Kansas panel hears bill to remove sunsets on youth and senior lifetime hunting licenses

Representative Ken Corbett told the Committee on Federal and State Affairs that House Bill 2028 would remove expiration dates for two lifetime hunting licenses, saying, “This bill does 2 things. It takes away the, the sunset on the youth lifetime license, and it reinstates the senior lifetime license.”

The bill, described by a Revisor from the Statutes Office as “a technical bill,” revives language tied to hunting and fishing that a state revisor said had been sunsetted and noted the Department of Wildlife and Parks would provide the detailed explanation. Representative Ken Corbett and supporters emphasized the change merely removes sunset dates rather than creating new licenses.

Why it matters: Committee members pressed on the fiscal effect because Wildlife and Parks is funded by fees rather than the state general fund. Representative Will Carpenter said he supports the bill but warned that removing sunsets for youth licenses could reduce fee revenue for an entirely fee-funded agency and urged that any broader change (for example, extending the youth license to age 16, which has been discussed as an amendment) be considered only after a fiscal note. “If that amendment gets on … whatever the cost would be to the agency … we would backfill that with state general fund money,” Carpenter said.

Committee members asked staff and Legislative Research about past coverage and fiscal notes; Legislative Research staff did not report a prior statewide study quantifying agency preparation costs for economic impact statements. Several members described the proposal as noncontroversial but asked for caution on any expansion that would reduce Wildlife and Parks revenue without offsetting funds.

The committee took public testimony but did not vote on HB 2028 at the hearing. The Chair closed the hearing and moved to other agenda items.