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Georgia Updates Natural Resources Regulations, Establishes Shellfish Crew License Fees, and Expands Disabled Veteran Fishing Access
Original title: Environmental Protection Division; Environmental Advisory Council; update reference date to standards, rules, and regulations
Last action · May 13, 2025: House Date Signed by GovernorSponsors: Trey Rhodes and 5 others
Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law
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Public stanceCommunity reactions are separate from the official record and reporting.
What This Bill Does
Georgia House Bill 287 updates the reference date for criminal violations of environmental and wildlife rules to January 1, 2025, creates annual resident shellfish crew license fees, and expands hunting and fishing access rules for disabled veterans and youth.
Why it matters
Commercial harvesters face new annual fees of $200 for small shellfish crews and $400 for unlimited crews, while paralyzed or disabled veterans participating in approved charitable events gain access to courtesy licenses.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Directly affected
Commercial shellfish harvesters
Commercial harvesters are subject to new annual fee tiers for resident shellfish crews and must surrender permits upon termination of certification.
Directly affected
Paralyzed or disabled veterans and individuals
Eligible individuals participating in approved charitable events are authorized to receive courtesy resident or nonresident hunting and fishing licenses without a fee.
Directly affected
Youth and mobility-impaired hunters
Hunters aged 16 or younger and mobility-impaired individuals are included in the extended open season for turkey hunting.
Key Facts
- Updates the reference date for establishing criminal violations of Board of Natural Resources standards, rules, and regulations from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025.
- Authorizes the department to issue free courtesy resident or nonresident fishing and hunting licenses to paralyzed or disabled individuals participating in approved charitable events.
- Limits courtesy fishing licenses for persons disabled because of mental impairment to fishing only.
- Expands eligibility for the special turkey hunting extended season to youth age 16 or younger and mobility-impaired persons.
Show all 8 facts
- Defines a mobility-impaired person as someone verified by a licensed doctor to have wheelchair dependence, hemiplegia, monoplegia, paraplegia, or single-leg amputation above the knee.
- Sets annual fees for resident shellfish crews at $200 for up to ten harvesters and $400 for unlimited harvesters.
- Requires master harvesters to immediately notify the department and surrender permits if a harvester is removed from authorization.
- Updates the criminal violation reference date for watercraft registration, operation, and sale regulations under Code Section 52-7-26 to January 1, 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new fees for commercial resident shellfish crews?
The annual fee is $200 for resident shellfish crews with up to ten harvesters and $400 for resident shellfish crews with unlimited harvesters.
Who qualifies for the special youth and mobility-impaired turkey hunting season?
Youth 16 years of age or younger and mobility-impaired persons verified by a licensed doctor to have specific permanent physical conditions qualify for the extended season.
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
15 actions- Jul 1, 2025Georgia General AssemblyEffective Date
- May 13, 2025HouseEnrolledHouse Date Signed by Governor
- May 13, 2025GovernorEnrolledAct 178
- Apr 7, 2025HouseHouse Sent to Governor
- Mar 11, 2025SenateSenate Third Read
- Mar 11, 2025SenateFloorSenate Passed/Adopted
Show 9 earlier actions
- Mar 3, 2025SenateSenate Read Second Time
- Feb 28, 2025SenateCommitteeSenate Committee Favorably Reported
- Feb 26, 2025SenateIntroducedSenate Read and Referred
- Feb 24, 2025HouseHouse Third Readers
- Feb 24, 2025HouseFloorHouse Passed/Adopted
- Feb 19, 2025HouseCommitteeHouse Committee Favorably Reported
- Feb 10, 2025HouseHouse Second Readers
- Feb 6, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse First Readers
- Feb 5, 2025HouseIntroducedHouse Hopper
Version history & redline
2 versions on fileComparing LC 44 2970/a → HB 287/AP*
removed addedOfficial text
25 LC 44 removed: 2970
added: 2970/AP
House Bill 287
added: (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
By: Representatives Rhodes of the 124th , Corbett of the 174th , LaHood of the 175 th ,
McDonald III of the 26 th
[…]
Redline computed from the official version text (record lane).View this version →
Voting Record
