Bill Summary

• Modifies commissioner's rulemaking authority for game and fish regulations to allow emergency rules based on biological and harvest data without full rulemaking procedures.

• Allows critically ill persons to purchase hunting licenses otherwise limited by lottery drawing, including licenses for turkey, deer, bear, prairie chicken, and wolf (excludes moose and elk).

• Expands hunting and fishing opportunities for youth by eliminating or reducing license fees for children ages 10-12 taking big game, turkey, and allowing residents ages 16-17 to spear fish without a separate spearing license.

• Modifies all-terrain vehicle regulations including exemptions for tribal members and historic vehicles, establishes a "no registration weekend" for ATV trail use, and clarifies youth operator requirements.

• Revises invasive species and watercraft provisions including requirements for inspecting and decontaminating equipment, adds permits for transporting water and aquatic macrophytes, and establishes training requirements for violators.