February 10, 2023 - Introduced by Representatives Mursau, Edming, Andraca, Behnke, Donovan, Kitchens, Knodl, Magnafici, Maxey, Ohnstad, Rozar, Sinicki, Spiros, Subeck, Tusler and Jacobson, cosponsored by Senators James, Cowles, Felzkowski, Marklein and Taylor. Referred to Committee on Sporting Heritage.
AB35,,22An Act to amend 29.197 (3) of the statutes; relating to: modifying the designation of a free fishing weekend in January. AB35,,33Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to designate the full weekend prior to the third Monday in January as a weekend on which DNR waives license and fee requirements to fish.
Under current law, DNR issues approvals that authorize the hunting, fishing, or trapping of specified wild animals. With limited exceptions, no person may fish in the waters of the state without the applicable approvals issued by DNR. However, DNR is required to designate two weekends per year during which DNR waives the fishing approval requirement. Current law requires that one of these weekends be the third full weekend in January.
The bill modifies this requirement to instead require DNR to waive the fishing approval requirements during the full weekend prior to the third Monday in January, which is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
AB35,,44The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows: AB35,15Section 1. 29.197 (3) of the statutes is amended to read: AB35,,6629.197 (3) Weekend events. In addition to any special event or program sponsored under sub. (2), the department shall, by rule, designate 2 special event weekends per year during which it shall waive the requirement that persons be issued fishing licenses and pay the applicable fees in order to fish in the waters of this state. The department shall designate the 3rd full weekend prior to the 3rd Monday in January as one of the special event weekends. The department shall, by rule, designate to which inland or outlying waters these waivers shall apply.
