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House approves nonresident base hunting fee increase on second reading, then re-refers bill to Appropriations
Summary
House members recommended passage of House Bill 145, increasing the nonresident base hunting license fee and allocating part of proceeds to hunting-access programs; a floor motion later re-referred HB 145 to the Appropriations Committee.
Representative Perry introduced House Bill 145, which would increase the nonresident base hunting license fee and allocate a portion of the additional revenue to the block management and hunting-access programs. Perry said nonresident hunters are increasing and that the existing nonresident base fee of $10 is only $5 more than the resident base fee; he argued the fee increase would better compensate block-management cooperators and cover damage caused by hunters. Perry said he originally proposed a higher fee but reduced it to $50 after committee negotiations.
On second reading the House recorded a unanimous procedural tally of 100 votes in favor and the clerk announced that "House Bill 145 has passed second reading." Later in the session Majority Leader Fitzpatrick moved to re-refer House Bill 145 to the Appropriations Committee; the motion to re-refer was ordered without objection.
Why it matters: HB 145 would raise nonresident hunting license revenue and direct funds to block-management programs that provide access to private lands for hunters. Supporters framed the increase as necessary to compensate landowners and to help cover damages reportedly caused by high nonresident hunter use.
