HB710 • 2026

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; require reimbursement for statutory discounts relating to hunting and fishing licenses and other fees.

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY LOST REVENUE RESULTING FROM THE ISSUANCE OF STATUTORY DISCOUNTS RELATING TO HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES, ADMISSION TO STATE PARKS, AND OTHER FEES; TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN AN ACCOUNTING OF SUCH LOST REVENUE AND SUBMIT THE ACCOUNTING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONIES FROM THE STATE GENERAL FUND IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO SUCH LOST REVENUE, ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30 OF EACH FISCAL YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE RECEIPT OF SUCH ACCOUNTING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND PARKS, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION SHALL TRANSFER THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SUCH LOST REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR INTO THE FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE FUND; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Taxes

Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor: Bounds, Hale
Last action: 2026-03-03
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Reimbursement for Wildlife Department Discounts

This bill allows the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to get money back from the state if they give discounts on hunting and fishing licenses or other fees.

What This Bill Does

Allows the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to be reimbursed for any lost revenue due to statutory discounts given after July 1, 2026.
Requires the department to keep track of how much money they lose from giving these discounts.
Requires the department to send this information to another state agency by June 30 each year.
Specifies that within thirty days of receiving the accounting, the Department of Finance and Administration must transfer the lost revenue into a special fund.

Who It Names or Affects

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
People who get discounts on hunting and fishing licenses or other fees from the department

Terms To Know

statutory discount: A reduction in price that is allowed by law for certain people.
Fisheries and Wildlife Fund: A special fund used to support wildlife and fisheries programs in Mississippi.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass, so it has no legal effect.
It only applies to discounts given on or after July 1, 2026.

Bill History

2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/03 (S) Died In Committee
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (S) Referred To Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks;Appropriations
2026-02-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/13 (H) Transmitted To Senate
2026-02-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/12 (H) Passed
2026-02-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/11 (H) Read the Third Time
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) DR - TSDP: AP To WI
2026-02-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/03 (H) DR - TSDP: WI To AP
2026-01-15 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/15 (H) Referred To Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks;Appropriations A

Official Summary Text

Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks; require reimbursement for statutory discounts relating to hunting and fishing licenses and other fees.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 710 *HR43/R315* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R315
PAGE 1 (MCL\KP)

To: Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks; Appropriations A
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Bounds, Hale

HOUSE BILL NO. 710

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, FISHERIES AND 1
PARKS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR ANY LOST REVENUE RESULTING FROM THE 2
ISSUANCE OF STATUTORY DISCOUNTS RELATING TO HUNTING AND FISHING 3
LICENSES, ADMISSION TO STATE PARKS, AND OTHER FEES; TO REQUIRE THE 4
DEPARTMENT TO MAINTAIN AN ACCOUNTING OF SUCH LOST REVENUE AND 5
SUBMIT THE ACCOUNTING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND 6
ADMINISTRATION FOR THE PAYMENT OF MONIES FROM THE STATE GENERAL 7
FUND IN AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO SUCH LOST REVENUE, ON OR BEFORE JUNE 30 8
OF EACH FISCAL YEAR; TO PROVIDE THAT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF THE 9
RECEIPT OF SUCH ACCOUNTING FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE, 10
FISHERIES AND PARKS, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION 11
SHALL TRANSFER THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF SUCH LOST REVENUE FOR THE 12
FISCAL YEAR INTO THE FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE FUND; AND FOR RELATED 13
PURPOSES. 14
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 15
SECTION 1. (1) The Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and 16
Parks shall be reimbursed from the General Fund for any lost 17
revenue resulting from the issuance of statutory discounts related 18
to the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, admission into state 19
parks, golf courses, campgrounds and recreational trails, fishing 20
permits, boat rentals, cabin rentals and cottage and camping 21
reservations in an amount equal to the statutory discounts issued. 22
This section shall apply only to those statutory discounts issued 23
on or after July 1, 2026. 24
H. B. No. 710 *HR43/R315* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R315
PAGE 2 (MCL\KP)
ST: Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks; require reimbursement for statutory
discounts relating to hunting and fishing
licenses and other fees.
(2) The department shall maintain an accounting of such lost 25
revenue as described in subsection (1) of this section, and shall 26
submit the accounting to the Department of Finance and 27
Administration for the payment of monies from the State General 28
Fund in an amount equal to such lost revenue, on or before June 30 29
of each fiscal year. 30
(3) Within thirty (30) days of the receipt of such 31
accounting from the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, 32
the Department of Finance and Administration shall transfer the 33
total amount of such lost revenue for the fiscal year into the 34
Fisheries and Wildlife Fund as provided for in Section 49-5-21. 35
(4) The accounting maintained under subsection (2) of this 36
section, and any other records relating to the accounting, shall 37
be subject to audit by the State Auditor. 38
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 39
and after July 1, 2026. 40