HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Senator Dan Laughlin (R-49) to strengthen protections against warrantless entry onto private property by Pennsylvania Game Commission personnel.
Senate Bill 1431 would require Game Commission personnel to obtain a valid warrant before entering private property, including posted land, unless a judicially recognized exception to the warrant requirement applies.
“Pennsylvanians should be able to enjoy their own property without worrying about government officials entering it without a warrant or a legally recognized reason,” Laughlin said. “This legislation establishes a clear standard that respects private property rights while allowing officers to carry out their responsibilities.”
Current law gives Game Commission personnel broad authority to enter land outside buildings, whether posted or otherwise. Laughlin’s bill would place clear limits on that authority while preserving recognized exceptions to the warrant requirement.
Laughlin said those protections matter to landowners across Pennsylvania, including families, farmers and hunting clubs that have invested in their property and expect their privacy to be respected. Posting a property against trespassing should carry meaningful protections when it comes to government entry.
“Private property rights should not disappear simply because someone owns a field, a wooded lot or hunting land,” Laughlin said. “Landowners deserve clear protections, and government agencies need clear boundaries.”
The legislation would preserve the ability of Game Commission personnel to enter property when a judicially recognized exception applies, allowing lawful enforcement to continue while strengthening safeguards for landowners.
“Our game wardens do important work protecting wildlife and enforcing our hunting laws,” Laughlin said. “That work should go hand in hand with respect for the rights of the people they serve. I appreciate my colleagues supporting this commonsense protection, and I urge the House to move it forward.”
Senate Bill 1431 now heads to the House of Representatives for consideration.
CONTACT: Chris Carroll | Phone: 814-453-2515