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Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

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SB216 • 2026

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
SENATE RULES BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR
Last action
2026-02-20
Official status
(S) RES
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is specified in the bill text but was removed from the candidate explanation because it was not supported by the provided official source material.

Big Game Hunting Permit Transfer Rules

This act changes the rules for transferring big game hunting permits in Alaska.

What This Bill Does

  • Changes the conditions under which a person can receive a transferred hunting permit.
  • Limits when a transfer or reissue of a hunting permit can be made.
  • Specifies that a hunting permit can only be transferred to someone who qualifies for the original hunt.
  • Allows the holder of a drawing-based hunting permit to transfer it to another person, with certain requirements.
  • Sets rules on how many permits one person can hold and allows the department to charge fees for registering transfers.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Hunters who have big game hunting permits in Alaska
  • The Department of Fish and Game in Alaska

Terms To Know

Substitute
A person who takes over a hunting permit from the original holder.
Drawing-based permit
A hunting permit that is awarded through a lottery system.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if someone tries to transfer a permit without following the new rules.
  • It's unclear how much the fee for registering a transfer will be, as it depends on administrative costs.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-20 Text

    (S) Heard & Held

  2. 2026-02-20 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  3. 2026-02-18 Text

    (S) <Bill Hearing Rescheduled to 02/20/26>

  4. 2026-02-18 Text

    (S) RESOURCES at 03:30 PM BUTROVICH 205

  5. 2026-01-21 1485

    (S) REFERRED TO RESOURCES

  6. 2026-01-21 1485

    (S) GOVERNOR'S TRANSMITTAL LETTER

  7. 2026-01-21 1485

    (S) FN1: INDETERMINATE(DFG)

  8. 2026-01-21 1485

    (S) RES, FIN

  9. 2026-01-21 1485

    (S) 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 
SB0216A -1- SB 216
New Text Underlined [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]

34-GS2459\A

SENATE BILL NO. 216

IN THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA

THIRTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE - SECOND SESSION

BY THE SENATE RULES COMMITTEE BY REQUEST OF THE GOVERNOR

Introduced: 1/21/26
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-GS2459\A
SB 216 -2- SB0216A
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