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House approves voluntary ‘hunters and anglers’ community fund to support rural grants
Summary
House Bill 560, establishing a voluntary check‑off to create a hunters and anglers community fund for small community grants, passed second reading with bipartisan support; sponsors said the fund is optional and intended to foster urban‑rural goodwill.
House Bill 560, introduced by Representative French, would create an opt‑in donation mechanism at license purchase to fund the Hunters and Anglers Community Fund, a state special revenue account to award small grants to local community organizations. The bill authorizes two grant sizes (up to $2,000 and up to $20,000), sets up a grant review board and a statutory appropriation mechanism for the account.
Representative French said the fund is voluntary and intended to give hunting and fishing license buyers a way to thank rural communities that host outdoor recreation. He listed example grant recipients such as Future Farmers of America trips, senior centers and band funds. Supporters described it as a way to strengthen hunter/angler relations with rural communities; Representative Jay Henkel and others urged a green vote. The clerk recorded the committee/floor second reading vote as 79 ayes and 20 noes; House Bill 560 has passed second reading and will proceed in the legislative process.
Discussion emphasized that participation is optional and the program will require education and promotion to reach its potential. Representative French and supporters said Fish, Wildlife and Parks could promote the opt‑in at license sale points and that the fund is not intended to supplant existing habitat or fisheries funding.
