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Georgia students in grades six through 12 will now have the option of taking a hunter safety education course as part of their curriculum after Senate Bill 148 was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp. The course will be based on current hunting safety education courses offered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

State Rep. Chas Cannon, R-Moultrie, House co-chair of the Sportsmen’s Caucus, praised actions by the Governor. Cannon sponsored House Bill 451 during the 2025 legislative session, which was later incorporated into Senate Bill 148, and was authored by Sportsmen’s Caucus member Sen. Bo Hatchett, R-Cornelia.

“As a hunter, this is an important topic for me and for the hunters, trappers and fishermen that I represent,” said Cannon. “It wasn’t that long ago that our ancestors had to hunt, trap and fish their own wild game to feed their family. Hunters and trappers were the first pioneers of this country and played an important role in the development of our nation. I think it’s important that we have the opportunity to learn about hunting, what it means for managing our wildlife and wildlife habitat and what it means for us as a food source. I can’t think of a better way of doing that than to introduce it to our young people in an educational setting. Some of the most memorable times of my life have been on hunting trips with friends and family, and I hope the next generation gets that same opportunity.”

SB 148 requires the State Board of Education to develop content standards for instruction in hunting safety education, which would give school boards the option to establish a hunting safety curriculum for the next school year. Additionally, the course will be taught by an individual who is certified by the DNR as a hunter education instructor.

The course will provide students with information needed to understand the purpose of hunting, general hunting practices and conservation ethics with the goal of gaining a more complete understanding and appreciation for Georgia’s wildlife, Cannon explained.

The Sportsmen’s Caucus, established in 2004 in coordination with the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), continues to work directly with CSF and is united with other state-level sportsmen’s caucuses through the CSF-administered National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses (NASC) and has expanded to all 50 states and now includes over 2,350 pro-sportsmen legislators from across the country.

Aside from passing the hunter education legislation, the Sportsmen’s Caucus supported other legislative initiatives, including Senate Bill 420 and House Bill 983. SB 420 will provide for minor fees for reef and migratory fish endorsements and seeks to advance Georgia’s leadership in recreational saltwater fisheries management in the South Atlantic. HB 983 creates a statewide uniform approach to utilizing prescribed fire on the landscape, recognizing the importance of prescribed fire as a tool for managing the state’s forests. Both bills were also signed into law by Kemp.