Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wildlife Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Nature Conservancy supports S67 to reimburse MassWildlife for lost license revenue tied to free licenses
Summary
The Nature Conservancy testified in support of S67, which would codify reimbursement to Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife for lost revenue from free and discounted hunting and fishing licenses and help secure federal Pittman‑Robertson/Dingell‑Johnson funding formulas.
A representative of The Nature Conservancy urged the Joint Committee on Agriculture to support S67, a bill to reimburse the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) for lost revenue associated with free or discounted hunting and fishing licenses.
Zachary Sheldon told the committee MassWildlife is primarily funded through license sales and derived federal funds tied to those sales: "In FY '23, Mass Wildlife lost more than $1,400,000 in licensing revenue which is over 20% of what their revenue would have been," he said. Sheldon explained the bill would codify reimbursements that have been provided in the budget and ensure Massachusetts receives the correct federal apportionments under the Pittman‑Robertson and Dingell‑Johnson formulas.
The committee accepted testimony and noted the bill standardizes a practice the legislature has previously addressed through appropriations; no committee vote occurred at the hearing.
