The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by updating the requirements for pheasant hunting licenses in Michigan. It establishes that individuals aged 18 and older must obtain a current annual pheasant hunting license, which costs $25. However, certain individuals are exempt from this requirement, including those hunting at licensed game bird preserves, on private land (excluding land in the hunting access program), on public land in the Upper Peninsula, and those holding specific lifetime licenses. The bill also outlines the process for affixing the license to a base license and allows collectors to purchase a license without the same requirements, although such licenses are not valid for hunting.

Additionally, the bill creates a pheasant subaccount within the game and fish protection account, where fees collected from pheasant hunting licenses will be deposited. The state treasurer is responsible for managing this subaccount, which will not lapse at the end of the fiscal year and will only be used for costs related to the purchase and release of live pheasants on state-owned land. The bill extends the expiration date of this section from January 1, 2026, to January 1, 2031, ensuring continued funding and management for pheasant hunting initiatives in Michigan.

Statutes affected:
Senate Introduced Bill: 324.43525