The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
BILL: CS/SJR 1234
INTRODUCER: Environment and Natural Resources and Senator Brodeur
SUBJECT: Hunting and Fishing
DATE: March 27, 2023 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Carroll Rogers EN Fav/CS
2. JU
3. RC
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SJR 1234 proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to preserve hunting, fishing,
and the taking of fish and wildlife, including by the use of traditional methods, in perpetuity as a
public right. The amendment makes hunting, fishing, and the taking of fish and wildlife the
preferred means of responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. This amendment
does not limit the authority of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
If adopted by the Legislature, the proposed amendment will be submitted to Florida’s electors for
approval or rejection at the next general election in November 2024 or at an earlier special
election.
II. Present Situation:
Hunting and Fishing in Florida
Wildlife managers often use hunting and fishing as tools for wildlife management and
conservation.1 Based on field research and harvest data, managers can model population growth
1
See, Andrew Moore, College of Natural Resources News, The Role of Hunting in Wildlife Conservation, Explained,
https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2021/02/the-role-of-hunting-in-wildlife-conservation-explained/ (last visited Mar. 28, 2023); U.S.
Department of the Interior, How Hunting Assists Species Conservation and Management,
https://www.doi.gov/ocl/hearings/112/SpeciesConservation_062712 (last visited Mar. 28, 2023); Brent Lawrence, U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, North American Model of Wildlife Conservation: Wildlife for Everyone,
BILL: CS/SJR 1234 Page 2
and set management regulations according to those models.2 If a population of fish of wildlife is
overabundant, increased harvest can help control the population.3
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is responsible for regulating,
managing, protecting, and conserving the state’s fish and wildlife resources.4 FWC is governed
by a board of seven members who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida
Senate.5 Under Article IV, Section 9 of the Florida Constitution, FWC has the authority to
exercise the regulatory and executive powers of the state with respect to wild animal life, fresh
water aquatic life, and marine life. All license fees for taking wild animal life, fresh water
aquatic life, and marine life and penalties for violating FWC regulations are found in statute.6
The Legislature may enact laws to aid FWC, except for special laws or general laws of local
application pertaining to hunting or fishing.7
Right to Hunt and Fish
Citizens of Florida have the statutory right to hunt, fish, and take game subject to the regulations
and restrictions prescribed by law and by the State Constitution.8 The Legislature recognizes that
hunting, fishing, and the taking of game are a valued part of the cultural heritage of Florida and
should be forever preserved for Floridians. The Legislature also recognizes that these activities
play an important role in the state’s economy and in the conservation, preservation, and
management of the state’s natural areas and resources.9 Additionally, it can be a criminal
infraction to intentionally harass hunters, trappers, or fishers.10
Twenty-three states have passed constitutional amendments giving their citizens the right to
hunt, fish, or both.11 States that preserve the right to both hunt and fish are Alabama, Arkansas,
Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana,
Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,
Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Both California and Rhode Island have amended
their state constitutions to guarantee the right to fish, but not to hunt, and New Hampshire
statutorily recognizes the right to hunt and fish.12
https://www.fws.gov/story/2022-04/north-american-model-wildlife-conservation-wildlife-everyone (last visited Mar. 28,
2023).
2
Andrew Moore, The Role of Hunting in Wildlife Conservation, Explained.
3
Id.
4
FLA. CONST. art. IV, s. 9.
5
Id.; see also s. 379.102(1), F.S.
6
FLA. CONST. art. IV, s. 9.
7
Id.
8
Section 379.104, F.S.
9
Id.
10
Section 379.105, F.S.
11
National Conference of State Legislatures, State Constitutional Right to Hunt and Fish, https://www.ncsl.org/environment-
and-natural-resources/state-constitutional-right-to-hunt-and-fish (last visited Mar. 22, 2023); N.C. CONST. art. I, s. 38; UTAH
CONST. art. I, s. 30.
12
Id.
