Title 16ConservationRelease 119-73

§718r State obligations and authorities

Title 16 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - PROTECTION OF MIGRATORY GAME AND INSECTIVOROUS BIRDS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV–A— - PERMANENT ELECTRONIC DUCK STAMP › § 718r

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone who buys an electronic stamp from a State must get that electronic stamp the same day they buy it, and the State and the Secretary must agree on how it is delivered. States that sell electronic stamps must send the Secretary, under their written agreement, the buyer’s first and last name, full mailing address, the stamp’s face value, and the Federal part of any fee. The State’s share of fees is not included. A State may charge a reasonable fee to cover its and the Department of the Interior’s costs, may replace lost or damaged electronic stamps, and must not require a State hunting license to sell an electronic stamp. After March 10 each year, the Secretary must mail an actual stamp to everyone who bought an electronic stamp for the prior waterfowl season.

Full Legal Text

Title 16, §718r

Conservation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall require that each individual to whom a State sells an electronic stamp under this subchapter shall receive the electronic stamp—
(1)on the date of purchase of the electronic stamp; and
(2)in a manner agreed upon by the State and Secretary.
(b)(1)The Secretary shall require each State authorized to issue electronic stamps to collect and submit to the Secretary in accordance with this section—
(A)the first name, last name, and complete mailing address of each individual that purchases an electronic stamp from the State;
(B)the face value amount of each electronic stamp sold by the State; and
(C)the amount of the Federal portion of any fee required by the agreement for each stamp sold.
(2)The Secretary shall require the submission under paragraph (1) to be made with respect to sales of electronic stamps by a State according to the written agreement between the Secretary and the State agency.
(3)This section shall not apply to the State portion of any fee collected by a State under subsection (c).
(c)A State authorized to issue electronic stamps may charge a reasonable fee to cover costs incurred by the State and the Department of the Interior in issuing electronic stamps under this subchapter, including costs of delivery of actual stamps under subsection (e).
(d)A State authorized to issue electronic stamps may issue a duplicate electronic stamp to replace an electronic stamp issued by the State that is lost or damaged.
(e)The Secretary shall issue an actual stamp after March 10 of each year to each individual that purchased an electronic stamp for the preceding waterfowl season.
(f)A State may not require that an individual purchase a State hunting license as a condition of issuing an electronic stamp under this subchapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2023—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–25, § 2(a)(1)(A), (B), substituted “electronic stamp” for “actual stamp” in heading and “the electronic stamp” for “an actual stamp” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–25, § 2(a)(1)(C), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: “by not later than the date on which the electronic stamp expires under section 718s(c) of this title; and”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–25, § 2(a)(2), substituted “actual stamps under subsection (e)” for “actual stamps”. Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 118–25, § 2(a)(3), added subsec. (e) and redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

16 U.S.C. § 718r

Title 16Conservation

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73