Committee advances bill to expand Parks Passport and add $4 for nonmotorized trail maintenance

The Resources and Conservation Committee advanced House Bill 57 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation after more than an hour of testimony and questions about funding for parks and nonmotorized trails.

House Bill 57 would expand the existing Parks Passport into a Parks and Trails Passport and raise the annual resident passport fee from $10 to $20. Under the bill, $16 of each $20 passport would go to park maintenance and operations and $4 would be earmarked for a newly created nonmotorized trail fund administered by the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.

Representative James Petzke, who sponsored the bill, told the committee the state statute requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to maintain parks and that the passport increase is intended to provide an ongoing revenue stream to meet that duty. "This legislation will allow them to fully execute on that code," Petzke said, noting the Parks Department is "required in statute to maintain our parks." He said the bill also "establishes the first state funding mechanism for non motorized trail maintenance." (Representative James Petzke, District 21, Meridian)

Troy Elmore, operations administrator for the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation, answered committee questions about existing motorized fees and how the new fund would be administered. Elmore said the OHV (off-highway vehicle) registration sticker is $12 annually and snowmobile registration is $32.50 annually. He told the committee the department already does maintenance on federal lands through agreements with the Forest Service and BLM and that Parks can administer the nonmotorized program on any landowner's trails offered to the public.

Committee members pressed Petzke and department staff on several points: whether nonmotorized users would have input on prioritization of projects (Parks would set priorities annually but consult users), whether motorized users would need the parks passport (they would not unless entering state parks), and how much of the passport revenue could be issued as grants. Petzke and staff said Parks would decide yearly where dollars are deployed and that the proposal is voluntary for users.

A wide range of stakeholders testified in support of the bill. Tim Martin, chair of the Idaho Trails Association, described volunteer work and the limits of unpaid labor: "Without additional funding to support the non motorized trail maintenance, trails that are currently open will become increasingly crowded," Martin said. Dan Waugh, representing the Idaho Horse Council and identifying himself as the initiative's organizer, said equestrian turnout and industry value support a voluntary funding option and reported survey results showing broad willingness among trail users to pay a $20 passport that funds trails. Representatives of the Idaho Wildlife Federation, Idaho Business for the Outdoors, Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, Idaho Sportsman Access and Opportunity, and the Idaho Recreation Council also testified in favor, saying maintained trails support access and local economies. Matt Bishop, owner of a small Boise business, described local spending by trail users and said maintained nonmotorized trails benefit small businesses.

Representative Tanner and others warned that the $16 allocated to parks will not eliminate a reported maintenance backlog and argued the committee should be careful dividing limited revenue. Petzke acknowledged the bill would not solve every maintenance need but called it a "step in the right direction," comparing Idaho's proposed fee to higher fees in neighboring states.

Votes at a glance: The committee adopted a motion to send House Bill 57 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. Representative Raymond moved the motion; the committee chair and others voted aye, a nay was voiced, and the chair announced "the ayes have it" and that the bill will be sent to the floor. The transcript does not record a full roll-call tally.

The bill remains voluntary for users, the Parks Department will administer the new nonmotorized trail fund, and the department expects to use agreements (for example with the Forest Service or BLM) where trails are on federal lands. Committee members requested additional detail about grant criteria and how Parks will prioritize projects; staff said they will provide more information as the bill moves forward.

Representative Petzke closed by asking the committee to advance the bill to provide a sustainable, user-funded revenue stream for parks and the newly funded nonmotorized trail program.