Why It Matters: Mississippi continues to fight challenges such as the rapid spread of Chronic Wasting Disease and legislative initiatives aimed at giving groups free/discounted hunting and fishing licenses which threatens the success of the American System of Conservation. Additionally, it is paramount that the Mississippi Legislature works in lockstep with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP), MDWFP’s Commission, and the greater sportsmen’s community to promote science-based management through the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and it also critical for the Mississippi Legislature to protect and enhance funding for conservation.
Highlights:
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), along with a coalition of seven other conservation organizations, submitted a letter in support of four bills to support fish and wildlife conservation in the Magnolia State.
- CSF supports House Bill 43 and House Bill 731, which would further align wildlife management in Mississippi with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.
- CSF supports House Bill 300, which would further protect conservation funding by requiring the MDWFP be reimbursed for lost revenue resulting from the issuance of free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses by the Mississippi Legislature.
- CSF supports House Bill 733 which would dedicate a portion of pre-existing sales tax on specific outdoor recreation equipment to the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund.
HB 43: Wildlife being held in the public trust and wildlife policy formulated using sound scientific principles are arguably the two most important components of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. HB 43, authored by Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus (Caucus) Member Representative Bill Kinkade, codifies the MDWFP’s and its Commission’s responsibility to the citizens of Mississippi to defend the public’s interest in the state’s wildlife and make wildlife management decisions based on the best available science. HB 43 passed the House of Representatives unanimously and awaits action in the Senate Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks Committee.
HB 300: This legislation, authored by NASC Executive Council Member and Caucus Co-Chair Representative Scott Bounds, would bring Mississippi alongside Michigan, New Jersey, and Tennessee where state fish and wildlife agency funding is protected from impacts resulting from the passage of free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses. MDWFP would be reimbursed for any lost revenue resulting from the issuance of free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses, admission to state parks, and other fees provided by the MDWFP through the State General Fund. HB 300 previously passed the House Committee on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks by a unanimous vote but has been recommitted to the same committee for further discussion.
HB 731: The statutory prohibition on the sale of game birds, game animals, and game fish would further align Mississippi Code with the tenets of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. HB 731, authored by Caucus Member Representative Bill Kinkade, awaits action in the House Committee on Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks.
HB 733: Dedicating a percentage of the existing sales tax on sporting goods to conservation funding, the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund can improve its capability to capitalize on matching private conservation dollars as well as federal funds through various fish, wildlife, and natural resource conservation programs. HB 733, authored by Caucus Member Representative Bill Kinkade, awaits action in the House Ways and Means Committee.
CSF will continue to work alongside the Caucus and our conservation partners to ensure that the Mississippi Legislature works with the sportsmen’s community to support conservation funding and maintain science-based management of Mississippi’s fish and wildlife resources.