BILL: CS/SJR 1234 Page 3
Taking Fish and Wildlife
“Taking” is defined in the Florida statutes as “taking, attempting to take, pursuing, hunting,
molesting, capturing, or killing any wildlife or freshwater or saltwater fish, or their nests or eggs,
by any means, whether or not such actions result in obtaining possession of such wildlife or
freshwater or saltwater fish or their nests or eggs.”13 The term “take” is also defined in the
federal Endangered Species Act to include harassing, harming, pursuing, hunting, shooting,
wounding, killing, trapping, capturing, or collecting, or attempting to engage in any such
conduct.14
Allowed Methods of Hunting in Florida
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) authorizes the hunting of
resident game birds, crows, or game mammals with:
 Shotguns.
 Rifles, revolvers, or pistols, except that:
o No fully automatic firearm may be used.
o Firearms using any rimfire cartridge or non-expanding, full metal case ammunition are
prohibited for taking deer or bear.
o Use of a centerfire semi-automatic rifle having a magazine capable of holding more than
five rounds is prohibited.
 Muzzleloading guns of less than .30 caliber firing a single bullet or of less than 20 gauge
firing two or more balls, are prohibited for taking deer or bear.
 Air guns, except that:
o Only pre-charged pneumatic air guns .30 caliber or greater propelling a single projectile
may be used for taking deer.
o Only pre-charged pneumatic air guns .20 caliber or greater propelling a single projectile
may be used for taking wild turkey.
 Falcons.
 Bows or crossbows, except that any arrow or bolt used to take deer, bear, or wild turkey shall
be equipped with a broadhead with a minimum width of 7/8 inches.15
Dogs may be used as an aid to take game unless otherwise prohibited.16
FWC allows migratory game birds to be taken with:
 Shotguns not larger than 10 gauge with a capacity not exceeding three shells in the magazine
and chamber combined.
 Falcons.
 Bows or crossbows.17
13
Section 379.101(38), F.S.
14
16 U.S.C. §1531; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Endangered Species Act,
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/endangered-species-act#section-9-prohibited-acts
(last visited Mar. 27, 2023).
15
Chapter 68A-12.002, F.A.C.
16
Id.
17
Id.
BILL: CS/SJR 1234 Page 4
A person who holds a furbearer trapping license may take or attempt to take furbearing animals
including raccoon, opossum, skunk, nutria, beaver, coyote, bobcat, and otter with a livetrap of
snare and to sell furbearer’s hides and meat to a licensed dealer.18
FWC does not allow a person to take game or crows with arrows or bolts that have explosive or
drug-administering heads or to attempt to take any game with the aid of live decoys, recorded
game calls or sounds, set guns, artificial light, net, trap, snare, drug, or poison.19
Allowed Methods of Fishing in Florida
FWC allows freshwater game fish to be taken only by hook and line or rod and reel.20 Freshwater
game fish include black bass, crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, warmouth, redbreast sunfish,
spotted sunfish, flier, mud sunfish, longear sunfish, shadow bass, peacock bass, white bass,
striped bass, and sunshine bass.21 Freshwater non-game fish may be taken:
 With pole and line or rod and reel.
 By bush hook, setline, or trotline baited with cut bait or other substance, but only in certain
areas.
 At night with bow and arrow or gigs.
 During daylight hours by manually operated spears, gigs, snatch hooks, crossbow, or bow
and arrow from a boat or from the shore, except in certain areas.
 By the use of cast nets in certain areas.
 At night with a bow and light.
 By netting or impounding at night in certain areas.
 By the use of not more than one slat basket or one wire trap.22
All persons fishing recreationally for saltwater reef fish in the Gulf of Mexico must use a
dehooking device and must use non-stainless non-offset circle hooks when using natural baits.23
In the Atlantic Ocean, recreational and commercial fishers must use dehooking devices as
needed when fishing for reef fish. When fishing for reef fish using hook and line with natural
baits from a vessel, non-stainless steel, non-offset circle hooks and non-stainless steel hooks may
be required depending on the location. These rules apply to all reef fish, including but not limited
to groupers, snappers, amberjacks, red porgy, gray triggerfish, black sea bass, golden tilefish,
banded rudderfish, and speckled hind.24
The following types of nets may be used for recreational purposes in Florida waters:
 Bully nets for lobster,
 Frame nets and push nets for shrimp in certain areas,
18
FWC, Recreational Hunting Licenses & Permits, https://myfwc.com/license/recreational/hunting/ (last visited Mar. 27,
2023).
