HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) - Gov. Tom Wolf has signed a bill into law that expands the list of firearms permitted for hunting in Pennsylvania to include semi-automatic rifles and handguns.

The new law doesn't make semi-automatic weapons legal for hunting in time for the upcoming firearm deer season, which begins Monday.Semi-automatic firearms discharge one shot for each pull of the trigger. The next cartridge is automatically pushed into the firing chamber.The use of semi-automatic rifles for hunting has been debated by legislators in some form since 2011. With its approval, Pennsylvania becomes the 49th state to allow hunters to use them.Sen. Scott Hutchinson, a Venango Republican and co-sponsor of the bill, says he's pleased the measure is now law.Gun violence prevention association CeaseFire Pa remained neutral on the legislation.