LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Thomas Albert and state Rep. Steve Frisbie this week introduced legislation designed to honor Michigan’s disabled veterans by improving access to the state’s rich outdoor recreation opportunities.
The legislation creates a tiered structure for lifetime hunting and fishing licenses that aligns discounted costs with the severity of a veteran’s service-connected disability.
Under the proposal, a lifetime hunting license would cost:
- Nothing for 100% disabled veterans, building on state law that already allows free annual hunting licenses for these veterans.
- $50 for veterans rated at 70%-99% disabled.
- $75 for veterans rated at 50%-69% disabled.
- $100 for veterans rated at 30%-49% disabled.
Each lifetime hunting license would include all the privileges of a resident base license, plus authorization for two deer, waterfowl, fur harvester and turkey. The same tiered cost structure would also apply to an all-species fishing license, ranging from no cost to $100 depending on the disability rating.
“This bill is a meaningful way to recognize the extraordinary sacrifices made by Michigan’s disabled veterans,” said Albert, R-Lowell, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “By reducing costs, we are seeking to make hunting and fishing more affordable and accessible for our state’s disabled veterans.”
Albert and Frisbie noted that Michigan’s natural resources and outdoor traditions are an important part of life across the state, and all veterans — especially those who have suffered lasting injuries in service — deserve the opportunity to experience them.
“The veterans of our nation’s armed forces have given so much for the protection of our freedoms,” said Frisbie, R-Battle Creek. “The ability for us to say ‘thank you’ to these brave men and women by reducing burdensome fees is the least we can do.”
Albert introduced Senate Bill 821, and Frisbie introduced House Bill 5687.
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