Bill
HB 5662
The bill would let private landowners’ grandchildren hunt and fish on that land without state licenses, expanding a narrow license exemption.
HB 5662 (West Virginia) – Summary of intent and key provisions
Overview
- Title: To extend hunting/fishing rights on private property, without a license, to grandchildren of the land owner
- Session/Jurisdiction: 2026, West Virginia
- Primary sponsor: (Co-sponsor: Jeff Campbell)
- Status: Filed for introduction and referred to committees early in the session (House Government Organization noted in action history)
Core purpose
- The bill seeks to allow the grandchildren of a private landowner to hunt and fish on that private property without obtaining a state hunting or fishing license, presumably under the landowner’s property rights framework.
Key provisions and changes (as implied by title and standard legislative structure)
- Private property permission: Establishes or codifies an exception to general license requirements for hunting and fishing on property owned by a private landowner.
- Beneficiaries: Grandchildren of the landowner. It is not stated to extend to children, spouses, or other relatives beyond grandchildren in the bill title, but the text of the bill (not provided here) would determine the exact scope.
- Licensed-exemption scope: The bill would create an exemption from state license requirements for the specified relationship (grandchildren) when engaging in hunting or fishing on the landowner’s private property.
- Compliance and liability: The bill’s text would ordinarily address safety, set expectations for the landowner’s ability to permit activities, and may include disclaimers about adherence to other game laws, property access rules, and potential limitations (e.g., seasons, bag limits) that could still apply if other provisions are triggered.
Who would be affected
- Private landowners: The ability to grant or deny license-less hunting/fishing access to their grandchildren on their property remains within the landowner’s decision, but the bill would formalize the grandchildren’s access in the absence of a state license.
- Grandchildren of landowners: Eligible for license-free hunting/fishing on the specified private property, subject to any other applicable laws or conditions in the bill.
- General public/other license-holders: Licensing requirements for hunting and fishing on private property would be altered for a narrow group; this does not change license requirements for other individuals or on public lands.
Procedural and timeline considerations
- Introduction and referrals: The bill was introduced in February 2026 and referred to the House Government Organization committee, reflecting standard early-stage committee review.
- Next steps (typical): If advanced, the bill would go through committee discussions, potential amendments, and floor consideration in the House, then possibly move to the Senate. Timeline depends on committee schedules and legislative priority.
- Implementation: If enacted, the effective date would be specified in the final enacted text (often upon passage or a defined future date). The bill may include savings/transition provisions if it interacts with existing licensing regimes.
Notes and caveats
- The provided text appears to be incomplete or includes formatting artifacts; the exact regulatory language, any limitations (e.g., on protected species, game wardens’ enforcement, seasons, or bag limits), and any interplay with other exemptions are not visible here.
- For a thorough understanding, review the full bill text, including any definitions, exceptions, safety provisions, and enforcement mechanisms.
Why it matters
- The bill aims to balance private property rights with wildlife recreation by extending a narrowly tailored license-exemption to a specific familial group, potentially simplifying access for grandchildren while preserving licensing controls for others.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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