S 289

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.289
 2026  Page 1 of 3
1S.289
2 Introduced by Senator Brennan
3 Referred to Committee on
4 Date:
5 Subject: Fish and wildlife; licenses; revenue; reimbursement of lost fee
6revenue
7 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the
8 State to reimburse the Department of Fish and Wildlife for license fee revenue
9 lost on or after July 1, 2026, due to the issuance of statutorily required free,
10 discounted, or exempt hunting, fishing, trapping, or combination licenses.
11    An act relating to reimbursing the Department of Fish and Wildlife for lost
12    license fee revenue
13 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
14 Sec. 1. 10 V.S.A. § 4255 is amended to read:
15 § 4255. LICENSE FEES
16    (a) Vermont residents may apply for licenses on forms provided by the
17 Commissioner. Fees for each license shall be:
18***
19    (f)(1) On and after July 1, 2026, the Department of Fish and Wildlife shall
20 be reimbursed for lost revenue resulting from:
                                                                     VT LEG #384937 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.289
 2026  Page 2 of 3
1(A) the required issuance under statute of free or partially discounted
2 hunting, fishing, trapping, or combination licenses; and
3(B) statutory exemptions under this part to the licensure requirements
4 for hunting, fishing, or trapping.
5(2) The revenue required to be reimbursed under subdivision (1) of this
6 subsection shall be in an amount equal to the amount of the lost revenue from
7 the free, discounted, or exempted license.
8***
9    (n)(1) The Commissioner shall maintain an accounting of the lost revenue
10 required to be reimbursed to the Department under subsection (f) of this
11 section due to the issuance of free, discounted, or exempt licenses.
12(2) The Commissioner shall submit the accounting of lost revenue
13 required under this subsection to the Commissioner of Finance and
14 Management for payment annually on or before June 30 of monies in an
15 amount equal to the lost revenue from the prior fiscal year. Within 30 days
16 following receipt of the accounting of lost revenue, the Commissioner of
17 Finance and Management shall deposit into the Fish and Wildlife Fund the
18 amount of lost revenue.
19(3) Any reimbursement to the Department under this section for lost
20 license fee revenue shall be made from the General Fund as approved by the
21 General Assembly.
                                                                   VT LEG #384937 v.1
BILL AS INTRODUCED  S.289
2026  Page 3 of 3
1(4) The Commissioner annually on or before January 15 shall submit to
2 the Senate Committees on Appropriations and on Finance and the House
3 Committees on Appropriations and on Ways and Means an accounting of lost
4 revenue from the previous calendar year due to the issuance of free licenses.
5 Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE
6    This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
                                                                 VT LEG #384937 v.1