1. (a)

   1. (1) The Department annually may issue a complimentary hunting license to the President of the United States, the governor of any state, or an official or an enforcement officer of the game and fish management agency of another state which reciprocally offers complimentary hunting licenses.

   2. (2)

      1. (i) Subject to the requirements of § 10-301.1 of this subtitle, the Department may issue a lifetime complimentary hunting license to a Maryland resident who certifies that the resident is:

         1. 1. A former prisoner of war;
         2. 2. An American veteran who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines is unemployable; or
         3. 3. A 100% service connected disabled American veteran.

      2. (ii) Subject to the requirements of § 10-301.1 of this subtitle, the Department may issue a lifetime complimentary hunting license to an out-of-state person:

         1. 1. Who certifies that the person is:

            1. A. A former prisoner of war;
            2. B. An American veteran who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines is unemployable; or
            3. C. A 100% service connected disabled American veteran; and
         2. 2. Whose state of residence extends similar privileges to former prisoners of war, American veterans who the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines are unemployable, or 100% service connected disabled American veterans of this State.
   3. (3) A complimentary license is not transferable.
2. (b) For the purposes of this section, “former prisoner of war” means a person who, while an active service member, was forcibly detained or interned in the line of duty by an enemy government or its agents, or a hostile force, during a period of armed conflict.

Added by Acts 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., c. 4, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1983, c. 518; Acts 1987, c. 454; Acts 1990, c. 6, § 2; Acts 1999, c. 598, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999; Acts 2006, c. 308, § 1, eff. June 1, 2006; Acts 2015, c. 295, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2015; Acts 2016, c. 85, § 1, eff. July 1, 2016; Acts 2017, c. 461, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 462, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Acts 2017, c. 463, § 1, eff. July 1, 2017; Acts 2024, c. 489, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024; Acts 2024, c. 490, § 1, eff. July 1, 2024; Acts 2025, c. 265, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025; Acts 2025, c. 266, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2025.

Formerly Art. 66C, § 126.