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A 4614

Provides for free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to residents of the state who are active duty members of the U.S. armed forces regardless of duty station

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Sempolinski

Waives hunting, fishing, and trapping license fees for New York residents on active U.S. military duty, regardless of duty station, to boost access to outdoor recreation.

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION
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Bill Summary · A 4614

Summary of New York Assembly Bill A 4614

Overview

  • Bill number: A 4614
  • Title: Provides for free hunting, fishing and trapping licenses to residents of the state who are active duty members of the U.S. armed forces regardless of duty station
  • Sponsor: Joseph Sempolinski (primary)
  • Status: Referred to Environmental Conservation
  • Introduced: February 4, 2025
  • Classification: Bill (environmental/conservation focus)

Purpose and intent

A 4614 would remove license fees for three categories of outdoor licenses for a specific group: active duty members of the U.S. armed forces who are residents of New York State. The key intent is to ensure active duty service members can participate in hunting, fishing, and trapping in the state without the burden of license costs, regardless of where they are stationed.

Key provisions (as described)

  • Licenses covered: Free licenses for hunting, fishing, and trapping.
  • Eligibility: New York State residents who are active duty members of the U.S. armed forces.
  • Duties/limitations: The bill specifies that the license waivers apply "regardless of duty station," meaning eligibility should not be affected by whether the service member is stationed inside or outside New York State.
  • Administration: The bill would require administrative action by the Department of Environmental Conservation (or the relevant licensing authority) to implement and grant these free licenses to eligible individuals.

Who would be affected

  • Primary beneficiaries: Active duty members of the U.S. armed forces who are residents of New York State.
  • Secondary effects: The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and license issuing offices would implement and process the waivers; potential administrative adjustments to verify residency and active duty status.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduction date: February 4, 2025.
  • Committee action: Referred to the Environmental Conservation committee (noted twice in the record). This indicates the bill is moving through the standard committee review process, where amendments and specifics (e.g., verification methods, procedures, and fiscal notes) would typically be defined.

Related legislation

  • Related bills from prior sessions include A 5292, A 6011, A 1909, A 7479, A 4991, A 5833, A 8362, and A 2492. These likely explored similar concepts of waiving or modifying license fees for veterans or military members.

Potential impact and considerations

  • Fiscal impact: The primary budgetary effect would be the foregone revenue from hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses for eligible members. The exact cost would depend on the number of eligible residents and current license pricing.
  • Administrative considerations: Verification of residency and active-duty status; ensuring the policy remains workable for those deployed out of state. Potential need for retainment of records or a streamlined process to issue free licenses.
  • Policy context: Aligns with efforts to support military service members and facilitate public access to outdoor recreational activities.

Next steps for readers

  • Monitor the Environmental Conservation committee for amendments, fiscal notes, and potential floor action.
  • Look for language detailing verification processes (how residency and active duty status will be established) and any sunset or renewal provisions.
  • Consider how this interacts with existing veteran or military-related exemptions or programs in New York State.

If you’d like, I can compare A 4614 to its related prior-session bills (A 5292, A 6011, etc.) to highlight similarities or differences.

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

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