Kansas Senate Bill SB213

Kansas 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Refer: 2/6/25
• Report Pass: 2/27/25
• Engrossed: 3/14/25
• Refer: 3/14/25

Caption

Prohibiting nonresidents from hunting migratory waterfowl during certain times and places and increasing fees for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps.

Summary

SB 213 would change Kansas wildlife law in two main ways. First, it limits nonresident hunters from taking migratory waterfowl to Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays during established waterfowl seasons. That restriction would apply on state department lands and waters, and on certain federally managed lands and waters, including specified U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoirs, Bureau of Reclamation reservoirs, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service refuges. The bill also creates exceptions for walk-in hunting access areas, navigable rivers, and the federal light geese conservation order season. Second, the bill revises the state’s fee schedule for wildlife-related licenses and permits. It lowers the maximum fee for migratory waterfowl habitat stamps from $10 to $8 and updates several other fee caps in K.S.A. 32-988, including hunting, fishing, and other wildlife permits. The bill also preserves or clarifies reduced fees for certain residents, including residents age 65 to under 75, youth, landowner-tenants, and disabled veterans, while maintaining the secretary’s authority to set fees within statutory maximums. The bill’s legal impact is to amend K.S.A. 32-939 and K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 32-988, then repeal the existing versions of those statutes and replace them with new language. In practical terms, it would narrow when and where nonresidents may hunt migratory waterfowl in Kansas and adjust the state’s licensing and stamp fee structure for waterfowl and other wildlife activities. It would affect nonresident hunters, resident hunters who use waterfowl stamps, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in administering licenses, permits, and access rules. The overall sentiment appears strongly favorable in the Senate, as reflected by final passage on a 38-1 vote. No committee transcript was provided, but the broad margin suggests substantial support for the bill’s wildlife-management and access provisions. The near-unanimous vote also indicates that the fee changes and nonresident hunting restrictions were generally accepted by lawmakers. The main point of contention is the restriction on nonresident waterfowl hunting, which favors resident access by limiting nonresidents to three days per week on many public and federally managed lands. Supporters likely view this as a fair allocation of hunting opportunity and a way to manage pressure on popular waterfowl areas, while opponents may see it as a burden on nonresident hunters and a limitation on access to public lands. The bill’s exceptions for walk-in areas, rivers, and light geese season suggest an effort to balance those concerns.

Impact

SB 213 would amend Kansas wildlife statutes governing migratory waterfowl hunting and license fees. It changes K.S.A. 32-939 to impose a weekday-style access restriction on nonresident waterfowl hunters and expands that restriction to specified state and federal lands, while carving out exceptions for certain access areas and seasons. It also amends K.S.A. 2024 Supp. 32-988 to revise maximum fees for a range of hunting, fishing, and wildlife-related licenses and permits, including lowering the migratory waterfowl habitat stamp cap. The bill would directly affect nonresident hunters, resident hunters, landowners, veterans, youth, and the Kansas wildlife agency that administers these programs.

Sentiment

The bill appears to have been received positively overall, especially in the Senate, where it passed 38-1. The strong vote suggests broad agreement with both the nonresident hunting restrictions and the fee adjustments. No committee testimony was provided, so the record does not show detailed debate, but the final vote indicates limited opposition.

Contention

The central controversy is the bill’s treatment of nonresident migratory waterfowl hunters. By limiting them to Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays on many public and federally managed lands, the bill reduces their hunting opportunities and may be viewed as preferential to residents. Supporters likely argue that the restriction helps manage hunting pressure and preserves access, while critics may argue it unfairly discriminates against nonresidents and complicates use of public lands. The fee changes appear less contentious, though any increase or restructuring of license and stamp fees could affect hunters and anglers who pay for those permits.