Hares Bill

What the bill does

A Bill to establish a close season, from the start of February to the end of September, during which the killing or taking of brown hares is prohibited; to protect mountain hares; to repeal the seasonal prohibition on the sale of hares in the Hares Preservation Act 1892; and for connected purposes.

Progress through Parliament

What 2nd reading means, and what happens next

Second reading is the first full debate on the principle of the bill. The House votes on whether it should proceed at all.

If it passes, the bill goes to committee stage, where it is examined line by line and amendments are considered.

Read the full guide to this stage: What happens at second reading of a bill

Questions about the Hares Bill

What stage is the Hares Bill at?

The Hares Bill is currently at 2nd reading in the UK Parliament.

Has the Hares Bill become law?

Not yet. A bill becomes law only when it has passed both Houses and received Royal Assent. The Hares Bill is currently at 2nd reading.

What happens next to the Hares Bill?

If it passes, the bill goes to committee stage, where it is examined line by line and amendments are considered.

Who sponsored the Hares Bill?

The Hares Bill was sponsored by Ruth Jones.

When was the Hares Bill introduced?

It was introduced to Parliament on 13 October 2026, at first reading.

Other bills at 2nd reading

• Statutory Instruments Act 1946 (Amendment) Bill · Sir Christopher Chope
• Bank of England (Inflation Targets) Bill · Sir Christopher Chope
• Bailiffs (Warrants of Possession) Bill · Sir Christopher Chope
• Arm's-Length Bodies (Accountability to Parliament) Bill · Sir Christopher Chope
• Courts and Tribunals Bill · Mr David Lammy
• Wet Wipes (Labelling, Sale and Marketing) Bill · David Burton-Sampson

See every bill before Parliament