19
Chapter 68A-12, F.A.C.
20
Chapter 68A-23.002, F.A.C.
21
ERegulations, Florida Freshwater Fishing, Methods of Taking Fish,
https://www.eregulations.com/florida/fishing/freshwater/methods-of-taking-fish (last visited Mar. 28, 2023).
22
Id.
23
ERegulations, Florida Saltwater Fishing, Recreational Gear,
https://www.eregulations.com/florida/fishing/saltwater/recreational-gear (last visited Mar. 28, 2023).
24
Id.
BILL: CS/SJR 1234 Page 5
 Hand-held landing or dip nets,
 Cast nets, and
 Beach or haul seines.
Cast nets and seines may be used to harvest only black drum, bluefish, cobia, flounder, mullet,
Florida pompano, red drum, sheepshead, shrimp, Spanish mackerel, weakfish, and unregulated
species. Fishing with powerheads, explosives, chemicals, or firearms is prohibited in state
waters.25
Spearing, which includes bow fishing, gigging, and spearfishing, is prohibited for certain species
and subject to the same recreational regulations as those marine species that are harvested by any
other type of gear. Fishing with the use of powerheads, bangsticks, or rebreathers is prohibited in
state waters, however rebreathers are allowed for the harvest of lionfish.26
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The joint resolution proposes the creation of Article I, s. 28 of the Florida Constitution to
preserve hunting, fishing, and the taking of fish and wildlife, including by the use of traditional
methods, forever as a public right and as a preferred means of responsibly managing and
controlling fish and wildlife. The section does not limit the authority granted to the Florida Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission under Article IV, s. 9.
If adopted by the Legislature, the proposed amendment will be submitted to Florida’s electors for
approval or rejection at the next general election in November 2024 or at an earlier special
election specifically authorized by law for that purpose.
The joint resolution also provides the ballot statement, which will appear on the November 2024
ballot if adopted by the Legislature, as follows:
RIGHT TO FISH AND HUNT.—Proposing an amendment to the State
Constitution to preserve forever fishing and hunting, including by the use
of traditional methods, as a public right and preferred means of
responsibly managing and controlling fish and wildlife. Specifies that the
amendment does not limit the authority granted to the Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission under Section 9 of Article IV of the State
Constitution.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
25
Id.
26
Id.
BILL: CS/SJR 1234 Page 6
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
Article XI, s. 1 of the Florida Constitution authorizes the Legislature to propose
amendments to the Florida Constitution by joint resolution approved by a three-fifths
vote of the membership of each house. Article XI, s. 5(a) of the Florida Constitution
requires the amendment be placed before the electorate at the next general election27 held
more than 90 days after the proposal has been filed with the Secretary of State or at a
special election held for that purpose. Constitutional amendments submitted to the
electors must be printed in clear and unambiguous language on the ballot.28
Article XI, s. 5(d) of the Florida Constitution requires proposed amendments or
constitutional revisions to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each
county where a newspaper is published. The amendment or revision must be published
once in the 10th week and again in the 6th week immediately preceding the week the
election is held.
Article XI, s. 5(e) of the Florida Constitution requires approval by 60 percent of voters
for a constitutional amendment to take effect. The amendment, if approved, becomes
effective on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January following the election, or
on such other date as may be specified in the amendment.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
27
Section 97.021(16), F.S., defines “general election” as an election held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November in the even-numbered years, for the purpose of filling national, state, county, and district offices and for voting on
constitutional amendments not otherwise provided for by law.
28
Section 101.161(1), F.S.
 BILL: CS/SJR 1234 Page 7
C. Government Sector Impact:
Article XI, Section 5(d) of the Florida Constitution requires proposed amendments or
constitutional revisions to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in each
county where a newspaper is published. The amendment or revision must be published in
the 10th week and again in the 6th week immediately preceding the week the election is
held.
The Division of Elections (division) within the Department of State pays for publication
costs to advertise all constitutional amendments in both English and Spanish, 29 typically
paid from non-recurring General Revenue funds.30 Accurate cost estimates for the next
constitutional amendment advertising cannot be determined until the total number of
amendments to be advertised is known and updated quotes are obtained from