Georgia CommonsHB 432: Game and fish; Georgia turkey stamps; provide
Comm Sub version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action March 31, 2026 · Engrossed
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
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.