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Committee advances competing bills to create turkey stamp or a broader conservation stamp for out-of-state hunters
Summary
The Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee reported two related measures—one creating a turkey stamp with different resident and nonresident fees and a committee substitute creating a $25 conservation stamp for out-of-state hunters—that would finance habitat and research projects and help draw federal matching funds.
The Senate Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks Committee reported two related bills intended to raise recurring funds for wildlife habitat and research: Senate Bill 22-80, a turkey-stamp proposal that sets different in-state and out-of-state fees, and Senate Bill 22-81, a committee substitute creating a broader $25 conservation stamp for out-of-state hunters and trappers.
Chairman Whaley summarized the two options. For SB 22-80 he described a structure that would charge out-of-state hunters $100 and in-state residents $10 for a turkey stamp, a design intended to generate revenue to draw down federal matching funds (the sponsor said the program could draw $3 in federal money for every $1 raised). He said the funds would be used for restoring, enhancing and protecting wild turkey and administrative costs.
For SB 22-81 the committee substitute would impose only an out-of-state $25 conservation stamp, allow department use of proceeds for a broader set of wildlife research and habitat projects, and make annual legislative appropriation a requirement. The substitute excludes waterfowl—those species have a separate federal stamp—and makes purchase voluntary for in-state hunters.
Senator Barnett asked whether federal matching is certain and what happens if federal funds are no longer available; he compared the proposal to earlier debates about Medicaid expansion and asked whether programs built on federal matching could continue if federal dollars stop. The chairman responded that if federal matching ceases, "we would just have less money to work with for the turkey habitats," and that the state could draw down federal funds while they are available.
Senator Brownfield asked about enforcement penalties in the bills; the chairman said the statute gives courts discretion within the stated fine ranges and the committee did not adopt specific criteria to distinguish lower versus higher fines.
Committee members discussed fee levels in surrounding states; the chairman presented a list of other states’ nonresident fees (examples cited in committee: Arkansas $200, Louisiana $50, South Carolina $100, and a reported median of about $113). Senator Younger and others said Mississippi’s proposed fees would remain competitive.
The committee accepted a reverse-repealer amendment on SB 22-80 and voted to report it as amended. The committee likewise accepted a reverse repealer and passed the committee substitute for SB 22-81 (the $25 out-of-state conservation stamp); both measures were reported from committee.
