Hunting and Fishing Licenses; lifetime disabled resident licenses established
Hunting and Fishing Licenses; lifetime disabled resident licenses established
Enacted
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Sponsor
Stringer
Last action
2026-03-26
Official status
Enacted
Effective date
2026-10-01
Plain English Breakdown
Checked against official source text during the last sync.
Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Licenses for Disabled Alabama Residents
This law creates a one-time payment option for eligible disabled Alabama residents to buy lifetime hunting or fishing licenses instead of paying yearly fees.
What This Bill Does
Establishes new lifetime licenses for disabled state residents who hunt, fish in freshwater, or fish in saltwater.
Sets the price at $50 for people under age 50 and $30 for people aged 50 or older.
Requires that fees from hunting and freshwater fishing go into the Alabama Game and Fish Endowment Fund.
Requires that fees from saltwater fishing go into the Alabama Marine Resources Endowment Fund.
Allows a one-dollar fee to be charged when issuing these licenses.
States that lifetime license holders for hunting or freshwater fishing get all privileges of a wildlife heritage license.
Who It Names or Affects
Disabled residents of Alabama who are eligible for annual disabled hunting, freshwater fishing, or saltwater fishing licenses.
The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which will issue the new licenses.
State endowment funds that receive money from these license sales.
Terms To Know
Lifetime License
A permit bought once with a single fee that does not expire, unlike an annual license which must be renewed every year.
Endowment Fund
A special account where money from licenses is kept to support conservation and natural resources projects.
Limits and Unknowns
The law does not explain the specific medical or legal requirements needed to prove a person has a disability.
Fees may change in the future if other state laws regarding fee adjustments are updated.
These licenses cannot be sold, given away, or transferred to another person.
Amendments
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
Plain English: This amendment creates a new option for eligible disabled Alabama residents to buy lifetime hunting and fishing licenses starting in October 2026 instead of paying yearly fees.
It allows qualified individuals under age 50 to pay $50 for a lifetime license, while those aged 50 or older pay only $30.
The new option covers three types of licenses: hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing.
People who buy these lifetime licenses will get the same benefits as holders of a wildlife heritage license.
A small extra fee of one dollar may be charged to process each application.
The text does not explain exactly what medical conditions or proof are needed to qualify for these disabled resident licenses, only that the person must already be eligible under existing Section 9-11-54.
Future changes to the prices mentioned in this amendment could happen if other state laws (Sections 9-11-68 and 9-11-69) are used to adjust fees.
Bill History
2026-03-26House
Enacted
2026-03-11House
Delivered to Governor
2026-03-11Senate
Signature Requested
2026-03-10Senate
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 774 (Yeas 35, Nays 0)
2026-03-10Senate
Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 35, Nays 0)
2026-03-10House
Enrolled
2026-03-10House
Ready to Enroll
2026-02-25Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-02-25Senate
Reported Out of Committee Second House
2026-02-10House
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 364 (Yeas 105, Nays 0)
2026-02-10House
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 363 (Yeas 105, Nays 0)
2026-02-10House
Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 104, Nays 0)
2026-02-10Senate
Pending Committee Action in Second House
2026-02-10Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry
2026-02-10House
Engrossed
2026-02-10House
Ways and Means Gerenal Fund Engrossed Substitute Offered
2026-02-05House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-02-04House
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-01-21House
Re-referred to Committee in House of Origin
2026-01-21House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-01-21House
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-01-15House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-15House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture and Forestry
Official Summary Text
This act adds Section 9-11-54.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) establish lifetime disabled resident hunting, freshwater fishing, and saltwater fishing licenses for those individuals eligible to receive an annual disabled resident hunting, freshwater fishing, or saltwater fishing license for a fee of $50 for individuals less than 50 years of age and $30 for individuals 50 years of age and older; and (2) require fees be deposited into the Alabama Game and Fish Endowment Fund and Alabama Marine Resources Endowment Fund, respectively.
Current Bill Text
Read the full stored bill text
HB271 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB271
ARZ5WQS-3
By Representatives Stringer, Sorrells, Brown, Rehm, Smith,
Marques, Yarbrough
RFD: Agriculture and Forestry
First Read: 15-Jan-26
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HB271 Enrolled
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First Read: 15-Jan-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources; to add Section 9-11-54.1 to the Code of Alabama
1975, to establish lifetime disabled state resident special
hunting and fishing licenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 9-11-54.1 is added to the Code of
Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
§9-11-54.1
(a) Beginning with the 2026 license year, an individual
eligible to be issued an annual license under Section 9-11-54
may purchase a lifetime license in lieu of an annual license
upon application and payment of a fee to the Department of
Conservation and Natural Resources as follows:
(1)a. Lifetime Disabled Resident Hunting License.
1. Individuals who are less than 50 years of age shall
be charged fifty dollars ($50) for a lifetime disabled
resident hunting license.
2. Individuals who are 50 years of age or older shall
be charged thirty dollars ($30) for a lifetime disabled
resident hunting license.
b. Fees collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be
deposited into the Alabama Game and Fish Endowment Fund.
(2)a. Lifetime Disabled Freshwater Fishing License.
1. Individuals who are less than 50 years of age shall
be charged fifty dollars ($50) for a lifetime disabled
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be charged fifty dollars ($50) for a lifetime disabled
resident freshwater fishing license.
2. Individuals who are 50 years of age or older shall
be charged thirty dollars ($30) for a lifetime disabled
resident freshwater fishing license.
b. Fees collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be
deposited into the Alabama Game and Fish Endowment Fund.
(3)a. Lifetime Disabled Resident Saltwater Fishing
License.
1. Individuals who are less than 50 years of age shall
be charged fifty dollars ($50) for a lifetime disabled
resident saltwater fishing license.
2. Individuals who are 50 years of age or older shall
be charged thirty dollars ($30) for a lifetime disabled
resident saltwater fishing license.
b. Fees collected pursuant to this subdivision shall be
deposited into the Alabama Marine Resources Endowment Fund.
(b) The department may charge an issuance fee of one
dollar ($1) for a license, including a combination of
licenses, issued pursuant to this section.
(c) The fees provided in this section are subject to
adjustment pursuant to Sections 9-11-68 and 9-11-69.
(d) Applications for a license pursuant to this section
or Section 9-11-54 may be filed in the office of the
Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources, or as otherwise authorized by the commissioner, on
forms prescribed by the commissioner.
(e) A license issued pursuant to this section is not
transferable.
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transferable.
(f) A holder of a valid lifetime disabled resident
hunting or freshwater fishing license shall be entitled to all
of the privileges of a wildlife heritage license.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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1, 2026.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House 10-Feb-26, as amended.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 10-Mar-26 Passed
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