SB1155 • 2026

G&F; complimentary licenses; veterans

SB1155 - G&F; complimentary licenses; veterans

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Wendy Rogers, Mark Finchem
Last action: 2026-01-20
Official status: Senate second read
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material only specifies that the fee reduction is 'up to twenty-five percent less' and does not provide exact figures or impacts on finances, which were removed from the summary.

Game and Fish; Free Hunting Licenses for Veterans

This bill amends Arizona's hunting license rules to provide complimentary licenses to certain veterans with permanent service-connected disabilities.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new type of complimentary hunting license for veterans who have lived in Arizona for at least one year and receive full disability compensation from the U.S. government due to permanent service-connected injuries rated as 100% disabling.
Reduces fees by up to 25% for other veterans with any level of service-related disability who live in Arizona for at least a year.
Adds a special reduced fee license that is half the full license fee for Purple Heart recipients living in Arizona for at least one year.

Who It Names or Affects

Veterans with permanent service-connected disabilities who live in Arizona
Other veterans with any level of service-related disability living in Arizona for at least a year
Purple Heart recipients living in Arizona for at least one year

Terms To Know

Complimentary license: A free hunting or fishing permit given by the Game and Fish Department.
Service-connected disability: An injury or illness that happened because of military service or was made worse by it.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how many veterans will qualify for the complimentary licenses.
It is unclear what the exact financial impact on the Game and Fish Department will be from offering these free licenses.

Bill History

2026-01-20 Senate
Senate second read
2026-01-15 Senate
Senate Rules: None
2026-01-15 Senate
Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: None
2026-01-15 Senate
Senate Government: None
2026-01-15 Senate
Senate first read

Official Summary Text

SB1155 - G&F complimentary licenses; veterans

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB1155 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
G&F; complimentary licenses; veterans

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1155

Introduced by

Senators
Rogers: Finchem

AN
ACT

Amending section 17-333, Arizona
Revised Statutes; RELATING to the taking and handling of wildlife.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 17-333, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
17-333
.
License classifications; fees; reduced fee and complimentary
licenses; annual report; review

A. The commission shall prescribe by rule license
classifications that are valid for the taking or handling of wildlife, fees for
licenses, permits, tags and stamps and application fees.

B. The commission may temporarily reduce or waive
any fee prescribed by rule under this title on the recommendation of the
director.

C. The commission may reduce the fees for licenses
and issue complimentary licenses, including the following:

1. A complimentary license to a pioneer who is at
least seventy years of age and who has been a resident of this state for twenty-five
or more consecutive years immediately before applying for the license.� The
pioneer license is valid for the licensee's lifetime, and the commission may
not require renewal of the license.

2. A complimentary license to a veteran of the armed
forces of the United States who has been a resident of this state for one year
or more immediately before applying for the license and who receives
compensation from the United States government for a
permanent

service-connected disability
rated as one hundred percent
disabling
.

3. A license for a reduced fee of up
to twenty-five percent less than the full license fee to a veteran of the
United States armed forces who has been a resident of this state for one year
or more immediately before applying for the license and who receives
compensation from the United States government for a service-connected
disability.

4.

3.
A
license for a reduced fee that is one-half of the full license fee to a
person who has been a resident of this state for one year or more immediately
before applying for the license and who submits satisfactory proof to the
department that the person is a veteran and a bona fide purple heart medal
recipient.

5.

4.
A
youth license for a reduced fee to a resident of this state who is either:

(a) A member of the boy scouts of America and who
has attained the rank of eagle scout.

(b) A member of the girl scouts of the USA and who
has received the gold award.

D. All monies collected pursuant to this section
shall be deposited, pursuant to sections 35-146 and 35-147, in the
game and fish fund established by section 17-261.

E. On or before
December 31 of each year, the commission shall submit an annual report to the
president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the
chairperson of the senate natural resources, energy and water committee and the
chairperson of the house of representatives energy, environment and natural
resources committee, or their successor committees, that includes information
relating to license classifications, fees for licenses, permits, tags and
stamps and any other fees that the commission prescribes by
rule. The joint legislative audit committee may assign a committee
of reference to hold a public hearing and review the annual report submitted by
the commission.
END_STATUTE