On Friday, May 29, the 2026 Vermont legislative session officially adjourned, sine die. By passing Joint Resolution J.R.S. 56, lawmakers voted to conclude the session without setting a specific date to reconvene, officially bringing the 88th biennial legislative session to a close.
Throughout the session, the Sportsmen’s Alliance monitored numerous pieces of legislation impacting hunting, fishing, and trapping. Here is an overview of the key resolutions adopted by lawmakers, along with the fish and wildlife bill sent to the Governor for final consideration:
Support for Anglers: HCR 298
The legislature formally recognized the backbone of our state’s aquatic health by introducing HCR 298, a concurrent resolution celebrating the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife’s fish culture program.
- The Impact: This resolution emphasizes how crucial our state fish hatcheries are to maintaining aquatic-resource sustainability and securing abundant recreational fishing opportunities across Vermont.
- The Big Picture: It formally acknowledges that fishing stimulates local economies, creates jobs, and fosters clean water investment, proving that our sporting traditions are vital to the state’s future.
Celebrating Conservation: HCR 184
In a major nod to the power of science-based wildlife management, the General Assembly adopted HCR 184, which celebrates the successful restoration of the wild turkey population in Vermont.
- The Impact: Decades ago, wild turkeys had completely vanished from Vermont. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of biologists and sportsmen, they are now a thriving, staple game species.
- The Big Picture: This resolution honors that historic conservation milestone and serves as a public reminder that regulated hunting and proactive management are the true drivers of wildlife recovery.
Technical Policy Updates: H. 928
On the statutory front, the legislature passed H.928, an act relating to technical corrections to fish and wildlife statutes.
- Uniform Point System: The bill refines and clarifies the state’s point-system framework used for fish and wildlife violations.
- License Flexibility: It grants the Commissioner discretionary authority to transition certain annual licenses to a 365-day validity period from the date of purchase, rather than forcing them to expire strictly on December 31.
- Provisional Big Game Tags: It gives the Commissioner the ability to establish provisional big game tags to address emerging management needs, subject to legislative fee approval within one year.
Why We Must Stay Vigilant
While we did not see the passage of catastrophic anti-sportsman legislation this spring, adjournment does not mean the threat is gone. Anti-hunting organizations and radical advocacy groups are already organizing behind the scenes. They continue to push for bans on traditional hunting methods, restrictions on trapping, and structural alterations to the Fish and Wildlife Board to diminish the voice of actual outdoorsmen.
The offseason is when our adversaries draft their bills for next year. We must use this time to strengthen our network, educate our neighbors, and hold our local lawmakers accountable before they head back to Montpelier.
Share this with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen, and urge them to join you and the Sportsmen’s Alliance in protecting and defending hunting, fishing, and trapping in the Green Mountain State.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing, and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square, and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions.
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