April 19, 2005
Volume 3, Issue 9

State Caucus Update
Arkansas Ends Legislative Session; Vital Sportsmen’s Protection Laws Passed
Colorado Increases Fees, Introduces Habitat Stamp

Arkansas Ends Legislative Session; Vital Sportsmen’s Protection Laws Passed
The Arkansas Legislature wrapped up their 2005 session on Wednesday, April 13 after several pro-sportsmen victories led by the Arkansas Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus. One landmark bill, the “Arkansas Hunting Heritage Protection Act,” introduced by Caucus member Sen. Steve Higginbothom, was signed into law by Gov. Mike Huckabee on March 30. The bill was co-sponsored by Senate Caucus Chair Ruth Whitaker, Sen. Steve Faris, House Caucus Vice-Chair Rep. Benny Petrus, Reps. Stan Berry and Tommy Dickinson and requires “no net loss” of public hunting areas in the state. Several other sportsmen’s caucuses have introduced this National Assembly of Sportsmen’s Caucuses model legislation in their own states, with Maryland and Illinois having successfully passed it into law. For more details on the Arkansas legislative session, click here.

Colorado Increases Fees, Introduces Habitat Stamp
The Colorado Legislature has passed a bill to increase the hunting and fishing license fees in the state, as well as create a wildlife habitat stamp for accessing state wildlife areas. The measure, introduced in the House by Rep. Joe Stengel, is the first license fee increase in 13 years, but also will be the first time that the non-hunting public will be charged to use lands that have traditionally only been funded with sportsmen’s dollars. The new wildlife habitat stamp will cost $10 ($5 if purchased with a hunting or fishing license), and must be purchased by those between 19 and 63 who visit state wildlife areas. This stamp will provide an estimated $2.3 million per year over the program’s five year span for the purpose of acquiring and improving state hunting lands.