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HB 2268

Prohibiting nonresidents from hunting migratory waterfowl during certain times and places and increasing fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps.

2025-2026 Regular Session

The bill restricts nonresident migratory waterfowl hunting to Sundays-Tuesdays on many public lands and allows higher stamp fees set by regulation.

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Bill Summary · HB 2268

HB 2268 — Summary

Short title / focus: Restrict nonresident hunting of migratory waterfowl at specified times and places in Kansas; change migratory waterfowl habitat stamp fees (and related mussel license provisions).

Purpose / intent

The bill is intended to (1) prioritize hunting opportunity for Kansas residents by limiting when nonresidents may hunt migratory waterfowl on many public lands and (2) adjust fee authority for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps (and address mussel‑fishing license provisions) to change revenue collected into the Department of Wildlife and Parks’ fee funds.

Key provisions

  • Nonresident hunting restriction

    • Prohibits nonresidents from hunting or taking migratory waterfowl except on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays during any established migratory waterfowl hunting season.
    • Applies to:
    • “Department lands and waters” (state parks, wildlife areas, state lakes, hatcheries, etc.).
    • Federal lands/waters administered by:
      • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at specified reservoirs (Big Hill, Clinton, Council Grove, El Dorado, Elk City, Fall River, Hillsdale, John Redmond, Kanopolis, Marion, Melvern, Milford, Perry, Pomona, Toronto, Tuttle Creek, Wilson) and certain Missouri River mitigation lands (e.g., Benedictine Bottoms, Burr Oak, Dalbey, Elwood, Oak Mills).
      • Bureau of Reclamation at Cedar Bluff, Cheney, Glen Elder, Lovewell, Norton, Webster reservoirs.
      • U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service refuges (Flint Hills NWR, Quivira NWR, Marais des Cygnes NWR, Kirwin NWR).
    • Exemptions:
    • Properties enrolled as walk‑in hunting access or interactive walk‑in areas.
    • Navigable Kansas rivers.
    • The federal “conservation order” for light geese (50 C.F.R. § 21.180).

  • Fees / stamps / mussel licenses

    • The bill authorizes raising the maximum amount of migratory waterfowl habitat stamp fees (current statutory maximum noted is $8). The Division of the Budget fiscal note describes proposed maximums of up to $20 for residents and up to $100 for nonresidents, but the exact fee(s) would be set later by agency regulation (the bill provides only the maximum).
    • The fiscal note also indicates the bill would remove mussel fishing licenses and associated fees (or otherwise alter mussel license fee entries in statute), affecting related fee authority. (Text excerpts in file show changes to mussel license fee entries; the fiscal note states the agency would stop selling mussel licenses.)

Who is affected

  • Primary: nonresident migratory waterfowl hunters (restricted to 3 days/week on listed public lands).
  • Secondary: Kansas resident hunters (potentially increased opportunity on many public lands); Department of Wildlife & Parks (operations, fee revenue, rulemaking to set new fee levels); federal land co‑managers at specified reservoirs/refuges; mussel fishers (if licenses are removed/changed).
  • Fiscal: fee fund(s) administered by the Department of Wildlife & Parks — likely increased revenue potential from higher stamp fees, offset/changed by removal/alteration of mussel license fees.

Fiscal impact & uncertainties

  • Division of the Budget fiscal note: the Department expects increased revenues to fee funds if higher stamps are adopted and mussel license sales stop, but cannot estimate a net fiscal effect because the bill authorizes only maximums and the agency must adopt specific fee amounts by regulation.
  • Any fiscal effects were not included in the FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.

Procedural / timeline status (selected)

  • Filed: January 30, 2025
  • Referred to Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources; Hearing scheduled: Monday, March 17, 2025 — 3:30 PM, Room 112‑N
  • Read first time / House actions: Jan–Mar 2025 (multiple readings, committee actions noted in records)
  • Sponsors: Rep. David Livingston (primary), Rep. Tony M. McCombie (primary)

Notes / considerations

  • The bill leaves the final stamp fee(s) to agency rulemaking up to the statutory maximums; therefore the precise new fees (and revenue impacts) depend on subsequent regulation.
  • The bill cross‑references many statutory sections (K.S.A. 32‑939; K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 32‑988) and would require the Department to update forms/permits and enforcement guidance for the new nonresident restrictions and any fee structure changes.

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

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