Back to Arizona

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 effective date is not listed in the provided official text or metadata; implementation timing remains unknown until executive action occurs.

SB1155: Free or Reduced Wildlife Licenses for Veterans

This law allows Arizona veterans with specific service-connected disabilities to get free wildlife licenses, while other disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients can buy reduced-fee licenses.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows the Game and Fish Commission to issue a free lifetime license to pioneers aged 70 or older who have lived in Arizona for at least 25 consecutive years.
  • Provides a free wildlife license to U.S. military veterans who are Arizona residents for one year or more and receive compensation for a permanent, 100% service-connected disability.
  • Offers a reduced fee of up to 25 percent off the full price for veteran licenses held by those with any level of service-connected disability compensation.
  • Sets aside wildlife licenses at half the full price for Arizona residents who are veterans and have received a Purple Heart medal.
  • Maintains reduced-fee youth licenses for Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout Gold Award recipients.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans of the U.S. armed forces living in Arizona with service-connected disabilities
  • Arizona residents who are Purple Heart medal recipients
  • Pioneers aged 70 or older who have lived in Arizona for at least 25 years
  • Eagle Scouts and Girl Scout Gold Award recipients

Terms To Know

Complimentary license
A free wildlife hunting or fishing permit that costs no money.
Service-connected disability
An injury or illness caused by military service for which the U.S. government pays compensation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The official text does not state a specific date when these new rules will begin.
  • Veterans and other applicants must provide proof of their disability rating, residency, or award status to get the license benefits.
  • The law requires an annual report on fees but does not specify how much money this change might save or cost.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-20 Senate

    Senate second read

  2. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senate Rules: None

  3. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senate Appropriations, Transportation and Technology: None

  4. 2026-01-15 Senate

    Senate Government: None

  5. 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