SESSION OF 2025
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE ON HOUSE BILL NO. 2028
As Amended by Senate Committee on
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Brief*
HB 2028, as amended, would amend law concerning the
resident senior combination hunting and fishing pass and the
Kansas kids combination lifetime hunting and fishing license
(license).
Resident Senior Combination Hunting and Fishing Pass
The bill would revive law authorizing the Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) to offer a resident
senior combination hunting and fishing pass and remove the
sunset date. These provisions allowed any Kansan age 65
and older to purchase a discounted lifetime hunting and
fishing permit. The provisions expired on June 30, 2020, and
the bill would state the provisions would be effective as of
January 1, 2025.
Kansas Kids Combination Lifetime Hunting and Fishing
License
Under current law, licenses may be issued by the
Secretary of Wildlife and Parks to Kansas residents who are
seven years of age or younger. For a child five years of age
or younger, the license fee is $300, and for a child six or
seven years of age, the license fee is $500.
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*Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research
Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental
note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at
https://klrd.gov/ The bill would remove these age ranges and the
accompanying fees. The bill would increase the age limit for a
child to receive a license from 7 years of age to 15 years of
age and set the fee for all children 15 years of age or younger
to $500.
The bill would also remove the sunset for the license
provisions that are currently set to expire on July 1, 2032.
The bill would be in effect upon publication in the
Kansas Register.
Background
The bill was introduced by the House Committee on
Federal and State Affairs at the request of Representative
Corbet.
House Committee on Federal and State Affairs
In the House Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was provided by Representatives Corbet and W. Carpenter.
The conferees stated their intent to restore the language that
had sunset in 2020, which would allow more participation in
hunting and fishing by senior citizens. They further stated that
removing the sunset on the youth combination license would
allow for greater participation by youth in the future.
Written-only neutral testimony was provided by the
Acting Secretary of Wildlife and Parks and by a
representative of the Kansas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters
& Anglers. The neutral testimony stated the KDWP has
remedied the unavailability of additional senior combination
licenses by offering additional numbers of discounted senior
annual licenses. Additionally, neutral testimony stated
concern with future availability of federal funds under the
Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 (also known as
the Pittman-Robertson Act) that could be jeopardized if
2- 2028 hunting and fishing licenses do not meet federal
requirements.
No other testimony was provided.
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources
In the Senate Committee hearing, proponent testimony
was presented by Representative Corbet emphasizing his
previous testimony and the effects of the bill.
Written-only neutral testimony was provided by the
Acting Secretary of Wildlife and Parks.
No other testimony was provided.
The Senate Committee amended the bill to:
●Remove previous age ranges and fees for which a
Kansas kids lifetime combination hunting and
fishing license may be issued and establish the
maximum age of 15 years and a universal fee of
$500; and
●Change the effective date of the provisions of the
bill concerning the resident senior combination
hunting and fishing pass from July 1, 2020, to
January 1, 2025.
Fiscal Information
A revised fiscal note on the amended bill was not
immediately available.
According to the fiscal note prepared by the Division of
the Budget on the bill, as introduced, KDWP states
enactment of the bill would decrease fee fund revenues
because seniors currently pay a higher price for their hunting
3- 2028 and fishing licenses due to the lapse of the lifetime
combination license provisions. Reintroduction of this license
would reduce revenues by an unknown amount.
Additionally, the sale of licenses is used to calculate the
amount of federal funds the agency receives; however,
KDWP cannot estimate the potential increase or decrease in
federal funds, if any. KDWP also states that removal of the
sunset date for the Kansas kids lifetime combination hunting
and fishing license would not have a fiscal effect. Any fiscal
effect associated with enactment of the bill is not reflected in
The FY 2026 Governor’s Budget Report.
Department of Wildlife and Parks; hunting; fishing; lifetime combination license;
seniors; youth
4- 2028