HLS 24RS-602 ENGROSSED
2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 400
BY REPRESENTATIVE RISER
HUNTING/LICENSES: Provides relative to lifetime combination hunting and fishing
licenses
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 56:649.1, 649.3(A), 649.4, 649.7, and 3005, relative to lifetime
3 combination hunting and fishing licenses; to establish resident and nonresident infant
4 lifetime licenses; to establish fees for infant lifetime licenses; to increase the fees for
5 resident lifetime licenses; to provide for adjustments of lifetime license fees for
6 inflation; to provide an effective date; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 56:649.7 and 3005 are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
9follows:
10 §649.7. Infant combination lifetime hunting and fishing license
11 Beginning January 1, 2025, the department shall make available for persons
12 under the age of three a combination lifetime hunting and fishing license which shall
13 entitle the licensee to all of the privileges conferred by basic hunting, deer,
14 waterfowl, and turkey hunting licenses; basic fishing, saltwater, crab, and
15 recreational fishing gear licenses; and basic wildlife management area access
16 permits. Until June 1, 2022, the department shall make available for persons from
17 birth to five years old who were born in Louisiana a combination lifetime hunting
18 and fishing license. Any such license purchased prior to June 1, 2022, shall entitle
19 the licensee to all of the privileges of both lifetime hunting and lifetime sports
20 fishing licenses provided in R.S. 56:649.1 and 649.2. After June 1, 2022, the license
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HB NO. 400
1 shall be in lieu of basic hunting, deer, waterfowl, and turkey hunting licenses, basic,
2 saltwater, crab, and recreational fishing gear licenses, and shall permit WMA access.
3 * * *
4 §3005. Lifetime licenses
5 A. Louisiana resident Resident $500.00
6 (1) Infant (under three years) $500.00
7 (2) Adult (ages three through sixty-four) $1,000.00
8 (3) Senior (sixty-five years or older) $100.00
9 B. Nonresident $4,000.00
10 (1) Infant (under three years) $1,000.00
11 (2) Adult (three years and older) $4,000.00
12 C. Youth resident (any resident under the age of eighteen) $500.00
13 Beginning July 1, 2028, and on July first of each year thereafter, the secretary may
14 adjust the fees in this Section by an amount not to exceed the percentage increase in
15 the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) published by the United
16 States Department of Labor over the period of time since the last adjustment or
17 change to the fee. The adjusted amount shall be rounded down to the nearest dollar.
18 The secretary shall maintain a list of current fees for lifetime combination licenses
19 on the department's website.
20 D. Senior (any resident sixty five years or older) $100.00
21 Section 2. R.S. 56:649.1, 649.3(A), 649.4, 649.7, and 3005 are hereby amended and
22reenacted to read as follows:
23 §649.1. Lifetime hunting license
24 Prior to June 1, 2022, any bona fide resident of this state may obtain a
25 lifetime hunting license. The lifetime hunting license shall be in lieu of the following
26 recreational hunting licenses: basic hunting, big game, primitive firearms, bow
27 hunting, the Louisiana duck license, the WMA hunting permit, and the wild turkey
28 license. After June 1, 2022, the license shall no longer be sold, but shall continue to
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HB NO. 400
1 provide to any holder privileges in lieu of basic hunting, deer, bear, waterfowl, and
2 turkey hunting licenses and shall permit WMA access.
3 * * *
4 §649.3. Combination lifetime hunting and sports fishing license
5 A. Prior to June 1, 2022, any bona fide resident of this state may obtain a
6 combination lifetime hunting and sports fishing license, which shall entitle the
7 licensee to all of the privileges of both the lifetime hunting and lifetime sports
8 fishing licenses provided for in R.S. 56:649.1 and 649.2. After June 1, 2022, the
9 license shall be in lieu of basic hunting, deer, bear, waterfowl, and turkey hunting
10 licenses, basic, saltwater, crab, and recreational fishing gear licenses, and shall
11 permit WMA access.
12 * * *
13 §649.4. Nonresident combination lifetime hunting and fishing license
14 Prior to June 1, 2022, any Any nonresident may obtain a combination lifetime
15 hunting and fishing license which shall entitle the licensee to all of the privileges
16 conferred by basic hunting, deer, waterfowl, and turkey hunting licenses; basic
17 fishing, saltwater, crab, and recreational fishing gear licenses; and basic wildlife
18 management area access permits of both the lifetime hunting and lifetime sports
19 fishing licenses provided for in R.S. 56:649.1 and 649.2.
20 * * *
21 §649.7. Infant combination lifetime hunting and fishing license
22 Beginning January 1, 2025, the department shall make available for persons
23 under the age of three a combination lifetime hunting and fishing license which shall
24 entitle the licensee to all of the privileges conferred by basic hunting, deer,
25 waterfowl, and turkey hunting licenses; basic fishing, saltwater, crab, and
26 recreational fishing gear licenses; and basic wildlife management area access
27 permits. Infant licenses issued to bona fide residents shall also convey the privilege
28 of a bear hunting license. Until June 1, 2022, the department shall make available
29 for persons from birth to five years old who were born in Louisiana a combination
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HB NO. 400
1 lifetime hunting and fishing license. Any such license purchased prior to June 1,
2 2022, shall entitle the licensee to all of the privileges of both lifetime hunting and
3 lifetime sports fishing licenses provided in R.S. 56:649.1 and 649.2. After June 1,
4 2022, the license shall be in lieu of basic hunting, deer, waterfowl, and turkey
5 hunting licenses, basic, saltwater, crab, and recreational fishing gear licenses, and
6 shall permit WMA access.
