Committee reviews H.230 changes to fish and wildlife law; holds bill overnight

The Ways & Means Committee reviewed H.230 on changes to Vermont fish and wildlife law on matters ranging from fishing-tournament fees to the regulation of reptiles and amphibians and a repeal of a farmer damage-reimbursement program; the committee agreed to hold the bill overnight and plan a vote at 9 a.m. the following day.

The bill, as described by Michael O'Grady, legislative counsel, “makes multiple, I would call them, miscellaneous amendments to fish and wildlife law,” with some sections carrying fiscal implications and others intended to clarify enforcement and regulatory authority.

Committee members and Joint Fiscal Office staff focused on several provisions with practical effects. The bill would replace the current $50 flat fee for any fishing tournament with a tiered permit scale ranging from $10 to $100 and would require multi-day tournaments under one permit to occur on consecutive days; the Joint Fiscal Office said annual permit-fee revenue is about $6,000 and does not expect a significant net change. The bill raises maximum fines for big-game violations (first-offense maximums from $400–$1,000 to $500–$2,000 and higher maximums for subsequent offenses) and would, under specified conditions, reclassify many fish-and-wildlife offenses as minor violations handled through the judicial bureau rather than the criminal division of superior court.

The bill also directs the Department of Fish and Wildlife to adopt rules to regulate the taking, possession, sale and commercial collection of reptiles and amphibians; a prohibition on intentionally taking reptiles or amphibians would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, unless the commissioner adopts rules authorizing taking of common species sooner. H.230 specifically would ban the import, possession and sale of the nonnative pond slider until the commissioner adopts implementing rules. Speakers raised practical concerns about species such as snapping turtles — including longevity and contaminants in their meat — and about how the department will identify which species are “common” and eligible for authorized taking.

Section 12 would repeal a Department program under which farmers may apply for up to $5,000 per year in reimbursement for crop damage caused by deer or bear. The Joint Fiscal Office said the Department reimbursed four farmers for about $207,000 total from fiscal years 2022–24; removing the program would prevent future state expenditures for those claims but the office said any savings are uncertain and depend on future claims.

Joint Fiscal Office staff told the committee the overall fiscal effects of the bill are expected to be de minimis relative to the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s budget. JFO noted that fine revenue flows first to the Fish and Wildlife Fund and that any reclassification of offenses would change venue but likely not the aggregate revenue to the state.

No formal votes were taken. The committee chair said, “That’s what I’d like to do is hold this overnight and plan to vote tomorrow at 9.” With that direction, the committee ended discussion and scheduled the vote for the next meeting.

If approved, some changes would take effect July 1, 2025, and the reptile-and-amphibian prohibition would take effect Jan. 1, 2027; the bill also directs the commissioner and department to adopt rules where noted.