Outcome not reportedOfficial roll call ↗
PASSAGE
Total
51
- Yes
- 46
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 0
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 5
How they voted (51)
Greg DolezalParty not recordedyes
Sam WatsonParty not recordedyes
Freddie Powell SimsParty not recordedyes
Ed SetzlerParty not recordedyes
Sonya HalpernParty not recordedyes
Randy RobertsonParty not recordedyes
Ed HarbisonParty not recordedyes
Tonya AndersonParty not recordedyes
Shawn StillParty not recordedyes
Nan OrrockParty not recordedexcused
Bo HatchettParty not recordedyes
David LucasParty not recordedexcused
Sheikh RahmanParty not recordedexcused
Steve GoochParty not recordedyes
Max BurnsParty not recordedyes
Sally HarrellParty not recordedyes
Mike HodgesParty not recordedyes
Kay KirkpatrickParty not recordedyes
Nikki MerrittParty not recordedyes
Elena ParentParty not recordedyes
Marty HarbinParty not recordedexcused
Blake TilleryParty not recordedyes
Lee AndersonParty not recordedyes
Matt BrassParty not recordedyes
27 more members
Russ GoodmanParty not recordedyes
Kim JacksonParty not recordedyes
Kenya WicksParty not recordedyes
Brian StricklandParty not recordedyes
Rick WilliamsParty not recordedyes
RaShaun KempParty not recordedyes
Gail DavenportParty not recordedyes
Clint DixonParty not recordedyes
Harold JonesParty not recordedyes
Billy HickmanParty not recordedyes
John AlbersParty not recordedyes
Carden SummersParty not recordedyes
Emanuel JonesParty not recordedyes
Chuck HufstetlerParty not recordedyes
Derek MallowParty not recordedyes
Donzella JamesParty not recordedyes
Josh McLaurinParty not recordedyes
Doc RhettParty not recordedyes
Drew EcholsParty not recordedyes
Tim BeardenParty not recordedexcused
Ben WatsonParty not recordedyes
Bill CowsertParty not recordedyes
Larry WalkerParty not recordedyes
Randal ManghamParty not recordedyes
Chuck PayneParty not recordedyes
Jason AnavitarteParty not recordedyes
Frank GinnParty not recordedyes
Show 1 earlier roll call
Outcome not reportedOfficial roll call ↗
PASSAGE
Total
174
- Yes
- 166
- No
- 0
- Present
- 0
- Not voting
- 4
- Abstain
- 0
- Other positions
- 4
How they voted (174)
Gabriel SanchezParty not recordedyes
Sylvia Wayfer BakerParty not recordedyes
Michael SmithParty not recordedyes
David WilkersonParty not recordedyes
Jasmine ClarkParty not recordedyes
Mekyah McQueenParty not recordedyes
Regina Lewis-WardParty not recordedyes
El-Mahdi HollyParty not recordedyes
Debra BazemoreParty not recordedyes
Karen MathiakParty not recordedexcused
Imani BarnesParty not recordedyes
Karen LuptonParty not recordedyes
Kimberly NewParty not recordedyes
Yasmin NealParty not recordedyes
Lehman FranklinParty not recordedyes
David JenkinsParty not recordedyes
Stan GunterParty not recordedyes
John CorbettParty not recordedyes
Mitchell ScogginsParty not recordedyes
Dar'shun KendrickParty not recordedyes
Katie DempseyParty not recordedyes
James BurchettParty not recordedyes
Long TranParty not recordedyes
Vance SmithParty not recordedyes
150 more members
Darlene TaylorParty not recordedyes
Stacey EvansParty not recordedyes
Saira DraperParty not recordedyes
Karlton HowardParty not recordedyes
Mary Frances WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Robert DickeyParty not recordedyes
Gerald GreeneParty not recordedyes
Anne WestbrookParty not recordedyes
Jan JonesParty not recordedyes
Soo HongParty not recordedyes
John LaHoodParty not recordedyes
Floyd GriffinParty not recordednot voting
Edna JacksonParty not recordedyes
Derrick JacksonParty not recordedyes
Shaw BlackmonParty not recordedyes
Eddie LumsdenParty not recordedyes
Arlene BecklesParty not recordedyes
Johnny ChastainParty not recordedyes
Bryce BerryParty not recordedyes
Rob LeverettParty not recordedyes
Mark NewtonParty not recordedyes
Shea RobertsParty not recordedyes
David HuddlestonParty not recordedyes
Gabe OkoyeParty not recordedyes
Bill HitchensParty not recordedyes
Al WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Spencer FryeParty not recordedyes
Michelle AuParty not recordedyes
Matthew GambillParty not recordedyes
Don ParsonsParty not recordedyes
Miriam ParisParty not recordedyes
Beth CampParty not recordedyes
Martin MomtahanParty not recordedyes
Todd JonesParty not recordedyes
Sandy DonatucciParty not recordedyes
Angela MooreParty not recordedyes
Sam ParkParty not recordedexcused
Mary Margaret OliverParty not recordedyes
Trey KelleyParty not recordedyes
Leesa HaganParty not recordedyes
Rhonda TaylorParty not recordedyes
Lynn SmithParty not recordedyes
Tim FlemingParty not recordedyes
Trey RhodesParty not recordedyes
Lee HawkinsParty not recordedyes
Danny MathisParty not recordedyes
Brent CoxParty not recordedyes
Teddy ReeseParty not recordedyes
Ruwa RommanParty not recordedyes
