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After HB202, wildlife board asks staff to define voucher criteria and public-benefit standard; action logged on points policy
Summary
Following passage of HB202, the Utah Wildlife Board approved division rule amendments implementing new landowner voucher provisions and asked staff to return with a defined public-benefit criterion; the board also directed a separate action-log review of whether obtaining a voucher should cause point loss for applicants.
The Utah Wildlife Board on May 1 approved Division of Wildlife Resources rule amendments implementing aspects of House Bill 202 (2025) that allow landowners to receive 0, 1 or 2 vouchers depending on acreage. The board also adopted two board-directed follow-ups: (1) add public-benefit evaluation as a clear criterion the division will use when awarding vouchers, and (2) place an action-log item directing staff to analyze whether voucher recipients should lose preference points and incur a waiting period.
Chad, presenting the division's proposal, said the rule amendments set criteria for vouchers tied to acreage bands established in HB202. "A lot was changed, with within that, we're able to give some criteria for when a land owner has between 12,999 acres, they're they have the ability to get a voucher 0 1 or 2 vouchers from the division. And so this just sets out criteria of what the division will consider when giving 0, 1, or 2 vouchers," Chad said.
Board members debated use-era implications for points and persistence of private-land-only tags. Several RACs asked the board to request the division's recommendation on whether acceptance of a voucher should cause a hunter to lose their points for that species. Kent Johnson moved to add an action-log item asking staff to define where a points loss and waiting period would apply; Bryce Thurgood seconded that motion. The board approved placing the action on the log.
Board members also asked the division to explicitly include "public benefit" as a criterion the division will evaluate when awarding vouchers. The board approved the division's rule amendments as presented with the addition that the division incorporate public-benefit evaluation into the voucher criteria. Kent Johnson moved that motion; Gary Nelson seconded. The transcript records the final vote as carried.
Staff noted application deadlines and program logistics: landowner voucher applications are processed through the division's systems and the first application window has already occurred for the draw; voucher applications for the HB202 process have a July 1 deadline. Staff said they will return with recommended criteria and options for how point-loss rules could be implemented, and that any changes would be subject to further public review via the RAC process.
