---
title: HB 432. Game and fish; Georgia turkey stamps; provide
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hb432
cite_as: HB 432, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb432
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb432.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb432/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70291
date: 2026-03-31
status: engrossed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb431.md
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 936
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb432.md?full=1
bill_number: HB 432
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: bill
status_date: 2025-03-04
last_action: Senate Tabled
sponsors:
- Trey Kelley
- Trey Rhodes
- Charles Cannon
- Emory Dunahoo
- Johnny Chastain
- Rob Clifton
- Jason Anavitarte
text_version: Comm Sub
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HB432/2025
upstream_id: 1968150
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
- turkey hunting
- hunting licenses
- game and fish regulations
- Georgia Department of Natural Resources
- outdoor recreation fees
---
# HB 432. Game and fish; Georgia turkey stamps; provide
## Text
The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the Environment offered the following
substitute to HB 432:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to hunting, trapping, or fishing, so as to provide for Georgia turkey permits and
stamps; to provide for fees; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for
other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Article 1 of Chapter 2 of Title 27 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
hunting, trapping, or fishing, is amended in Code Section 27-2-3, relating to effective periods
of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses generally and multiyear licenses, by revising
subsection (a) as follows:
"(a) Except as otherwise specifically provided, all hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses,
including without limitation commercial fishing and commercial fishing boat licenses
issued pursuant to Code Section 27-2-8, shall be effective from April 1 to March 31 of the
following year; except that all annual, two-year, or other multiyear hunting, fishing, and
hunting and fishing combination licenses issued pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (4) of
Code Section 27-2-23 shall be effective through the applicable one-year, two-year, or
multiyear anniversary of the date of issuance. If a person possesses a valid annual,
two-year, or other multiyear hunting, fishing, or hunting and fishing combination license
at the time of sale of one or more annual, two-year, or other multiyear licenses with
identical privileges to the valid license, the new license or licenses shall become effective
when the original license expires and shall remain valid through the full applicable period.
The department may specify the effective dates and term of the following licenses or
permits:
(1) The Georgia waterfowl and migratory bird stamp to meet requirements of Code
Section 27-2-20;
(2) The free Georgia salt water fishing endorsement to meet requirements of Code
Section 27-2-20.1; and
(3) Any permit or requirement authorized by Code Section 27-3-29 regarding harvest
recording and reporting; and
(4) The Georgia turkey permit to meet requirements of Code Section 27-2-6."
SECTION 2.
Said article is further amended in Code Section 27-2-6, relating to trout license, Georgia
waterfowl and migratory bird stamp, big game license, and alligator harvest permit, by
adding a new subsection to read as follows:
"(g)(1) Effective July 1, 2027, it shall be unlawful for any person 16 years of age or older
to hunt turkey in this state unless such person has a Georgia turkey permit in his or her
possession in addition to all other required hunting licenses. Any resident of this state
may be issued a Georgia turkey permit at no cost, and the fee for such permit for
nonresidents shall be $100.00.
(2) By July 1, 2027, the department shall design and sell a collectible Georgia turkey
stamp. Purchase of such turkey stamp shall be voluntary and shall not be required in
order to hunt turkeys in this state. The board shall be authorized to promulgate rules and
regulations to administer this subsection and shall establish appropriate fees for the
collectible Georgia turkey stamp.
(3) Any fees collected pursuant to this subsection shall be retained by the department
pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 45-12-92.1."
SECTION 3.
Said article is further amended in Code Section 27-2-23, relating to license, permit, tag, and
stamp fees, by adding new subparagraphs to paragraph (1) to read as follows:
"(N) Resident Georgia turkey permit Annual 0.00
(O) Nonresident Georgia turkey permit Annual 100.00"
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.
## Summaries written by Georgia Commons
The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the bill. Quote the text, not the summary.
A Georgia Senate substitute for HB 432 would require turkey hunters 16 and older to carry a Georgia turkey permit starting in 2027, free for residents and $100 for nonresidents, and would create an optional collectible turkey stamp.
### Plain-language summary
Currently Georgia law does not require a separate permit specifically to hunt turkey. This bill amends Georgia's hunting and fishing licensing statutes (O.C.G.A. Title 27, Chapter 2) to create a new Georgia turkey permit. Starting July 1, 2027, anyone 16 or older would need this permit, in addition to any other required hunting license, to legally hunt turkey in the state. Residents could get the permit at no cost, while nonresidents would pay $100.
The bill also directs the Department of Natural Resources to design and sell a separate collectible Georgia turkey stamp by July 1, 2027. Buying the stamp would be voluntary and would not be required to hunt turkey. The department's board would set fees for the stamp and could issue rules to run the program. Money collected from permits and stamps would stay with the department under an existing state law governing retained agency funds (O.C.G.A. § 45-12-92.1). The bill also updates the licensing statute's list of permits whose effective dates the department can set.
### What it does
- Creates a new Georgia turkey permit requirement, effective July 1, 2027, for anyone 16 or older who hunts turkey in the state.
- Sets the turkey permit fee at $0.00 for Georgia residents and $100.00 for nonresidents.
- Directs the Department of Natural Resources to design and sell a voluntary collectible Georgia turkey stamp by July 1, 2027, separate from the required permit.
- Lets the department's board set fees and rules for the collectible turkey stamp program.
- Allows the department to keep permit and stamp fee revenue under an existing state fund-retention law (O.C.G.A. § 45-12-92.1).
- Adds the Georgia turkey permit to the list of licenses whose effective dates the department may set under O.C.G.A. § 27-2-3.
### Who it affects
Turkey hunters in Georgia age 16 and older, both residents and nonresidents, who would need the new permit starting in 2027. It also affects the Department of Natural Resources, which must design the permit and stamp system, and its governing board, which sets stamp fees and rules.
### Why it matters
Once the requirement takes effect in mid-2027, turkey hunters would need to obtain an additional permit before hunting, with nonresidents paying $100 while residents pay nothing. Hunters who want a keepsake could also buy an optional stamp, and the fees collected would fund the department's programs.
### Key provisions
- Section 1 amends O.C.G.A. § 27-2-3 to let the department set the effective dates and term for the new Georgia turkey permit, alongside existing waterfowl stamps and harvest reporting permits.
- Section 2 adds a new subsection (g) to O.C.G.A. § 27-2-6 making it unlawful, effective July 1, 2027, for anyone 16 or older to hunt turkey without a Georgia turkey permit in addition to other required licenses.
- Section 2 sets the permit as free for residents and $100.00 for nonresidents, and requires the department to create a voluntary collectible turkey stamp by July 1, 2027.
- Section 2 lets the department's board issue rules and set fees for the collectible stamp and directs that collected fees be retained by the department under O.C.G.A. § 45-12-92.1.
- Section 3 amends the fee schedule in O.C.G.A. § 27-2-23 to add the annual resident turkey permit at $0.00 and the nonresident permit at $100.00.
- Section 4 repeals conflicting laws.
## Status
- Status: Engrossed (2025-03-04)
- Last action: Senate Tabled (2026-03-31)
- Sponsors: Trey Kelley, Trey Rhodes, Charles Cannon, Emory Dunahoo, Johnny Chastain, Rob Clifton, Jason Anavitarte
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70291
> The history, votes, and amendments (936 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hb432.md?full=1