Committee revisits youth and senior hunting‑license changes in HB2502

The Committee on Federal and State Affairs reviewed House Bill 2502, a measure that revises statutes governing hunting and fishing license combinations and senior/youth pricing. Mike from the Revisor’s office told the committee the bill deletes an expiration date for a discounted license program and adjusts lifetime combo license pricing for children: the transcript records that under current law children 5 and younger were $300, and the bill would set a $400 lifetime price for ages 6 through 15.

Representative Corbett called the proposal effective at recruiting young people and retaining senior participants, saying the program “recruits the youth, retains the seniors, and reactivates [families] to get outdoors.” Chair Will Carpenter (speaking in his committee role) said he supports the measure and planned an amendment to reimburse seniors who purchased half‑price licenses when a statutory sunset had lapsed: “My amendment says that we will go back and reimburse those folks for the half price license and they will pay the $45,” he told the panel.

Members asked whether the senior threshold should be tied to changing federal retirement ages (one member suggested using the IRS full‑retirement age) and whether increased participation would require additional staffing or land access; Carpenter said cost was not the main barrier and emphasized access to land as the key issue. The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks director was on the panel and had submitted neutral written testimony; the director and members said they would review amendment language.

The committee closed the hearing and did not take a vote. Chairman Kessler noted the committee will likely hear additional hunting bills in future meetings.