SB 420: License, Permit, Tag, and Stamp Fees; fees for reef and migratory fish endorsement; provide

This bill changes Georgia's fishing license fee law (O.C.G.A. § 27-2-23) to add a reef and migratory fish endorsement. Georgia residents would pay $10 a year for the endorsement and nonresidents would pay $20 a year. The bill also extends the existing endorsement system, which currently applies only to commercial fishing, to cover recreational fishing as well. Anyone who holds one of these endorsements would have to report information to the Department of Natural Resources as required by board rule, and fees collected from the new endorsements would be kept by the department rather than sent elsewhere in the state budget. Separately, the bill updates three other Georgia code sections (O.C.G.A. §§ 12-2-2, 27-1-39, and 52-7-26) that define which version of the Board of Natural Resources' rules count for criminal enforcement purposes, moving the reference date from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026.

• Creates a new resident reef/migratory fish endorsement costing $10 per year and a nonresident version costing $20 per year under Georgia's fishing license fee law.
• Expands the existing fish species endorsement requirement, previously limited to commercial fishing, so it also applies to recreational fishing.
• Requires anyone holding a reef/migratory fish endorsement to report information to the Department of Natural Resources as set by board rule.
• Directs that fees collected from the new endorsements be retained by the department rather than deposited into the general state treasury.
• Updates the reference date used to define which Board of Natural Resources rules count for criminal violations, changing it from January 1, 2025 to January 1, 2026, in three separate Georgia code sections.

Recreational and commercial anglers who fish for reef and migratory species in Georgia waters, both state residents and nonresidents, the Department of Natural Resources and its Environmental Protection Division, and anyone whose conduct is judged against Board of Natural Resources rules in a criminal case.

Anglers targeting reef and migratory fish would need to buy a new annual endorsement and report catch information, adding a cost and a paperwork step. The department would keep that new fee revenue for its own use, and updated rule-reference dates would change which year's regulations apply when prosecuting violations.

• Section 1-1 adds subparagraphs (K) and (L) to Code Section 27-2-23 setting the $10 resident and $20 nonresident annual reef/migratory fish endorsement fees.
• Section 1-1 revises paragraph (11) of the same code section to extend species endorsement requirements to recreational fishing, not just commercial fishing.
• Section 1-1 adds a reporting requirement for endorsement holders and a new paragraph (12.1) stating that fees from the new endorsements are retained by the department under O.C.G.A. § 45-12-92.1.
• Section 2-1 updates O.C.G.A. § 12-2-2 so criminal violations are measured against Board of Natural Resources rules in effect on January 1, 2026, instead of 2025.
• Section 2-2 makes the same date update in O.C.G.A. § 27-1-39.
• Section 2-3 makes the same date update in the penalty provisions of O.C.G.A. § 52-7-26.
• Section 3-1 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2026-05-11Effective Date 2026-07-01
2. 2026-05-11Act 508
3. 2026-05-11Senate Date Signed by Governor (Senate)
4. 2026-04-10Senate Sent to Governor (Senate)
5. 2026-03-12House Passed/Adopted (House)
6. 2026-03-12House Third Readers (House)
7. 2026-03-10House Postponed (House)
8. 2026-02-12House Committee Favorably Reported (House)

• Drew Echols (R, SD-049)Primary sponsor
• Lee Anderson (R, SD-024)
• Steve Gooch (R, SD-051)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Mike Hodges (R, SD-003)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)

1. PassedSenate voteFebruary 3, 2026

   52 yea, 0 nay (1 not voting, 1 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #512

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 12, 2026

   163 yea, 2 nay (4 not voting, 7 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #700

• fishing licenses
• reef fish
• migratory fish
• wildlife regulations
• Department of Natural Resources