--- title: HB 167. Game and fish; authorize fluorescent pink hunting outer garments collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hb167 cite_as: HB 167, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb167 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb167.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb167/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69644 date: 2025-05-09 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb166.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb168.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 1032 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb167.md?full=1 bill_number: HB 167 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: bill status_date: 2025-05-09 last_action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 sponsors: - Leesa Hagan - Chuck Efstration - Charles Cannon - Matt Dubnik - Angie O'Steen - Drew Echols text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB167/2025 upstream_id: 1947525 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - hunting laws - game and fish regulations - hunter safety clothing - deer hunting - bear hunting --- # HB 167. Game and fish; authorize fluorescent pink hunting outer garments ## Text 25 LC 44 2932/AP House Bill 167 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Hagan of the 156th, Efstration of the 104th, Cannon of the 172nd, Dubnik of the 29th, and O’Steen of the 169th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to hunting, so as to authorize fluorescent pink hunting outer garments; to provide for2 related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:4 SECTION 1.5 Article 1 of Chapter 3 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to6 hunting, is amended in Code Section 27-3-24, relating to restrictions on hunting feral hogs,7 by revising subsection (a) as follows:8 "(a) It shall be unlawful to hunt, or engage in the hunting of, feral hogs:9 (1) Upon the lands of another or to enter upon the lands of another in pursuit of feral10 hogs without first obtaining permission from the landowner or lessee of such land or the11 lessee of the game rights of such land;12 (2) Upon any land which is posted without having the permissio n required by13 paragraph (1) of this subsection in writing and carried upon the person; or14 (3) During the firearms deer season unless the hunter and each person accompanying the15 hunter are wearing a total of at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange or16 H. B. 167 - 1 - 25 LC 44 2932/AP fluorescent pink material as an outer garment and such material or garment is worn above17 the waistline, and may include a head covering."18 SECTION 2.19 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 27-3-25, relating to hunting bears20 and required outer garments, as follows:21 "27-3-25.22 It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt bears or for any person to accompany another23 person hunting bears unless each person shall wear a total of at least 500 square inches of24 daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material as an outer garment during25 firearms and primitive weapons seasons. Such clothing must be worn above the waistline26 and may include a head covering."27 SECTION 3.28 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 27-3-4 0, relating to hunting deer29 and required clothing, as follows:30 "27-3-40.31 It shall be unlawful for any person to hunt deer or for any per son to accompany another32 person hunting deer during the firearms deer season unless each person shall wear a total33 of at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange or fluorescent pink material as34 an outer garment. Such clothing must be worn above the waistline and may include a head35 covering."36 SECTION 4.37 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed. 38 H. B. 167 - 2 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary. Georgia hunters will be allowed to wear fluorescent pink outer garments as an alternative to blaze orange while hunting feral hogs, bears, and deer during firearms seasons, under a bill amending state hunting law. ### Plain-language summary Georgia law has long required hunters pursuing feral hogs, bears, and deer during firearms seasons to wear at least 500 square inches of daylight fluorescent orange as visible outer clothing, mainly for safety so hunters can be seen by others in the field. This bill amends three sections of the Georgia hunting code (O.C.G.A. §§ 27-3-24, 27-3-25, and 27-3-40) to add fluorescent pink as an equally acceptable color option alongside fluorescent orange. The clothing must still total at least 500 square inches, be worn above the waistline, and may include a head covering. The rule applies to feral hog hunters during firearms deer season, bear hunters during firearms and primitive weapons seasons, and deer hunters during firearms deer season. The bill also repeals any conflicting laws. ### What it does - Adds fluorescent pink as an approved alternative to fluorescent orange for required hunting safety clothing. - Applies the new pink option to feral hog hunting during firearms deer season under O.C.G.A. § 27-3-24. - Applies the new pink option to bear hunting during firearms and primitive weapons seasons under O.C.G.A. § 27-3-25. - Applies the new pink option to deer hunting during firearms deer season under O.C.G.A. § 27-3-40. - Keeps the existing requirement of at least 500 square inches of material worn above the waistline, which may include a hat. ### Who it affects Georgia hunters who pursue feral hogs, bears, or deer during firearms seasons, as well as anyone who accompanies them in the field, since all of them must comply with the required outer garment color and coverage rules. ### Why it matters Hunters who currently must wear blaze orange for visibility and safety would gain a second color choice, fluorescent pink, without any change to the minimum amount of material required or when it must be worn, giving them more options for compliant hunting gear. ### Key provisions - Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 27-3-24 to let feral hog hunters wear fluorescent pink instead of or alongside fluorescent orange during firearms deer season. - Section 2 revises O.C.G.A. § 27-3-25 to add fluorescent pink as an option for bear hunters during firearms and primitive weapons seasons. - Section 3 revises O.C.G.A. § 27-3-40 to add fluorescent pink as an option for deer hunters during firearms deer season. - All three sections keep the existing 500-square-inch minimum and the requirement that the material be worn above the waistline. - Section 4 repeals any existing laws that conflict with these changes. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-05-09) - Last action: Effective Date 2025-07-01 (2025-05-09) - Sponsors: Leesa Hagan, Chuck Efstration, Charles Cannon, Matt Dubnik, Angie O'Steen, Drew Echols - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69644 > The history, votes, and amendments (1,032 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb167.md?full=1