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House advances licensing and registration for fishing outfitters and guides; advisory board, resident priorities added
Summary
HB5 would require registration and tracking of fishing guide boats and establish an advisory board to set local rules; the standing committee amendment prioritized resident outfitters and allowed county exceptions for launches from private land.
The House Committee of the Whole recommended passage of House Bill 5 on Jan. 30, 2025. The bill would require registration of boats used by registered fishing outfitters and guides and create an advisory board to advise Game and Fish on regional registration, enforcement and standards.
Sponsor Representative Byron said the measure responds to crowding and safety issues on heavily used fisheries and that regulators lack a reliable count of commercial guide boats. “Page 2, line 8 allows for the beginning of tracking of these boats,” Byron told the chamber, and the standing committee amendment added language prioritizing Wyoming residents for registration slots and allowing exemptions when outfitters launch from privately owned or leased land.
Outfitters, county officials and Game and Fish representatives testified during interim work and in committee, and the revised language was designed to reflect local variation across watersheds. Supporters said a measured regulatory approach that uses a local advisory board and public input would be tailored to differing pressure points across the state; some outfitters who had earlier opposed state rules told committee members the amendment addressed their concerns.
Committee action: HB5 was reported do pass amended by the Committee of the Whole. The bill will proceed to second reading; Game and Fish and the advisory board will have rulemaking and implementation tasks if the law passes.
