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HB6040 • 2026

Natural resources: hunting; hunting accessibility zones and events; provide for. Amends sec. 43523a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.43523a) & adds sec. 43540f.

Natural resources: hunting; hunting accessibility zones and events; provide for. Amends sec. 43523a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.43523a) & adds sec. 43540f.

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor
John Fitzgerald (District 83), Sharon MacDonell (District 56), Reggie Miller (District 31), Bryan Posthumus (District 90), Curtis VanderWall (District 102)
Last action
2026-06-04
Official status
bill electronically reproduced 06/03/2026
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Natural resources: hunting; hunting accessibility zones and events; provide for. Amends sec. 43523a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.43523a) & adds sec. 43540f.

Natural resources: hunting; hunting accessibility zones and events; provide for.

What This Bill Does

  • Natural resources: hunting; hunting accessibility zones and events; provide for.
  • Amends sec.
  • 43523a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.43523a) & adds sec.
  • 43540f.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-06-04 HJ 43 Pg. 0

    bill electronically reproduced 06/03/2026

  2. 2026-06-03 HJ 42 Pg. 713

    introduced by Representative Rep. John Fitzgerald

  3. 2026-06-03 HJ 42 Pg. 713

    read a first time

  4. 2026-06-03 HJ 42 Pg. 713

    referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism

Official Summary Text

Natural resources: hunting; hunting accessibility zones and events; provide for. Amends sec. 43523a of 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.43523a) & adds sec. 43540f.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
KHS H06426'26_HB6040_INTR_1 m6qb53

HOUSE BILL NO. 6040

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled
"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"
by amending section 43523a (MCL 324.43523a), as amended by 2018 PA
3, and by adding section 43540f.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 43523a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this part, an 1
individual shall not hunt small game, unless the individual 2
possesses a current base license. A base license authorizes the 3
individual named in the license to hunt for small game, except for 4
animals or birds that require a special license. 5
June 03, 2026, Introduced by Reps. Fitzgerald, MacDonell, Miller, Posthumus and VanderWall
and referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Tourism.
2

KHS H06426'26_HB6040_INTR_1 m6qb53
(2) If authorized in an order issued under part 401, an 1
individual who possesses a current base license may take specified 2
fur-bearing animals by means other than trapping during the open 3
season for hunting these fur-bearing animals. However, an 4
individual who goes on a bobcat hunt with a licensed hunter is not 5
required to possess a base license if the individual does not carry 6
a firearm, bow, or crossbow and does not own dogs used to chase or 7
locate a bobcat during the hunt. 8
(3) The fee for a base license is as follows: 9
(a) Subject to subdivision (b), for a resident, $10.00. 10
(b) For a person with disabilities, a resident minor child, or 11
a nonresident minor child, $5.00. 12
(c) Subject to subdivision (b), for a nonresident, $150.00. 13
(4) A base license is void between the hours of 1/2 hour after 14
sunset and 1/2 hour before sunrise with the exception of coyote 15
hunting. 16
(5) A nonresident may purchase a limited nonresident small 17
game license entitling that individual to hunt for a 7-day period 18
all species of small game that are available to hunt under a 19
nonresident base license. The fee for a 7-day limited nonresident 20
small game license is $80.00. Except for the purchase of a 21
waterfowl hunting license under section 43525b, the purchase of a 22
7-day limited nonresident small game license does not entitle the 23
holder to purchase any additional licenses. 24
(6) Beginning March 1, 2018, a A nonresident may purchase a 3-25
day limited nonresident small game license entitling that 26
individual to hunt for a 3-day period all species of small game 27
that are available to hunt under a nonresident base license. The 28
fee for a 3-day limited nonresident small game license is $50.00. 29
3

KHS H06426'26_HB6040_INTR_1 m6qb53
Except for the purchase of a waterfowl hunting license issued under 1
section 43525b, the purchase of a 3-day limited nonresident small 2
game license does not entitle the holder to purchase any additional 3
licenses. 4
(7) Not later than March 1, 2018, the The department shall 5
develop an electronic license that allows an individual to display 6
an electronic copy of his or her base license using an electronic 7
device. 8
Sec. 43540f. (1) The department shall do all of the following: 9
(a) Establish designated hunting zones on state-managed lands 10
with paved or mowed paths, accessible blinds, and vehicle access 11
tailored to a person with disabilities. 12
(b) Adopt programs that pair a person with disabilities with 13
trained guides in adaptive hunts for different game species. 14
(c) Publish an official interactive map showing accessibility 15
features to help a person with disabilities plan outings. 16
(d) Develop specialized hunter safety training tailored for a 17
person with disabilities, including online and in-person adaptive 18
instruction focusing on safe participation with accommodation 19
tools. 20
(e) Partner with nonprofit organizations that support outdoor 21
access to host adaptive hunts or provide resources for a person 22
with disabilities. 23
(f) Create a state-supported mentor recruitment and training 24
program to pair licensed hunters with a person with disabilities, 25
potentially offering incentives or recognition for mentors. 26
(g) Ensure that a dedicated hunting zone established in this 27
state does not impose restrictions on a person with disabilities 28
that is more limiting than those applied statewide unless those 29
4
Final Page
KHS H06426'26_HB6040_INTR_1 m6qb53
restrictions are necessary for public safety or wildlife 1
conservation. If those restrictions are necessary, the department 2
shall provide comparable opportunities for participation through 3
alternative locations, seasons, or methods reasonably accessible to 4
a person with disabilities. 5
(2) As used in this section, "person with disabilities" means 6
that term as defined in section 19a of the Michigan vehicle code, 7
1949 PA 300, MCL 257.19a. 8