This legislative bill amends several sections of Nebraska's Game and Parks Commission laws, focusing on redefining terms and modifying provisions related to funds, fees, permits, and educational programs. It introduces new provisions for mountain lion permits, allowing qualifying landowners and their immediate family members to apply for hunting permits, and establishes a framework for the commission to collect reasonable fees for fish and wildlife education programs, ensuring these fees do not exceed the associated costs. The bill also creates the Game Law Investigation Cash Fund for enforcing Game Law and mandates the commission to maintain detailed records of expenditures from this fund. Additionally, it modifies existing provisions regarding the issuance of licenses and permits, increasing the maximum additional fee for clerical work from three to four dollars and revising the fee structure for lifetime permits.

Moreover, the bill updates the fees and regulations associated with hunting permits for various species, including deer, antelope, elk, mountain sheep, and wild turkey. The nonrefundable application fee for deer and antelope permits is increased from seven to nine dollars, while fees for resident deer permits rise from thirty-nine to fifty dollars. The bill also introduces a new fee structure for youth permits and establishes rules for issuing preference points. It expands the scope of limited permits to include mountain lions and adjusts application fees for mountain sheep permits. The commission is granted authority to adopt rules and regulations for the issuance of these permits, with violations resulting in misdemeanor charges and fines, thereby reinforcing compliance with hunting regulations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 37-201, 37-247.01, 37-324, 37-327.01, 37-327.04, 37-406, 37-415, 37-431, 37-447, 37-449, 37-450, 37-451, 37-456.01, 37-484, 37-1214, 37-1241.02
Final Reading: 37-201, 37-247.01, 37-324, 37-327.01, 37-327.04, 37-406, 37-415, 37-431, 37-447, 37-449, 37-450, 37-451, 37-455, 37-456, 37-456.01, 37-457, 37-484, 37-1214, 37-1241.02