Black bear harvest permits; require issuance of 20 for the 2026-2027 hunting season with 10% annual increase thereafter.

SB 2435, which died in committee on February 3, 2026, proposed a new permit system for black bear hunting in Mississippi. It would have required hunters to obtain a separate "black bear harvest permit" (in addition to a regular hunting license) starting with the 2026-2027 season, initially limiting permits to 20 total. The bill mandated a 10% annual increase in the number of permits issued each subsequent season, with a maximum fee of $200 per permit. This would have directly affected both residents and nonresidents seeking to hunt black bears in Mississippi.