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Committee renews air-gun and air-bow allowance, extends sunset and broadens catfish language
Summary
The Game, Fish & Parks committee approved an extension of a temporary authorization for air guns and air bows, moving the sunset from July 1, 2025, to a later date and replacing species-specific catfish references with a broader 'any catfish' description.
House Bill 491, presented to the Game, Fish & Parks committee, would extend the temporary authorization governing air guns and air bows, remove the July 1, 2025 sunset and make technical changes to species language. The committee voted to advance the measure.
Sponsor testimony said the change primarily extends the policy for an additional five years (proposal moved the sunset to 2030) and modifies Section 2 to replace references to channel catfish and flathead catfish with a broader "any catfish" phrase. The sponsor described the bill as largely unchanged from previous legislation except for the updated sunset and small wording edits.
Committee members asked clarifying questions about the devices; the sponsor and supporters confirmed the intent is to retain the existing authorization and expand the covered catfish language while leaving other fishery rules unchanged. After a motion and second, the committee approved the bill by voice vote.
