Introduced Version
HOUSE BILL No. 1228
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DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
Citations Affected: IC 14-8-2; IC 14-22-12-1.5.
Synopsis: Hunting licenses for disabled veterans. Creates a new
disabled veteran hunting license bundle that includes a discounted
yearly deer hunting license and turkey hunting license.
Effective: July 1, 2025.
Dant Chesser, Bartels
January 9, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources.
2025 IN 1228—LS 7297/DI 150 Introduced
First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
HOUSE BILL No. 1228
A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
natural and cultural resources.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
1 SECTION 1. IC 14-8-2-71.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
2 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
3 1, 2025]: Sec. 71.5. "Disabled veteran deer and turkey hunting
4 license bundle", for purposes of IC 14-22-12, has the meaning set
5 forth in IC 14-22-12-1.5(a).
6 SECTION 2. IC 14-8-2-228.3 IS AMENDED TO READ AS
7 FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 228.3. "Qualified
8 individual", for purposes of IC 14-22-12-1.5, has the meaning set forth
9 in IC 14-22-12-1.5(a). IC 14-22-12-1.5(b).
10 SECTION 3. IC 14-22-12-1.5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.164-2024,
11 SECTION 8, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
12 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1.5. (a) As used in this section, "disabled
13 veteran deer and turkey hunting license bundle" means a license
14 sold to a qualified individual who bundles the following licenses:
15 (1) A resident yearly license to take a deer with a shotgun,
16 muzzle loading gun, rifle, or handgun.
17 (2) A resident yearly license to take a deer with a:
2025 IN 1228—LS 7297/DI 150 2
1 (A) bow and arrow; or
2 (B) crossbow and bolt.
3 (3) A resident yearly license to take a turkey in the spring
4 turkey season and a turkey in the fall turkey season.
5 (a) (b) As used in this section, "qualified individual" means an
6 individual who:
7 (1) is a resident of Indiana;
8 (2) has served in the armed forces of the United States; and
9 (3) has a service connected disability, as evidenced by:
10 (A) records of the United States Department of Veterans
11 Affairs; or
12 (B) disability retirement benefits awarded to the individual
13 under laws administered by the United States Department of
14 Defense.
15 (b) (c) A qualified individual is entitled to reduced fee hunting and
16 fishing licenses under this section.
17 (d) The disabled veteran deer and turkey hunting license bundle
18 allows an individual to take one (1) antlered deer and two (2)
19 antlerless deer or three (3) antlerless deer in the following seasons
20 combined in one (1) year:
21 (1) Archery.
22 (2) Firearms.
23 (3) Muzzleloader.
24 (4) Special antlerless only.
25 (c) (e) Each year a qualified individual may obtain:
26 (1) both:
27 (A) a resident yearly license to fish; and
28 (B) a resident yearly license to hunt; or
29 (2) a resident yearly license to hunt and fish;
30 by paying a reduced license fee of two dollars and seventy-five cents
31 ($2.75) instead of the fee prescribed by section 1 of this chapter.
32 (f) Each year a qualified individual may obtain a disabled
33 veteran deer and turkey hunting license bundle by paying a fee of
34 eighty dollars ($80).
35 (d) (g) Each decade a qualified individual may obtain:
36 (1) both:
37 (A) a resident license to fish that is valid for ten (10) years;
38 and
39 (B) a resident license to hunt that is valid for ten (10) years; or
40 (2) a resident license to hunt and fish that is valid for ten (10)
41 years;
42 by paying a reduced license fee of twenty-seven dollars and fifty cents
2025 IN 1228—LS 7297/DI 150 3
1 ($27.50). The license may still be used if the license holder moves out
2 of state.
3 (e) (h) An applicant for a reduced fee license under this section
4 must do the following:
5 (1) Request the license from:
6 (A) the department;
7 (B) an agent appointed by the director under IC 14-22-11-3; or
8 (C) the clerk of the circuit court who is an authorized
9 representative of the department under IC 14-22-11-3 in the
10 county in which the individual resides.
11 (2) Present evidence that the applicant is a qualified individual.
2025 IN 1228—LS 7297/DI 150