Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

Kansas House Bill HB2147

Introduced
1/29/25  

Caption

Requiring the Kansas department of wildlife and parks to offer discounted resident senior combination hunting and fishing passes to residents of this state who are 65 years of age or older and removing the expiration date for Kansas kids lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses.

Impact

The implications of HB 2147 are significant in terms of state laws governing wildlife and recreation. By establishing discounted rates for seniors, the bill aims to promote inclusivity and safeguard the connection of older residents to nature and outdoor sports. Simultaneously, its provisions encouraging children's participation by removing expiration dates can cultivate a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts. This dual focus on both senior and child engagement reflects a broader commitment to fostering an appreciation for wildlife and conservation across age groups.

Summary

House Bill 2147 aims to enhance access to hunting and fishing activities for seniors and children in Kansas. The bill requires the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to offer discounted combination hunting and fishing passes specifically for residents aged 65 and older. This initiative is designed to encourage outdoor participation among seniors by making these recreational activities more financially accessible. Additionally, the bill removes the expiration date for Kansas kids' lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses, allowing children to enjoy these licenses without worrying about a time limitation.

Contention

While the bill presents benefits, there could be points of contention regarding funding and management of the adjusted fee structures. Critics might argue about the sustainability of reduced fees for seniors and how it affects the wildlife conservation efforts, which are often funded through license sales. There could also be debates centered on whether the removal of the expiration date for children's licenses might lead to unintended consequences regarding tracking the participation rates or benefits for conservation programs. As discussions around hunting and fishing licenses may encompass diverse opinions on wildlife management and recreational access, it is essential for stakeholders to consider these various perspectives.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

KS SCR1603

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for residential property.

KS HB2002

Expanding medical assistance eligibility and enacting the cutting healthcare costs for all Kansans act.

KS SB1

Modifying income tax rates for individuals, exempting all social security benefits from Kansas income tax, increasing the Kansas standard deduction and the Kansas personal exemption, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, decreasing the privilege tax normal tax, excluding internal revenue code section 1031 exchange transactions as indicators of fair market value for property tax valuation purposes, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund and abolishing the local ad valorem tax reduction fund and the county and city revenue sharing fund.

KS SB6

Providing a sales tax exemption for sales of electricity to residential premises by municipally owned or operated utilities.

KS SCR1602

Approving the creation of a port authority in Wyandotte County Kansas.

KS HB2001

Authorizing the secretary of commerce to enter into agreements with major professional sports franchises to establish STAR bond projects for a major professional sports complex, providing for additional revenue sources, expanding the powers and discretion of the secretary and making other changes to the STAR bonds financing act to facilitate such projects, limiting the secretary’s authority to approve such projects to one year unless extended by the legislative coordinating council, authorizing the Kansas development finance authority to issue STAR bonds for such projects, transferring funds under certain circumstances from the state gaming revenues fund to the attracting professional sports to Kansas fund for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, and, if approved by the legislative coordinating council, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026.

KS SB7

Authorizing federally licensed firearm dealers, in addition to county sheriffs, to receive applications for concealed carry licenses and forward such applications to the attorney general, prohibiting sheriffs from assessing any fee related to application services and allowing dealers to assess a fee related to application services not to exceed $20.

KS SCR1604

Proposing to amend section 1 of article 11 of the constitution of the state of Kansas to limit property tax valuation increases for real property and personal property mobile homes.

KS SR1702

A resolution honoring the life, career and trailblazing achievements of Kansas icon Ed Dwight.

KS SB2

Eliminating the income limit to qualify for the subtraction modification exempting social security benefits, increasing the income tax credit amount for household and dependent care expenses, establishing the veterans' valor property tax relief act providing for an income tax credit or refund for eligible individuals, citing the increased property tax homestead refund claim section as the homeowners' property tax freeze program, decreasing the normal privilege tax rate, increasing the extent of property tax exemption for residential property from the statewide school levy, decreasing the rate of ad valorem tax imposed by a school district; providing for certain transfers to the state school district finance fund, reducing the state rate of tax on sales of food and food ingredients and modifying the percent credited to the state highway fund from revenue collected.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.