Wildlife board briefed on 2026 bills changing WMA access, guide rules and energy consultations

Deputy Director Justin Shannon told the Wildlife Board on the legislative update that several bills passed in the 2026 session will require the Division of Wildlife to change policies and rules.

Shannon summarized the most consequential measures for the board: HB30 (WMA amendments) repealed the requirement to hold a hunting or fishing license to enter Wildlife Management Areas in first‑ and second‑class counties and instead requires anyone 18 or older to obtain a free access permit after viewing an educational video via QR code; the access‑permit requirement will expand to all counties over the next two years. He said the change aims to educate visitors about WMA funding and purpose while preserving wildlife habitat protections.

Other bills Shannon flagged include HB11, which caps late‑harvest reporting fees at $25, expands acceptable medical professionals (adding nurse practitioners) for disability verifications, directs coordination with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about grizzly bears entering Utah, and clarifies some WMA discharge‑of‑firearm distances (changing a 600‑foot reference to 300 feet in some cases). HB412 creates a 30‑day consultation requirement when large wind or solar projects could affect wildlife and grants the division limited rulemaking authority implementing that consultation; HB431 sets aside $2 million for wildlife crossing infrastructure in the Department of Transportation budget, and HB376 creates a Utah Forest Restoration Initiative at Utah State University to fund high‑elevation watershed and summer‑range projects.

Shannon said the Division will now prepare technical rule updates (R657 series) and work with law enforcement and legislative liaisons to implement statutory changes. Assistant Attorney General Steve Kaiser told the board the required rule changes are technical in nature and largely mirror statute language, including updates to WMA references, proof‑of‑disability documentation, aquatic invasive species definitions, and removal of the term “spotters” from the outfitting rule.

Why it matters: the bills reallocate how the public accesses WMAs, adjust enforcement and administrative procedures that affect hunters and private land programs, and formalize the division’s role in energy project reviews — changes that will alter how staff manage access, signage, outreach and cross‑agency consultation.

What’s next: staff said they will bring the technical rule amendments (R657‑###) to the board and the Regional Advisory Councils for implementation and will provide details on how access permits will be presented and enforced.