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HB 5687

Natural resources: hunting; lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for veterans; provide for. Amends secs. 44101, 44103, 44104, 44105 & 44106 of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.44101 et seq.). & adds sec. 44102a.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Greg Alexander and 10 co-sponsors

HB 5687 creates lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for Michigan disabled veterans, with VA-rated pricing and bundled privileges, funded by a dedicated trust.

bill electronically reproduced 03/05/2026
#naturalresources:fishing #naturalresources:hunting #veterans:other
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Bill Summary · HB 5687

Overview

House Bill 5687 (Michigan, 2025-2026) would amend the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) to create a system for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for veterans, specifically disabled veterans. The bill sets eligibility, pricing by disability rating, included privileges, ownership transfer rules (continued validity for residents who later become nonresidents), and administrative/financial provisions through a dedicated trust fund. The program would begin July 1, 2027.

What the bill would do

  • Create a pathway for disabled veterans to obtain:
    • A disabled veteran lifetime hunting license, and
    • A disabled veteran lifetime fishing license.
  • Establish pricing tiers based on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability ratings.
  • Bundle license privileges so the lifetime licenses convey the same rights as corresponding annual licenses or stamps under Part 435 of NREPA, with caveats about compliance with harvest regulations and permit conditions.
  • Maintain portability for residents who purchase while living in Michigan, allowing continued validity if the license holder becomes a nonresident.

Key provisions and changes

  • Definitions (Sec. 44101):
    • Disabled veteran: veteran rated disabled by the VA.
    • Resident: person living in Michigan with intent to remain, or a student enrolled full-time in a Michigan college/university.
    • Trust fund: game and fish lifetime license trust fund (Sec. 44104).
  • New license options and pricing (Sec. 44102a):
    • Lifetime hunting license for disabled veterans, starting July 1, 2027.
    • Pricing by VA disability rating:
    • 100% disabled (totally and permanently): $0
    • 70% or more but less than 100%: $50
    • 50%–69%: $75
    • 30%–49%: $100
    • Lifetime fishing license for disabled veterans, starting July 1, 2027.
    • Pricing by VA disability rating (same schedule as hunting).
  • Included privileges (Sec. 44102a):
    • Disabled veteran lifetime hunting license includes:
    • Resident base license
    • Two deer licenses
    • Waterfowl hunting license
    • Fur harvester’s license
    • Turkey license
    • Disabled veteran lifetime fishing license includes all-species fishing privileges.
  • Lifetime nature and limits (Sec. 44102a(4)):
    • Licenses grant lifetime privileges but do not guarantee the right to take game; subject to harvest regulations and license/permit conditions.
  • Residency status and continuity (Sec. 44102a(5)):
    • If purchased while a Michigan resident, the license remains valid even if the holder later becomes a nonresident.
  • Administration and sales (Sec. 44103):
    • Applicants file through authorized license sellers or designated channels.
    • Disabled veterans apply for disabled veteran licenses through authorized sellers.
    • Requirements include standard personal information (name, age, physical descriptors, address, driver license, Social Security number).
    • Lifetime license holders must notify the department of name/address changes.
    • A certificate may be issued to designate to another person (with conditions on age and eligibility to use the license).
    • Department will issue the license within 7 days of receipt of a complete application and payment, or return fees if ineligible.
    • Sellers may retain specified fees (detailed in subsection 44103(5)).
  • Fund creation and management (Sec. 44104–44105):
    • Create the Game and Fish Lifetime License Trust Fund in the state treasury.
    • Proceeds from sale of lifetime licenses and disabled veteran lifetime licenses/fishing licenses credited to the fund.
    • Treasurer investment and annual distribution rules to Michigan’s game and fish accounts and the Michigan Conservation and Recreation Legacy Fund, aligning with existing funding mechanisms and ensuring the annual equivalent of the license would have funded the standard annual license (when calculating distributions).
  • Penalties (Sec. 44106):
    • Violations related to registration/purchase of lifetime licenses carry penalties, including forfeiture of the right to issue lifetime licenses and the associated fees if not complied with within specified timeframes.

Who is affected

  • Eligible individuals: Michigan residents who are veterans with VA-disability ratings (and thus disabled veterans).
  • Potential beneficiaries: Disabled veterans seeking lifetime hunting and/or fishing privileges.
  • Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR): Administrative responsibility for processing applications, issuing licenses, and managing the trust fund and related pricing/fees.
  • License agents: Sellers authorized to issue lifetime licenses and collect fees, with specified retention allowances.
  • Local and state revenues: Proceeds directed to the Game and Fish Lifetime License Trust Fund, with flow-through to the Michigan Conservation and Recreation Legacy Fund.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Effective date for eligibility and sales: July 1, 2027.
  • Initial setup: Establishment of the disabled veteran lifetime licenses program, pricing by VA rating, and broader license privileges as described.
  • Ongoing administration: Annual accounting and reporting to the state treasurer; monthly/periodic financial flows from license sales to the trust fund; annual allocations to the game and fish accounts and legacy fund.

Fiscal impact (as analyzed)

  • Revenue effect for DNR depends on uptake of disabled veteran lifetime licenses; 2024-25 license revenue for reference was approximately $68.4 million (already deposited into the Game and Fish Protection Account).
  • The bill is not expected to significantly alter DNR ongoing costs, given it piggybacks on existing licensing structures; broader local government revenue/cost impacts are unlikely.
  • Fiscal analyses note uncertainty pending purchase rates and eligibility dynamics.

Summary

HB 5687 creates a framework to issue lifetime hunting and fishing licenses specifically for disabled veterans, with sliding-scale fees tied to VA disability ratings and inclusive privileges comparable to corresponding annual licenses. Licenses would be portable for residents who relocate out of state and would be funded through a dedicated game and fish trust fund, with distributions aligned to support conservation and recreation programs. The program would begin July 1, 2027, subject to required administrative and regulatory steps.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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