Senate Bill 2281

(COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE)

AN ACT TO REQUIRE ALL PERSONS 16 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER TO PROCURE A CONSERVATION STAMP BEFORE HUNTING, FISHING OR TRAPPING ANY SPECIES IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI; TO ESTABLISH THE FEE FOR NONRESIDENT HUNTERS, FISHERS AND TRAPPERS AND PROVIDE THAT THERE SHALL BE NO FEE FOR RESIDENT HUNTERS, FISHERS OR TRAPPERS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE FURNISHING OF THE STAMP; TO SET PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS; TO PROVIDE THE PURPOSES FOR WHICH FUNDS RAISED FROM THE SALE OF STAMPS MAY BE EXPENDED; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) For the purposes of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

(a) "Stamp" means the state conservation stamp, either in its physical or electronic form, furnished by the commission. A stamp is a specialized permit required for hunting, fishing or trapping any species, with proceeds directly dispersed into the conservation, management, protection or scientific research of various wildlife species.

(b) "Nongovernmental entity" means a nonprofit organization primarily concerned with the protection and conservation of land and natural resources, as evidenced by its organizational documents.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person sixteen (16) years of age or older to hunt, fish or trap any species in the State of Mississippi without first having procured a stamp. The electronic stamp on file with the commission shall serve as proof of procurement.

(3) The fee to nonresident hunters, fishers and trappers for each stamp shall be Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00). There shall be no fee for resident hunters, fishers and trappers, although such residents may voluntarily submit monetary donations at the time the conservation stamp is procured. Each stamp shall expire one (1) year from the date of its procurement.

(4) The commission shall determine the form of the stamp. The commission shall furnish physical stamps to bonded agents for issuance or sale in the same manner as other types of licenses or shall cause the electronic stamp to accrue to the purchaser's benefit when purchased from an automated point-of-sale source. An additional fee to be determined by the commission shall be applied to the purchase of physical stamps.

(5) Any person violating any of the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined not more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

(6) All revenue from the proceeds of stamps shall be deposited into the Fisheries and Wildlife Fund created in Section 49-5-21 and shall be used and expended only for the following objectives:

(a) Paying administrative or processing costs associated with the conservation stamp program, or any other program governing or regulating the hunting, fishing or trapping of any species, other than waterfowl;

(b) Restoring, enhancing or protecting wildlife populations, other than waterfowl, or their habitats on public or private lands and waters in Mississippi as prescribed by the department;

(c) Funding scientific research, as conducted by qualified professionals, into the ecology or management of various species of wildlife, other than waterfowl, their habitats or their predators; and

(d) Increasing access to publicly available hunting, other than waterfowl, fishing and trapping opportunities.

(7) Proceeds from stamps may be used as matching funds or fiscal leverage to secure grants or other financial awards that are deemed to align with the objectives in subsection (6) of this section.

(8) The commission may enter into agreements with other state, federal or nongovernmental entities to execute the objectives in subsection (6) of this section.

SECTION 2. Section 1 of this act shall be codified as a new section in Title 49, Chapter 7, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2025, and shall stand repealed on June 30, 2025.