HB 30 — Wildlife Management Area Amendments

HB0030S01Enrolled comparedCopy withH.B. HB0030 {Omitted text} shows text that was in HB0030 but was omitted in HB0030S01 inserted text shows text that was not in HB0030 but was inserted into HB0030S01 DISCLAIMER:

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Wildlife Management Area Amendments GENERAL SESSION STATE OF UTAH Chief Sponsor:

3Keven LONGJ. TITLE General Description:

Stratton 3 LONG TITLE General Description:

H ▸ authorizes rulemaking and requires reporting regarding rulemaking;

B ▸ provides for voluntary financial contributions for the benefit of wildlife management areas;

▸ 3 HB0030 compared with HB0030S01 permits the division to oversee the provision of volunteer labor to benefit a wildlife management area, including addressing liability issues;andissues; ▸ {enacts nonrefundable tax credits for contributions to wildlife management areas in accordance with statute and rules;

}and ▸ {addressesmakes apportionmenttechnical ofand aconforming nonrefundablechanges. tax credit;

and} ▸ makes technical and conforming changes.

23A-6-402H.B. {(Effective 07/01/26)}, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 116 {59-10-1002.2 (Effective 07/01/26) (Applies beginning 01/01/26), as last amended by Laws of Utah 2025, Chapter 407} ENACTS:

23A-3-21730 {(EffectiveEnrolled 07/01/26)},Copy Utah23A-6-402, Codeas Annotatedlast 1953amended 23A-6-405 {(Effective 07/01/26)}, Utah Code Annotated 1953 {59-7-628 (Effective 07/01/26) (Applies beginning 01/01/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953} {59-10-1049 (Effective 07/01/26) (Applies beginning 01/01/26), Utah Code Annotated 1953} Be it enacted by theLaws Legislature of theUtah state2025, ofChapter Utah:116 ENACTS:

23A-3-217, Utah Code Annotated 1953 23A-6-405, Utah Code Annotated 1953 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:

Section 123A-3-217 is enacted to read:

23A-3-217.23A-3-217 .

{(EffectiveWildlife 07/01/26)}Wildlife Management Area Stewardship Fund.

(1)(1)(a) (a) There is created an expendable special revenue fund known as the "Wildlife Management Area Stewardship Fund." (b) As used in this section, "fund" means the Wildlife Management Area Stewardship Fund.

and - 2 - HB0030 compared with HB0030S01 (c) interest and earnings on the fund.

23A-6-402.23A-6-402 .

{(EffectiveRight 07/01/26)}Right of access to lands for hunting, trapping, or fishing reserved to public -- Exceptions.

(2) When a department or agency of the state leases or sells land belonging to the state lying- below2 the- officialEnrolled governmentCopy meanderH.B. line or the high water line of the navigable waters within the state, the lease, contract of sale, or deed shall contain a provision that:

30 lying below the official government meander line or the high water line of the navigable waters within the state, the lease, contract of sale, or deed shall contain a provision that:

(4) The division may temporarily close that portion of a highway, as defined in Section [72-1-102][ 72-1-102] 41-6a-102, that enters into or crosses land owned by the division if closure is needed for the benefit of wildlife.

[(5)[(5)(a) - 3 - HB0030 compared with HB0030S01 (a) Except as provided in Subsections (5), (6), and (7), an individual who is 18 years old or older may not enter that portion of a wildlife management area that is located within a county of the first or second class for any use unless the individual:] [(i) holds a valid hunting, fishing, or combination license;] [(ii) is permitted to engage in the use under a contract with, or other permission given by, the division;

or] [(iii) is permitted to engage in the use or to access the land in accordance with a property right giving the individual the right to use or access land within the wildlife management area.] [(b) If the use engaged in by an individual described in Subsection (5)(a) would require a specific license, permit, cooperative agreement, or certificate of registration under this title if engaged in on other lands or waters, the individual shall hold the correct license, permit, cooperative agreement, or certificate of registration to engage in the use.] [(6)[(6)(a) (a) If an individual is expressly exempt under this title from a requirement to hold a license, permit, cooperative agreement, or certificate of registration to engage in hunting, trapping, or fishing if engaged in on other lands or waters, the individual is not required to hold a hunting, fishing, or combination license to enter a wildlife management area described in Subsection (5)(a).] [(b) An individual may travel on a highway, as defined in Section 72-1-102, located within a wildlife management area described in Subsection (5)(a) without obtaining a hunting, fishing, or combination license.] [(c) An individual may participate in an educational program or visit an education or visitor- center3 located- withinH.B. a wildlife management area described in Subsection (5)(a) without obtaining a hunting, fishing, or combination license.] [(7) (a) The Wildlife Board may make rules, in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act, to define for purposes of Subsection (6):] [(i) what is meant to be "expressly exempt under this title from a requirement to hold a license, permit, cooperative agreement, or certificate of registration to engage in hunting, trapping, or fishing";

or]30 [(ii)Enrolled whatCopy constitutesvisitor ancenter "educationallocated program"within ora "educationwildlife ormanagement visitorarea center."]described -in 4Subsection -(5)(a) HB0030without comparedobtaining witha HB0030S01hunting, [(b)fishing, or combination license.] [(7)(a) The Wildlife Board may notmake exemptrules, anin individualaccordance underwith SubsectionTitle (6)(a),63G, onChapter the3, basisUtah thatAdministrative theRulemaking individualAct, to define for purposes of Subsection (6):] [(i) what is notmeant engagedto inbe hunting,"expressly trapping,exempt orunder fishingthis withintitle from a wildliferequirement managementto area.]hold Sectiona 3.license, permit, cooperative agreement, or certificate of registration to engage in hunting, trapping, or fishing";

Sectionor] 3[(ii) what constitutes an "educational program" or "education or visitor center."] [(b) The Wildlife Board may not exempt an individual under Subsection (6)(a), on the basis that the individual is enactednot toengaged read:in hunting, trapping, or fishing within a wildlife management area.] Section 3.

23A-6-405.Section 23A-6-405 is enacted to read:

{(Effective23A-6-405 07/01/26)}Access. to wildlife management areas -- Voluntary contributions -- Volunteer labor.

Access to wildlife management areas -- Voluntary contributions -- Volunteer labor.

(2)(2)(a) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4), an individual who is 18 years old or older may not enter the following portions of a wildlife management area for any use, including as a recreational user, unless authorized under Subsection (2)(b):

and (iii)- beginning4 July- 1,Enrolled 2028,Copy anyH.B. portion of a wildlife management area located within the state.

30 (iii) beginning July 1, 2028, any portion of a wildlife management area located within the state.

or - 5 - HB0030 compared with HB0030S01 (iv) is permitted to engage in the use or to access the land in accordance with a property right giving the individual the right to use or access land within the wildlife management area.