Authorizes seniors and persons who are severely disabled to use an ATV to enter and exit certain lands for ice fishing

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Paula Kay

Authorizes seniors and mobility-impaired to use ATVs to enter/exit designated lands during the ice fishing season, improving winter access while prompting safety rules.

PRINT NUMBER 7886A

Summary of Bill A 7886

Overview

Bill A 7886 proposes to authorize the use of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) by certain individuals—specifically seniors and persons with mobility impairment—to enter and exit certain lands during the ice fishing season. The bill aims to facilitate access to fishing opportunities for these groups when ice conditions create access challenges.

Purpose and Intent

Improve accessibility to land areas used for ice fishing for seniors and people with mobility impairments.

Create a limited, season-specific authorization for ATV use to enter and exit designated lands.

Align access rules with practical needs during winter ice fishing while maintaining overall regulatory controls on ATV use.

Key Provisions (as described)

Authorization for ATVs: The bill would permit seniors and mobility-impaired individuals to operate ATVs to enter and exit certain lands, but only during the ice fishing season.

Targeted Beneficiaries: Seniors and persons with mobility impairment would be the eligible operators under this authorization.

Scope of Lands: The authorization applies to “certain lands,” which would be defined in the bill or by accompanying regulations or agency guidance.

Temporal Limitation: The authorization is season-specific, limited to the ice fishing season.

Operational Context: The text indicates a regulatory or statutory change to enable access but does not specify accompanying safety requirements, permit processes, or enforcement mechanisms in the information provided.

Affected Parties

Primary: Seniors and mobility-impaired individuals who engage in ice fishing.

Secondary: Landowners or land managers responsible for administering the designated lands; law enforcement and transportation agencies responsible for enforcing ATV rules.

Procedural Status and Timeline

Introduced: April 11, 2025.

Current Status: Referred to the Transportation Committee.

Legislative Actions: The record shows two references on the same date (April 11, 2025) to Transportation, suggesting formal committee referrals.

Sponsorship: Primary sponsor is Paula Kay.

Related Legislation: Companion bill S 7164 in the Senate (listed as companion; two mentions in the record).

Related Legislation

S 7164 (companion) — Senate counterpart to A 7886.

Potential Impacts and Considerations

Accessibility Benefits: May provide improved access to ice fishing resources for seniors and mobility-impaired individuals.

Safety: Raises considerations about ATV safety on snow/ice, in proximity to water, and on lands where winter access can be hazardous.

Environmental and Land Use: Implications for land management during winter, including potential impacts on terrain, wildlife, and other users.

Enforcement and Compliance: May require clear rules, operator qualifications, speed limits, or restrictions to protect safety and land integrity.

Implementation: Details such as permit requirements, notice to land managers, or regulatory rules would likely accompany the final bill or implementing regulations.

Next Steps

Monitor progress through the Transportation Committee for any amendments, subsequent floor votes, and potential passage.

Review the full text for exact definitions (e.g., what constitutes “certain lands”), safety requirements, and any accompanying regulatory framework or permit processes.