Summary of Original Version

Amend KRS 150.170 to exempt a bona fide private landowner from any fishing restrictions imposed in KRS Chapter 150 or the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder relating to creel, possession, size, or method of take; allow a private landowner to extend the same rights and privileges relating to fishing in lakes or ponds located on the landowner's property to any person in written or electronic form; allow the stocking of certain largemouth bass in private lakes and ponds without restriction; exempt a bona fide private landowner from any lake or pond stocking restrictions except with regard to prohibitions on the stocking of invasive fish.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 1 -- R. Webb

Summary Delete original provisions; provide that resident owners of farmland, their spouses, and dependent children shall not be subject to fishing restrictions imposed in KRS Chapter 150 or the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder relating to creel, possession, or method of take for fish taken on the farmland owner's private lake or pond; allow the same privileges to be extended to tenants and their dependent children; prohibit the same privileges to be extended to business organizations unless they are owned by immediate family members who farm the land; allow the stocking of noninvasive fish and certain largemouth bass in private lakes and ponds without restriction; allow the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or federal law to deem species of largemouth bass invasive; prohibit the transportation of fish taken using the privileges conferred by the section without documentation authenticating that the fish were taken legally; define "private lake or pond."

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 2 -- G. Boswell

Summary Prohibit using rights or privileges conferred by a private landowner for fishing on private lands as a defense for being found in violation of administrative regulations for creel, size, possession or method of take when on public lakes, rivers, or streams.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 3 -- G. Boswell

Summary Disallow property owner from extending the right to fish without a fishing license to anyone not already authorized by statute as exempt.

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 4 -- R. Webb

Summary Delete original provisions; provide that residents of the Commonwealth who are owners of farmland, their spouses, and dependent children shall not be subject to fishing restrictions imposed in KRS Chapter 150 or the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder relating to creel, possession, or lawful method of take for fish taken on the farmland owner's private lake or pond; allow the same privileges to be extended to tenants and their dependent children; prohibit the same privileges to be extended to business organizations unless they are owned by immediate family members who farm the land; allow the stocking of noninvasive fish and certain largemouth bass in private lakes and ponds without restriction; allow the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or state or federal law to deem species of largemouth bass invasive; prohibit the transportation of fish taken using the privileges conferred by the section without documentation authenticating that the fish were taken legally; define "private lake or pond" and "farmlands."

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 5 -- R. Webb

Summary Delete original provisions; provide that residents of the Commonwealth who are owners of farmland, their spouses, and dependent children shall not be subject to fishing restrictions imposed in KRS Chapter 150 or the administrative regulations promulgated thereunder relating to creel, possession, or lawful method of take for fish taken on the farmland owner's private lake or pond; allow the same privileges to be extended to tenants and their dependent children; prohibit the same privileges to be extended to business organizations unless they are owned by immediate family members who farm the land; allow the stocking of noninvasive fish and certain largemouth bass in private lakes and ponds without restriction; allow the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or state or federal law to deem species of largemouth bass invasive; prohibit the transportation of fish taken using the privileges conferred by the section without documentation authenticating that the fish were taken legally; define "private lake or pond."

Summary of Amendment: Senate Floor Amendment 6 -- G. Boswell

Summary Identify landowner's lakes and ponds and private; state any person found in violation of creel, possession, size or method of take when on public waters cannot claim privilege or right to fish on a private lake or pond; make exemptions on restrictions for fishing applicable to both residents and nonresidents of the Commonwealth; and define 'private lake or pond'.

Summary of Amendment: House Committee Substitute 1

Summary Retain original provisions, except amend KRS 150.170 to exempt bona fide landowners from the creel, possession, size, and method of take; require the landowner to have a fishing license unless previously exempted and allow the landowner to extend privileges to others in written or electronic form; clarify that owners of farmlands must be residents of the Commonwealth to be able to hunt or fish without a license; prohibit the intentional release of first filial largemouth and Florida bass; amend KRS 150.360 to add beavers to wildlife that can be taken at night and require the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources to promulgate administrative regulations for nocturnal beaver hunting; allow the hunting of bobcat at night with any means to make the animal visible including night vision, infrared, and thermal technologies; amend KRS 150.990 to add a penalty for violation of intentional release of Florida bass into public waterways up to $10,000 per offense; require annual executive branch ethics training for each member of the commission; define "sportswoman"; establish additional qualifications to serve on the commission; prohibit members of the commission from having official logos, decals, or emblems used by the department or that bear the state seal from being used on personal vehicles; require that each appointee file an affidavit with the Secretary of State setting forth how the appointee meets the qualifications and requirements to serve on the commission; amend KRS 150.061 to provide additional qualifications for the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources; require for the commission to conduct national searches to fill vacancies for commissioner after the effective date of the Act; allow current commission members to serve out the remainder of their terms; EMERGENCY.

Summary of Amendment: House Committee Amendment 1 -- J. Gooch Jr.

Summary Make title amendment.

Summary of Amendment: House Floor Amendment 1 -- D. Meade

Summary Clarify the stocking of fish is only done on private lakes or ponds of a bona fide landowner.

Summary of Amendment: House Floor Amendment 2 -- D. Osborne

Summary Amend KRS 235.280 to prohibit the Department of Fish and Wildlife from promulgating administrative regulations prohibiting, limiting, or restricting wakeboats or wakesports on bodies of water where it was allowed as of December 1, 2025; hydrofoil, wakeboat, and wakesports.

Summary of Amendment: House Floor Amendment 3 -- J. Blanton

Summary Prohibit any person to be appointed the commissioner of the Department of Fish and Wildlife if that person had been employed by the Department of Fish and Wildlife 2 years prior to the appointment.

Summary of Amendment: House Floor Amendment 4 -- D. Meade

Summary Prohibit the unregulated or unrestricted stocking of private lakes and ponds located in the 100 year floodplain.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 150.170
House Committee Substitute 1: 150.170, 150.180, 150.360, 150.990, 150.022, 150.061
Current: 150.170