Hunting and sport fishing licenses: reduced fees.

Senators Dahle and Allen propose expanding access to hunting and sport fishing in California through a program offering reduced-fee licenses to residents who participate in specified public assistance programs. The Department of Fish and Wildlife would issue these discounted licenses to eligible individuals who receive benefits such as Medicaid, CalFresh, or Supplemental Security Income, provided they have no Fish and Game Code violations and can document their program participation.

The legislation establishes verification requirements for license applications, with the Fish and Game Commission developing regulations to define acceptable documentation of eligibility. For qualified recipients, hunting license fees would match existing reduced rates, while sport fishing licenses would maintain a base fee of four dollars, subject to inflation adjustments.

The Department must evaluate the program's outcomes in a report to the Legislature by October 1, 2029, examining license sales data, administrative costs, and changes in participation rates among eligible populations. The report will inform decisions about the program, which is set to expire on January 1, 2031, unless extended by future legislation.