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S. B. No. 2659 *SS36/R957.1* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G3/5
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To: Wildlife, Fisheries and
Parks
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Michel, Butler, Seymour
SENATE BILL NO. 2659
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-153, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROVIDE THAT A RESIDENT WHO IS 65 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER MAY 2
PURCHASE A LIFETIME CONSERVATIONIST LEGACY LICENSE TO SUPPORT AND 3
PROMOTE CONSERVATION AND TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS; 4
TO SET THE FEE FOR A LIFETIME LEGACY LICENSE AT NOT LESS THAN 5
$250.00; TO AMEND SECTION 49-7-151, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO 6
CONFORM; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 8
SECTION 1. Section 49-7-153, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 9
amended as follows: 10
49-7-153. (1) Any resident may purchase a lifetime 11
sportsman hunting and fishing license by filing an application in 12
the office of the department. The license shall qualify the 13
licensee to take all fish, game and fowl, except waterfowl, 14
including deer and turkey, in the manner provided by law. The 15
license shall also permit the licensee to hunt with primitive 16
weapons and bow and arrow, and to fish in the public waters of the 17
state, including the taking of crabs, oysters, shrimp and any 18
saltwater fish authorized to be taken under a recreational 19
license. 20
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(2) The department may issue a resident lifetime sportsman 21
license at a fee to be determined by the commission at an amount 22
not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) for a person 23
thirteen (13) years of age or older and not less than Five Hundred 24
Dollars ($500.00) for a person under thirteen (13) years of age. 25
All lifetime licenses shall be issued from the office of the 26
department. Each application for a lifetime license must be 27
accompanied by a certified copy of the birth certificate of the 28
individual to be named as the license holder, if the individual is 29
twelve (12) years of age or under. 30
(3) The commission shall establish proof of residency 31
requirements for the purchase of a lifetime license, and shall 32
also establish such restrictions on and regulations for lifetime 33
licenses as it deems necessary and proper. Except as otherwise 34
provided in this section, an applicant for a resident lifetime 35
license must have been domiciled in this state for eighteen (18) 36
consecutive months immediately preceding the date of his 37
application for a license. The burden of proving domicile shall 38
be on the applicant. 39
(4) The department may issue a native son or daughter 40
resident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license if 41
official documents reflect that one of the applicant's parents was 42
born in the State of Mississippi and was on active military 43
service at the time of the applicant's birth. 44
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Such license may be issued at a fee to be determined by the 45
commission at an amount not less than One Thousand Dollars 46
($1,000.00) for a person thirteen (13) years of age or older and 47
not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for a person under 48
thirteen (13) years of age. 49
The applicant must provide a certified copy of an original 50
birth certificate of such parent showing that the parent was born 51
in Mississippi and provide official documents indicating that such 52
parent was on active military service at the time of the 53
applicant's birth. 54
An applicant for such license shall not be required to 55
have been domiciled in this state for eighteen (18) consecutive 56
months immediately preceding the date of his or her application 57
for a license. 58
(5) The department may issue a native son or daughter 59
nonresident lifetime sportsman hunting and fishing license. The 60
commission shall establish the fee, but the fee shall not be less 61
than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($1,500.00). The applicant 62
must provide a certified copy of the original birth certificate 63
showing that the applicant was born in Mississippi and/or if the 64
parents' address was in Mississippi at the time of birth as shown 65
on the birth certificate or other documents and/or official 66
documents reflect that one of said parents was on active military 67
service outside the State of Mississippi at the time of said 68
birth. 69
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Except as otherwise provided in this section, if the birth 70
certificate of each parent reflects that each parent was born in 71
the State of Mississippi, then any child born outside the State of 72
Mississippi of those parents may be issued a nonresident lifetime 73
sportsman license for the above set out fee. 74
(6) The department may issue a lifetime conservationist 75
legacy license to residents who are sixty-five (65) years of age 76
or older at a fee to be determined by the commission at an amount 77
not less than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00). While exempted 78
from having to have a license to hunt or fish under Section 79
49-7-5(2)(a), residents who desire to continue to support and 80
promote conservation and leave a legacy for future generations may 81
purchase a lifetime legacy license. Possession of a lifetime 82
legacy license shall serve as conclusive proof of the license 83
holder's exemption from having to have a license by virtue of his 84
or her age. 85
( * * *7) Any materially false statement contained in an 86
application for a lifetime license renders void the license issued 87
pursuant to that application, and subjects the applicant to 88
criminal prosecution under Section 49-7-45. 89
( * * *8) Nothing in this section exempts an applicant for a 90
lifetime license from meeting other qualifications or requirements 91
otherwise established by law for the privilege of hunting or 92
fishing. 93
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ST: Lifetime conservationist legacy license;
create for residents who are age 65 or older.
SECTION 2. Section 49-7-151, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 94
amended as follows: 95
49-7-151. Recognizing the inestimable importance to the 96
state and its citizens of conserving the wildlife resources of 97
Mississippi and recognizing the desires of many citizens who wish 98
to make a lifetime contribution to preserve our rich legacy of 99
wildlife resources for future generations, it is the intention of 100
the Legislature to create a lifetime sportsman license, a lifetime 101
legacy license and the Mississippi Wildlife Endowment Fund. 102
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from 103
and after July 1, 2026. 104