7 * * *
8 §3005. Lifetime licenses
9 A. Louisiana resident Resident $500.00
10 (1) Infant (under three years) $500.00
11 (2) Adult (ages three through sixty-four) $1,000.00
12 (3) Senior (sixty-five years or older) $100.00
13 B. Nonresident $4,000.00
14 (1) Infant (under three years) $1,000.00
15 (2) Adult (three years and older) $4,000.00
16 C. Youth resident (any resident under the age of eighteen) $500.00
17 Beginning July 1, 2028, and on July first of each year thereafter, the secretary may
18 adjust the fees in this Section by an amount not to exceed the percentage increase in
19 the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) published by the United
20 States Department of Labor over the period of time since the last adjustment or
21 change to the fee. The adjusted amount shall be rounded down to the nearest dollar.
22 The secretary shall maintain a list of current fees for lifetime combination licenses
23 on the department's website.
24 D. Senior (any resident sixty five years or older) $100.00
25 Section 3. (A) Section 1 of this Act shall not become effective if House Bill No. 684
26of this 2024 Regular Session of the Legislature becomes law.
27 (B) Section 2 of this Act shall not become effective if House Bill No. 684 of this
282024 Regular Session of the Legislature does not become law.
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HB NO. 400
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 400 Engrossed 2024 Regular Session Riser
Abstract: Establishes resident and nonresident infant lifetime hunting and fishing licenses
for children under three years old, increases the fee for adult resident lifetime
hunting and fishing licenses, and authorizes the secretary of the Dept. of Wildlife and
Fisheries to adjust lifetime license fees for inflation starting three years after these
changes go into effect. Specifies that lifetime licenses for residents will also include
the privileges of bear hunting licenses, contingent on the passage of HB 684 which
would create a bear hunting license for residents.
Present law recognizes lifetime hunting licenses, combination lifetime hunting and fishing
licenses, nonresident combination lifetime hunting and fishing licenses, and infant lifetime
combination hunting and fishing licenses and provides what hunting, fishing, and WMA
access privileges are included with each type of lifetime license.
Present law provides that until June 1, 2022, the infant lifetime combination license may be
purchased for children up to five years old.
Proposed law re-creates the infant lifetime combination license for children under three
years old and requires the department to make such licenses available starting Jan. 1, 2025.
Present law provides that resident lifetime hunting license holders are entitled to the
privileges of the basic hunting, deer, waterfowl, and turkey hunting licenses and the basic
WMA access permit.
Proposed law adds bear hunting license privileges to those held by resident lifetime hunting
licensees, contingent on the passage of HB 684.
Present law provides that resident combination lifetime hunting and sports fishing license
holders are entitled to the privileges of the basic hunting, deer, waterfowl, and turkey
hunting licenses; basic fishing, saltwater, crab, and recreational fishing gear licenses; and
the basic WMA access permit.
Proposed law adds bear hunting license privileges to those held by resident combination
lifetime hunting and fishing licensees, contingent on the passage of HB 684.
Present law provides that nonresident combination hunting and fishing lifetime licenses
entitle the holder to the privileges of the basic hunting, deer, waterfowl, and turkey hunting
licenses; basic fishing, saltwater, crab, and recreational fishing gear licenses; and the basic
WMA access permit.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that infant combination lifetime hunting and fishing license holders are
entitled to the privileges of the basic hunting, deer, waterfowl, and turkey hunting licenses;
basic fishing, saltwater, crab, and recreational fishing gear licenses; and the basic WMA
access permit.
Proposed law retains present law privileges for nonresident infant lifetime license holders.
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HB NO. 400
Proposed law adds bear hunting license privileges to those privileges held by a resident
infant lifetime license holder, contingent on the passage of HB 684.
Present law establishes fees for lifetime combination hunting and fishing licenses for
residents, nonresidents, resident youth, and resident seniors.
Proposed law adds fees for resident ($500) and nonresident ($1,000) infant lifetime licenses.
Proposed law removes the resident youth lifetime license.
Proposed law increases the existing fee for resident adult lifetime licenses from $500 to
$1,000.
Proposed law authorizes the department to index all lifetime license fees for inflation based
on the percentage increase published in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers
over the period of time since the last adjustment. This authorization begins July 1, 2028, and
adjustments may be taken each July.
Section 1 of the bill will not be effective if HB 684 of this 2024 R.S. of the legislature
becomes law. Section 2 of the bill will not be effective if HB 684 of this 2024 R.S. of the
legislature does not becomes law.
(Amends R.S. 56:649.1, 649.3(A), 649.4, 649.7, and 3005)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Natural Resources and
Environment to the original bill:
1. Change the time of year the department can make adjustments for inflation from
January to July each year.
2. Specify that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, rather than the
general Consumer Price Index, be used for inflation adjustments by the
department.
3. Authorizes the department to make adjustments using the percentage increase
over the period of time since the last adjustment or change to the fee, rather than
the annual percentage increase.
4. Add bear hunting license privileges to those privileges included with the
purchase of resident lifetime hunting licenses and resident lifetime hunting and
fishing licenses, contingent upon the passage of HB 684.
5. Add language on effectiveness to provide that:
(a)If HB 684 of the 2024 Regular Session establishing a bear hunting
license passes, Section 1 of the bill that does not incorporate bear hunting
privileges will not take effect.
(b)If HB 684 of the 2024 Regular Session establishing a bear hunting
license fails, Section 2 of the bill which incorporates references to bear
privileges will not take effect.
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