BIG GAME HUNTING PERMITS

An Act relating to the transfer of big game hunting permits; and providing for an effective date.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: HOUSE RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Last action: 2026-03-27
Official status: (H) RES
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill specifies an effective date of January 1, 2027.

HB 266: Rules for Transferring Big Game Hunting Permits

This bill allows people who win big game hunting permits through a lottery to transfer those permits to other qualified individuals before the hunt begins.

What This Bill Does

Allows the original winner of a drawing permit to give or sell it to another person if they notify the department first.
Requires that anyone receiving a transferred permit must meet the same rules as the original winner, such as residency requirements.
Limits transfers so they only apply to the specific hunt for which the permit was originally awarded.
Prohibits any single person from holding more than one drawing permit for the same animal species at the same time.
Allows the commissioner to charge a fee that covers the actual administrative costs of processing these transfers.

Who It Names or Affects

People who won big game hunting permits through an Alaska Board of Game lottery.
Individuals who receive transferred hunting permits from original winners.
The Department, which must process notifications and may collect fees for these transfers.

Terms To Know

Drawing permit: A hunting permit awarded through a random lottery system managed by the Board of Game.
Transfer: The act of giving or selling a hunting permit from one person to another before the open season begins, with department notification required.

Limits and Unknowns

Transfers for drawing permits must be completed before the first day of the open season.
People who receive transferred permits do not gain new rights and are still subject to emergency orders that might close a hunt.
The state is not liable if someone loses money or faces other losses after receiving a transferred permit.

Bill History

2026-03-27 Text
(H) Heard & Held
2026-03-27 Text
(H) RESOURCES at 01:00 PM BARNES 124
2026-01-23 1475
(H) REFERRED TO RESOURCES
2026-01-23 1475
(H) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER
2026-01-23 1475
(H) FN1: INDETERMINATE(DFG)
2026-01-23 1475
(H) RES, FIN
2026-01-23 1475
(H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS

Official Summary Text

BIG GAME HUNTING PERMITS
An Act relating to the transfer of big game hunting permits; and providing for an effective date.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB0266a -1- HB 266
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-GH2459\A

HOUSE BILL NO. 266

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR

Introduced: 1/23/26
Referred: Resources, Finance

A BILL

FOR AN ACT ENTITLED

"An Act relating to the transfer of big game hunting permits; and providing for an 1
effective date." 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 3
* Section 1. AS 16.05.404(b) is amended to read: 4
(b) A recipient of a permit transferred [TO QUALIFY AS A 5
SUBSTITUTE] under this section [, AN INDIVIDUAL] must qualify under the 6
same conditions that applied to the person to whom the hunting permit was 7
originally awarded [BE A STATE RESIDENT]. 8
* Sec. 2. AS 16.05.404(c) is amended to read: 9
(c) A [AN APPLICATION TO] transfer or reissue of a hunting permit under 10
(a) of this section may be made only before the end of the period during which the 11
hunting permit is valid. A transfer of a hunting permit under (f) of this section may 12
be made only before the first day of the open season for the hunt for which the 13
permit is issued. 14
34-GH2459\A
HB 266 -2- HB0266a
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

* Sec. 3. AS 16.05.404(d) is amended to read: 1
(d) [A HUNTING PERMIT MAY ONLY BE TRANSFERRED OR 2
REISSUED UNDER THIS SECTION TO A SUBSTITUTE WHO IS QUALIFIED 3
UNDER THE CONDITIONS THAT APPLIED TO THE PERSON TO WHOM THE 4
HUNTING PERMIT WAS ORIGINALLY AWARDED.] A hunting permit may be 5
transferred or reissued under this section only for the specific hunt for which the 6
permit was originally awarded. 7
* Sec. 4. AS 16.05.404 is amended by adding new subsections to read: 8
(f) The original holder of a hunting permit for a hunt that was originally 9
awarded by drawing established by the Board of Game under AS 16.05.255(a) may 10
transfer the permit to another person, with or without monetary consideration, if the 11
permittee 12
(1) notifies the department of the transfer before the transfer is 13
effective; and 14
(2) includes in the notification to the department the name and hunting 15
license number of the recipient and any other identifying information required by the 16
department. 17
(g) A person may not hold more than one drawing permit for the same species 18
at one time, regardless of whether the permit was obtained by drawing or transfer. 19
(h) The commissioner may adopt regulations to implement this section and 20
may establish and provide for the collection of a fee for registering a transfer or 21
reissuance, not to exceed the estimated actual administrative costs of providing the 22
service. 23
(i) A person who receives a permit transferred under this section acquires only 24
the rights held by the original permittee and is subject to all conditions, regulations, 25
and limitations that applied to the original permit, including emergency orders closing 26
or restricting a hunt. The state is not liable for any loss, financial or otherwise, 27
incurred by a person who receives a transferred permit. 28
* Sec. 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2027. 29