Why It Matters: The 2025 legislative sessions are in full swing in the Great Plains as legislation pertaining to the sporting-conservation community continues to be introduced. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has already engaged on several of these bills as they’ve begun to make their way through the legislative process.
Highlights:
- Iowa has introduced Houe File 21 (HF 21) and Senate File 7 (SF 7) which allows veterans to fish in Iowa without needing to purchase a fishing license, creating potential unintended challenges for the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF).
- North Dakota has introduced House Bill 1236 (HB 1236) that prohibits the North Dakota Game and Fish Department (GFD) from using funds from hunting and fishing licenses on anything related to the research and management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
- North Dakota also introduced Senate Bill 2168 (SB 2168) which would require hunters to have permission from neighboring landowners to hunt within 440 yards of an occupied building, structure, or storage structure, even if the structures are not located on the property they are hunting.
The 2025 legislative sessions across the great plains are in full swing and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has already engaged on several pieces of legislation pertaining to important sportsmen and women issues that have been introduced in Iowa and North Dakota.
Iowa has introduced House File 21 (HF 21) and Senate File 7 (SF 7) that would allow veterans to fish without purchasing a fishing license or needing any proof of a fishing license. While CSF appreciates opportunities to show support for those who have served our nation as members of the armed forces, there are considerations associated with waiving license requirements for certain groups. Specifically, HF 21 and SF 7 can cause negative impacts on the funding that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) relies on to carry out their conservation efforts that benefit all Iowans through the American System of Conservation Funding. CSF submitted testimony to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee recommending that licenses, regardless of price, be required, as well as the addition of reimbursement for free and discounted licenses language to offset revenue loss and ensure that the DNR would continue to receive the critical funding they need to effectively carry out their conservation efforts.
Efforts to undermine the North Dakota Game and Fish Department’s wildlife management authority continue with the introduction of House Bill 1236 (HB 1236). HB 1236 would prohibit GFD from using funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses on anything related to Chronic Wasting Disease. CSF submitted testimony to the House Energy and Natural Resources Committee highlighting the importance of the ASCF, and the benefits of GFD’s ability to use hunting and fishing license funds for CWD management. CSF also submitted testimony to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in opposition to Senate Bill 2168 (SB 2168). This bill would change the current statute to require hunters to obtain permission to hunt within 440 yards of a structure, even if the structure is not located on the property they are hunting. SB 2168 would ultimately limit hunting access and would likewise curtail the ability of GFD from relying on hunters to assist with management objectives in suburban and exurban areas.
CSF will continue to monitor these bills, and similar issues, as they move through the legislative process.
Related Policy
Introduction Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a progressive, fatal, degenerative neurological disease occurring in farmed...
Summary Revenue from sporting licenses is a crucial element for funding state fish and wildlife...
