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Subcommittee debates expansion of free fishing days and reimbursement for license revenue; bill tabled
Summary
House Bill 2629 would add free fishing days and require the General Assembly to reimburse lost license revenue for future fee exemptions; the subcommittee discussed funding, agency impacts and then voted 6–4 to lay the bill on the table.
House Bill 2629, patroned by Delegate Fowler, proposes to expand the number of free fishing days administered by the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) and to require the General Assembly to reimburse the agencies for lost license revenue resulting from any new statutory exemptions enacted on or after July 1, 2025. After an extended committee discussion about agency funding and revenue, the subcommittee voted 6–4 to lay the bill on the table.
Delegate Fowler said the primary purpose of the free fishing days is to encourage new anglers, particularly children, to try fishing and ‘‘develop a lifelong love of fishing.’’ The bill would increase the existing allowance from three to six free fishing days for each agency. The bill also incorporates language, carried over from HB 2523, requiring the Department of Accounts to pay into a fund the amount equal to lost revenue for DWR and VMRC based on agency accounting of lost fees resulting from future legislative exemptions.
The committee extensively questioned the fiscal effects. Ryan Brown, DWR director, said the agency is funded largely by license revenue and non‑general‑fund sources and that license exemptions can reduce revenue; he estimated the agencies forgo more than $10 million annually in lost revenue from existing exemptions but said the incremental effect of adding free fishing days is difficult to quantify. Delegates urged DWR to supply more precise accounting before further action; several members requested letters and fiscal analysis.
One amendment incorporated HB 2523’s language; the subcommittee earlier voted 8–0 to strike HB 2523 and incorporate its language into HB 2629. After discussion and questions the committee voted 6–4 to lay HB 2629 on the table; members said they wanted clearer fiscal documentation and an agency accounting before any floor action.
Ending: The committee asked DWR and the Department of Accounts for a detailed accounting of lost revenue and signaled it would revisit the measure if fiscal offsets or reimbursements are clarified.
