Committee holds second hearing on bill to lower senior hunting-license discount age to 65

Kevin Mullet, president of Hunters Advocate of Ohio, testified in favor of House Bill 64 during a second hearing of the House Natural Resources Committee on 2025-02-01. The bill would lower the age at which Ohio residents qualify for a senior discount on hunting licenses from 66 to 65.

"I'm here to express our support for House Bill 64, the Senior Sportsman Fairness Act, which would lower the necessary age or senior discount on hunter's license in Ohio from 66 to 65," Mullet told the committee. He said lowering the age would help seniors "preserve these traditions, educate future generations on the importance of preserving Ohio's natural resources," and support state wildlife-management efforts by encouraging continued participation in hunting.

The committee moved the item forward for additional public input. Chair Jones announced, after consulting with Ranking Member Rogers and Vice Chair Rob Blasdell, that the committee will hold another hearing next week "to give ample opportunity for testimony and probably vote it out," and asked interested parties to submit questions and testimony before that session.

The committee also approved the minutes from its previous meeting without objection before taking testimony on House Bill 64.

Testimony at the hearing emphasized two main rationales for the change: (1) maintaining hunting as an intergenerational tradition that can train and recruit younger hunters, and (2) supporting wildlife management by keeping active hunters engaged. Kevin Mullet said the Hunters Advocate of Ohio supports the bill and thanked Representatives David Thomas and Kelly Dieter for sponsoring it.

No formal vote on House Bill 64 occurred on the record during the hearing; the committee recorded only the scheduling direction described above. The hearing record included a brief appearance by Javan Mullet, a board member with Hunters Advocate of Ohio, who accompanied Kevin Mullet but did not offer substantive testimony.

Next steps: the committee has scheduled another hearing on House Bill 64 next week, at which members indicated they would likely vote on the measure. If that schedule changes, the committee clerk will notify interested parties.