The bill amends the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act by updating the regulations surrounding pheasant hunting licenses in Michigan. It establishes that individuals aged 18 and older must obtain a current annual pheasant hunting license, which costs $25, in addition to a base license. Certain exemptions are provided, including individuals hunting on licensed game bird preserves, private land (with some exceptions), public land in the Upper Peninsula, and those holding specific lifetime licenses. The bill also outlines the requirements for affixing the license to the base license and allows collectors to purchase a license without the same restrictions, although such licenses are not valid for hunting.

Additionally, the bill creates a pheasant subaccount within the game and fish protection account, where the fees collected from pheasant hunting licenses will be deposited. The state treasurer is responsible for managing this subaccount, ensuring that funds remain available for the purchase and release of live pheasants on state-owned land suitable for their habitat. Notably, the previous provision that required funds in the subaccount to be transferred to the game and fish protection account by January 1, 2026, has been deleted, allowing the funds to remain in the subaccount indefinitely. The department will administer the subaccount for auditing purposes and will only expend funds on appropriation for the specified purposes.

Statutes affected:
House Introduced Bill: 324.43525
As Passed by the House: 324.43525