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Delegates advance bill to raise fishing-license fees after debate over $3 million estimate and administrative costs
Summary
The House advanced a bill to raise fishing-license fees after delegates debated a projected $3 million aggregate fee increase and a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administrative cost jump cited in the fiscal note.
Maryland’s House of Representatives advanced legislation on Feb. 10 that would raise fishing-license fees after members debated the size of the increase and a sharp rise in agency administrative costs.
Supporters said the fee increases are intended to restore funding for fisheries and hatchery management that has eroded because fees have not been raised in years; opponents pressed officials to explain how DNR administrative costs reportedly rose from about $251,000 in 2024 to roughly $1.8 million in 2026 projections. The House adopted the committee’s favorable report and ordered the bill printed for third reading.
The bill would raise a range of fees that, according to the fiscal note and floor discussion, amount in aggregate to an estimated $3,000,000 in additional fee revenue. During floor questions, one delegate said the fees “haven't been increased since 02/2007 and in 1992, respectively,” and that the proposed changes would bring Maryland’s fees more in line with surrounding states.
Several delegates pressed the committee and floor leader for more detail about the administrative cost increase. A member asked, “How is it that the administrative costs more than quadrupled in two years?” and requested the underlying analysis. The floor leader responded that the fee adjustments came from a work group and were meant to address the depletion of fee-funded accounts that previously covered program costs, and offered to request the department’s analysis.
Supporters noted stakeholder backing: the floor discussion cited endorsements or buy-in from groups including Mid-Atlantic Trout Unlimited, the Coldwater Fisheries Advisory Committee, Maryland Bass Nation and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. Opponents emphasized the impact on ordinary residents, including seniors, and sought clarity on who would pay and what services the increases would fund.
House leaders said the fee revenue would be used to support fisheries and boating services administration, licensing and registration, legal counsel, information technology and other program operations. The floor vote on the committee report was recorded as “the ayes have it,” and the bill advanced to be printed for third reading.
The bill will return for further floor consideration and any amendments at a later date.
