add

From ruling to law. The bill's history shows Senate Bill 1431 was introduced Aug. 11, 21 days after the ruling, and signed 72 days after that as Act 115 of 2026. Its four co-sponsors are all Senate Republicans: Sens. Dawn Keefer, Tracy Pennycuick, Patrick Stefano and Cris Dush.

Unanimous at the end. The Senate passed the bill 50-0 on Oct. 6. The House passed an amended version 203-0 on Oct. 21, and the Senate agreed to the House's changes 50-0 the same day.

Close votes along the way. On Oct. 20, the House voted on two amendments from Rep. David Maloney, a Republican. Both failed. The first lost 99-104, with 99 Republicans for it and every Democrat plus Republican Rep. Kathleen Tomlinson against. The second lost 100-103 on a straight party-line vote. The next day, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment from its chair, Rep. Jordan Harris, a Philadelphia Democrat, 37-0, and that version became law.

Committee votes. The House Judiciary Committee sent the bill out 26-0 on Oct. 19.

What happens next

The law takes effect in December, according to the Capital-Star. The Game Commission will need to apply the new limits in the field, and officers will need warrants or a recognized exception before entering posted land.

The signing was one of 58 on Oct. 22. See our roundup of that day's signings for the rest.