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Senate passes bill barring people with unpaid Fish and Game fines from buying licenses
Summary
Senators approved SB10‑03 to make persons with unpaid Idaho Fish and Game fines ineligible to apply for hunting, fishing or trapping licenses until fines are paid. The measure passed 25‑10 and includes point‑of‑sale and app notifications and a misdemeanor for attempts to buy while ineligible.
The Idaho Senate on Feb. 6 passed Senate Bill 10‑03 to make persons who have unpaid Fish and Game fines ineligible to apply for hunting, fishing or trapping licenses, tags or permits until outstanding fines are paid.
Sen. Foreman, who opened debate on the bill, said the measure “amends section 36‑1402 of Idaho code to make any person without standing fines for violations of Idaho fish and game laws ineligible to apply for a hunting, fishing, or trapping license, tag, or permit until all fines are paid.” He told the Senate that the change would apply to lifetime license certificate holders and that anyone who is ineligible and attempts to purchase or renew a license would be committing a misdemeanor. The sponsor said the point‑of‑sale licensing system used by vendor establishments will show a pop‑up message advising the person to contact Idaho Fish and Game, and the same pop‑up will appear in the Go Outdoors Idaho smartphone application if a renewal attempt is made.
Sen. Foreman told the Senate there are nearly $300,000 in Fish and Game fines in arrears involving about 185 offenders, and that 97 of those persons held a valid Fish and Game license in 2024. The sponsor said fines are collected by county courts and that Fish and Game coordinated this change with its enforcement branch. The bill exempts convicted violators on an approved time‑payment plan that is not 90 days or more in arrears.
Senate passage was recorded 25‑10. The bill will be transmitted to the House. The transcript records no floor amendments; enforcement and collection processes remain dependent on county‑court procedures and Fish and Game vendor systems. The bill does not specify a general‑fund impact beyond the administrative cost of disseminating the change.
Meeting note: the bill was presented as a compliance and enforcement measure intended to reduce outstanding fines and improve accountability; the Senate debate consisted of the sponsor’s floor statement and a roll‑call vote.
