This bill amends the existing law regarding lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for newborns by allowing the executive director of the fish and game commission to set the fee for these licenses through regulations, rather than having a fixed fee of $300. Specifically, it deletes the fixed fee language and inserts provisions that empower the executive director to establish the fee based on actuarial data. The bill also clarifies that the fee for newborn licenses will be set annually on July 15 for the following year, and it includes newborns in the fee-setting process alongside other age groups.

The fiscal impact of this bill is expected to result in an indeterminable increase in revenue for the Fish and Game Lifetime License Fund, as the new fee structure is anticipated to raise the cost of newborn licenses significantly. The Department of Fish and Game estimates that this increase may lead to a reduction in the number of licenses sold annually, but overall, the expectation is that the bill will generate a net increase in revenue. In 2023, the department sold 1,092 newborn licenses at an average price of $304.50, totaling $332,514, which serves as a reference point for the potential financial implications of the new fee-setting authority. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 214:9-c
HB647 text: 214:9-c