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Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill
Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill has completed 1st reading on 15 Jul 2026 in the House of Commons. Parliament currently lists 2nd reading as its current stage.
Current position
- Latest completed stage
- 1st reading15 Jul 2026
- Current stage
- 2nd reading
- House
- House of Commons
- Bill type
- Private Members' Bill (Presentation Bill)
- Last updated
- 16 Jul 2026
- Proposer / sponsor
- Neil Duncan-Jordan Proposer / sponsor · Labour · House of Commons
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View Parliamentary CalendarWhat this bill is about
The Hunting Act 2004 (Amendment) Bill would amend the Hunting Act 2004 by expanding and reframing offences connected with hunting wild mammals with dogs. It would remove existing “exempt hunting” provisions and replace them with new rules, including an offence for being equipped for hunting, an offence relating to causing a dog to enter certain places, and an offence of failing to prevent hunting-related conduct. It also sets out a framework for “drag hunting” that can be exempted if specific conditions and regulations are met.
What it would do
- Replace the current hunting-with-dogs offence with wider wording, including conduct likely to create a risk of hunting.
- Remove sections providing exemptions and defences for “exempt hunting”.
- Create new offences for being equipped (when not at home) and for causing a dog to enter certain shelter/protection places linked to wild mammals.
- Add offences tied to failing to prevent hunting-related conduct.
- Create a regulated “drag hunting” exemption framework, including requirements about scent, route planning, identification, and enforcement via regulations.
Bill journey
Matched Commons vote groups are shown inside the relevant stage where the stored dates allow a match.
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1st reading 15 Jul 2026 · House of Commons
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