SJR 8

As Introduced
136th General Assembly
    Regular Session  S. J. R. No. 8
       2025-2026
  Senator Huffman
  A JOINT RESOLUTION
  Proposing to enact Section 23 of Article I of the  1
  Constitution of the State of Ohio to establish a  2
  constitutional right to hunt and fish.  3
     Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of  4
Ohio, three-fifths of the members elected to each house  5
concurring herein, that there shall be submitted to the electors  6
of the state, in the manner prescribed by law at the general  7
election to be held on November 3, 2026, a proposal to enact  8
Section 23 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio  9
to read as follows:  10
  ARTICLE I  11
      Section. 23. (A) The right to hunt, fish, and harvest  12
wildlife is a valued part of Ohio's heritage and shall be  13
forever preserved for the public good.  14
      (B) The people have a right, which includes the right to  15
use traditional methods, to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife.  16
This right is subject only to the laws prescribed by the General  17
Assembly and rules prescribed by virtue of the authority of the  18
General Assembly to do either of the following:  19
S. J. R. No. 8  Page 2
As Introduced
        (1) Promote wildlife conservation and management;  20
        (2) Preserve the future of hunting and fishing.  21
        (C) Hunting and fishing shall be a preferred means of  22
managing and controlling wildlife in this state.  23
        (D) This section shall not be construed to limit the  24
application of any provision of law or of the constitution  25
relating to trespass or property rights.  26
  EFFECTIVE DATE  27
        If adopted by a majority of the electors voting on this  28
proposal, Section 23 of Article I of the Constitution of the  29
State of Ohio enacted by this proposal shall take effect  30
immediately.  31