Committee exempts small whitewater boats from new waterway access fee; House Bill 2982 sent to Ways and Means

On March 19 the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water Committee adopted the -5 amendment to House Bill 2982 and moved the measure, as amended, to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation and referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Committee staff summarized HB 2982 as increasing fees for issuance and renewal of aquatic invasive species permits, for registration certificates and for waterway access permits, and establishing that the waterway access fee applies to non-motorized boats and sailboats regardless of size. The -5 amendment exempts non-motorized boats under 10 feet in length used for whitewater recreation on designated waters from the access-permit requirement.

Priscilla Macy Cruiser of American Whitewater told the committee the group supported the bill as amended, saying the narrow exception for whitewater boats "honors some of the original discussions we had with the Marine Board" and that American Whitewater can assist with mapping aquatic invasive species in otherwise inaccessible reaches. Representative Sarah Finger McDonald moved the -5 amendment and the amendment passed; she then moved the bill as amended to the floor with a do-pass recommendation that it be referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Committee members offered supportive remarks and the chair announced the bill passes in committee.

Practical effect: if enacted the fee changes would broaden the base of vessels subject to a waterway access fee but would exempt very small non-motorized whitewater boats on designated waters. Committee staff said the measure has minimal fiscal and no revenue impact; a subreferral to Joint Ways and Means was added.

The transcript records the adopted amendment and committee referral but does not include a roll-call vote tally in the public record excerpt.