HF1223 Summary

• Expands free park permit eligibility for active military personnel stationed outside Minnesota to include their dependents, requiring qualifying military identification or an annual federal military pass.

• Modifies disabled veteran hunting and fishing license provisions to recognize any level of service-connected disability for daily park permits and annual park permits, while maintaining 100 percent permanent and total disability requirement for deer hunting licenses.

• Creates new license exemption for disabled veterans with 100 percent permanent and total service-connected disability to take small game (except turkey, prairie chicken, and wolf) and fish without a license.

• Grants hunting and fishing license preference in drawings and lotteries to qualified service members or veterans, including those with Purple Heart medals or 100 percent service-connected disability.

• Establishes multiple acceptable forms of documentation for veteran status including permanent cards issued by the commissioner, driver's licenses with disability designation, and Department of Veterans Affairs verification letters.