Jordan RidleyParty not recordedyes
Demetrius DouglasParty not recordedyes
Solomon AdesanyaParty not recordedyes
Doreen CarterParty not recordedyes
Park CannonParty not recordedyes
Matt HatchettParty not recordedyes
L.C. MylesParty not recordedyes
Carmen RiceParty not recordedyes
Scott HolcombParty not recordedyes
David ClarkParty not recordedyes
Lisa CampbellParty not recordedyes
Carl GilliardParty not recordedyes
Marvin LimParty not recordedyes
Tanya MillerParty not recordedyes
Billy MitchellParty not recordedyes
Chris ErwinParty not recordedyes
Chuck MartinParty not recordedyes
Gary RichardsonParty not recordedyes
Terry CummingsParty not recordedyes
Steven MeeksParty not recordedyes
Will WadeParty not recordedyes
Ginny EhrhartParty not recordedyes
Jason RidleyParty not recordedyes
Viola DavisParty not recordedyes
Charlice ByrdParty not recordedyes
Omari CrawfordParty not recordedyes
Holt PersingerParty not recordedyes
Mike CheokasParty not recordedyes
Bruce WilliamsonParty not recordedyes
Steve TarvinParty not recordedyes
Noel WilliamsParty not recordedyes
Kim SchofieldParty not recordedyes
Ron StephensParty not recordedyes
Devan SeabaughParty not recordedyes
Houston GainesParty not recordedyes
Robert FlournoyParty not recordedyes
Tangie HerringParty not recordedyes
Tyler SmithParty not recordedyes
John CarsonParty not recordedyes
Brian PrinceParty not recordedyes
Clint CroweParty not recordedyes
Rey MartinezParty not recordedyes
Rick JasperseParty not recordednot voting
David SampsonParty not recordedyes
Segun AdeyinaParty not recordedyes
Mary Ann SantosParty not recordedyes
Rhonda BurnoughParty not recordedyes
Buddy DeLoachParty not recordedyes
Sandra ScottParty not recordedyes
Mitchell HornerParty not recordedyes
Sharon HendersonParty not recordedexcused
Derrick McCollumParty not recordedyes
Kimberly AlexanderParty not recordedyes
Jon BurnsParty not recordednot voting
Esther PanitchParty not recordedyes
Matt BartonParty not recordedyes
Brad ThomasParty not recordedyes
Jesse PetreaParty not recordedyes
Sheila JonesParty not recordedyes
Lydia GlaizeParty not recordedyes
Scott HiltonParty not recordedyes
Jutt HowardParty not recordedyes
Angie O'SteenParty not recordedyes
Bill WerkheiserParty not recordedyes
Emory DunahooParty not recordedyes
Dewey McClainParty not recordedyes
Mack JacksonParty not recordedyes
Jaclyn FordParty not recordedyes
Joe CampbellParty not recordedyes
Carolyn HugleyParty not recordedyes
Kasey CarpenterParty not recordedyes
Lauren McDonaldParty not recordedyes
Noelle KahaianParty not recordedyes
Alan PowellParty not recordedyes
Eric BellParty not recordedyes
Robert DawsonParty not recordedyes
Carter BarrettParty not recordedyes
Steven SainzParty not recordedyes
Bethany BallardParty not recordedyes
Debbie BucknerParty not recordedyes
Karla DrennerParty not recordedyes
Phil OlaleyeParty not recordedyes
Chuck EfstrationParty not recordedyes
Bill YeartaParty not recordedyes
Rick TownsendParty not recordedyes
Inga WillisParty not recordedyes
Matt DubnikParty not recordedyes
Deborah SilcoxParty not recordedyes
Sharon CooperParty not recordedyes
Patty Marie StinsonParty not recordedexcused
Rob CliftonParty not recordednot voting
Matt ReevesParty not recordedyes
Nissa JonesParty not recordedyes
Victor AndersonParty not recordedyes
Dale WashburnParty not recordedyes
Betsy HollandParty not recordedyes
Butch ParrishParty not recordedyes
Chas CannonParty not recordedyes
Mike CameronParty not recordedyes
Joseph GullettParty not recordedyes
Josh BonnerParty not recordedyes
Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 1 more sponsor
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
policy shift99% confidence
Regulatory Reference Date Roll Forward
The bill systematically rolls forward the enforcement baseline date for criminal environmental, game and fish, and watercraft regulations from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025.
Connected Entities
OrganizationState Board of Examiners in Osteopathy“Licensing body for doctors verifying mobility-impaired conditions.”Map →
OrganizationEnvironmental Protection Division“Mentioned in relation to environmental advisory council and permit applications.”Map →
OrganizationBoard of Natural Resources“Promulgates standards, rules, and regulations for natural resources and game and”Map →
OrganizationEnvironmental Advisory Council“Council duties and permit applications under Code Section 12-2-2.”Map →
OrganizationGeorgia Composite Medical Board“Licensing body for doctors verifying mobility-impaired conditions.”Map →
Sources
Open source document
www.legis.ga.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance50How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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