Committee hears bill to restore senior discount and expand youth lifetime hunting and fishing licenses

The Senate Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources opened a hearing on Senate Bill 364 and received an explanatory presentation from Senior Assistant Revisor of Statutes Tamara Lawrence and proponent testimony from legislators and supporters.

Lawrence told the committee SB 364 would require the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks to offer a resident senior combination hunting and fishing license to Kansas residents age 65 or older, with the senior fee capped at no more than one‑eighth of the fee for a general combination lifetime hunting and fishing license. She said the bill would also amend the Kansas kids lifetime combination license in current statute (KSA referenced in the transcript) by expanding the maximum qualifying age from 7 to 15, keeping the fee cap at $300 for children 5 and younger and setting a $400 cap for children ages 6 through 15, and removing the statute’s expiration (the transcript notes the statute was set to expire July 1, 2032). Lawrence said the bill would take effect upon publication in the Kansas Register.

Senator Doug Shane testified in support, calling the measure popular in prior sessions and arguing that expanding youth eligibility and retaining a senior discount would help recruit new outdoors participants and honor older Kansans who introduced younger generations to hunting and fishing. "This was a wildly popular bill last session ... it would make permanent the discounted lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for kids," Shane told the committee.

Representative Ken Corbett, sponsor of a companion House bill (House Bill 2502), said the legislation aims to "recruit, retain and reactivate" outdoors participation across the state and reported strong sales of the youth license to date. Representative Carpenter also testified in favor and proposed an amendment to reimburse people who purchased half-price licenses while the senior discount had lapsed, suggesting a reimbursement figure of about $45 for affected purchasers; committee members said the department would need to provide data on counts and administration details.

Committee members asked about fiscal effects and implementation. Shane and proponents suggested discounted lifetime licenses may increase long-term revenue because license-holders often purchase additional tags and stamps and spend on equipment; they deferred specific sales and revenue numbers to the Department of Wildlife and Parks. Questions also addressed whether the senior discount should be a fraction tied to the general license fee (1/8) or a fixed-dollar amount and whether the children's caps should escalate over time.

The chair closed the hearing, noted written proponent testimony from Gary Crownover and neutral written testimony from Secretary Kennedy of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and said the chair intended to work the legislation potentially later in the week.

Next steps: The hearing was closed; no committee vote was recorded on SB 364 during this session.