A bill for an act relating to fishing privileges of disabled veterans, and making penalties applicable.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Taylor Collins

Would let disabled veterans with service-caused disability fish without a state license, regardless of residency, with verification by peace officers.

Withdrawn.

#disabilities #fishing #veteransaffairs

HF 21 Summary (Withdrawn)

Bill number HF 21, introduced January 14, 2025, would change fishing privileges for disabled veterans by removing residency-based licensing requirements for those whose disability occurred during military service. The bill has since been withdrawn (May 14, 2025) and was later renumbered in committee as HF 387 before withdrawal.

Purpose and intended effect

Expand fishing rights for disabled veterans by allowing disabled veterans to fish without a state fishing license, regardless of residency, if the disability occurred during military service.

Maintain a verification mechanism through law enforcement to confirm veteran and disability status.

Align related licensing provisions (nonresident paddlefish licenses and tags) with the broader privilege.

Key provisions (as introduced)

Current law baseline:

A resident who served in the U.S. armed forces on federal active duty and was disabled during service is eligible for:
a lifetime fishing license, or
a lifetime hunting and fishing combined license.

Under HF 21:

Any person (resident or nonresident) who is a disabled veteran may fish without acquiring a fishing license if the disability occurred during the veteran’s military service.
While fishing under this exemption, the person must display proof of veteran status and disability status upon request by a peace officer.
Penalty for failing to provide documentation:
Simple misdemeanor with a fine of $35 (scheduled violation).
Conviction relief:
A person charged with failing to produce documentation may avoid conviction if proof of veteran and disability status is produced in court within a reasonable time.
Conforming change:
Updates to the Code section governing nonresident paddlefish fishing licenses and tags to reflect the broader privilege.

Who is affected

Disabled veterans whose disability occurred during military service (residents and nonresidents) would be eligible to fish without a fishing license.

Peace officers and wildlife/fisheries enforcement agencies would administer and enforce the verification requirement.

Nonresident paddlefish license/tag provisions would be harmonized with the broader change.

Timeline and procedural history

2025-01-14: Introduced and referred to Natural Resources.

2025-01-21 to 2025-02-11: Subcommittee and committee actions, including passage recommendations and a committee vote (yea 21–nays 0) on 2025-02-11.

2025-02-11: Committee report recommending amendment and passage; bill renumbered in committee as HF 387 (reported 2/13/2025).

2025-05-14: Withdrawn from consideration.

Sponsorship

Primary sponsor: Collins

Fiscal and administrative considerations

The bill could impact licensing revenue by expanding an exemption from licensure for a broad group of individuals.

Administrative needs include establishing acceptable documentation for veteran and disability status and ensuring timely verification by peace officers.

Nonresident paddlefish licensing provisions would be updated to reflect the new framework.

Notes

The introductory language includes a standard preface clarifying that the explanation does not bind legislative agreement.

The status is withdrawn, and HF 21 was renumbered as HF 387 within committee activity before withdrawal.