1. (a)

   1. (1) The Department may issue annually a complimentary angler's license to the President of the United States, the governor of any state, and any official of the game and fish department of any other state.

   2. (2) The Department may issue a lifetime complimentary angler's license to any Maryland resident who certifies that the resident is:

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

   3. (3) The Department may issue a lifetime complimentary angler's license to an out-of-state person:

      1. (i) Who certifies that the person 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; and
      2. (ii) 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.
2. (b) Not more than 20 complimentary angler's licenses for each state other than Maryland shall be outstanding at any time.
3. (c) A complimentary angler's license is not transferable and shall be issued without a fee.
4. (d) 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 2007, c. 71, § 1, eff. June 1, 2007; Acts 2010, c. 693, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2010; 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 2022, c. 90, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022; Acts 2022, c. 91, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022; 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, § 221.