HB1827

House Bill 1827 amends the Arkansas Hunting Heritage Protection Act to modify how the Arkansas State Game and Fish Commission manages land access for recreational hunting. The bill updates definitions for commission-managed lands and revises the commission's obligation to prevent a net loss of hunting land acreage, shifting the baseline date for calculations from August 12, 2005, to January 1, 2025. It mandates that the commission must expeditiously identify replacement acreage if hunting lands are closed, prioritizing locations near the original site and consistent with previous hunting disciplines. Additionally, the bill alters the reporting requirements, directing the commission to submit an annual report to specific legislative committees regarding land closures and replacement efforts. The bill clarifies that private landowners retain the right to make legal decisions regarding access to their property even if it is considered commission-managed land.