House substitutes, passes Natural Resources Operations bill; renames public lands office director and folds guiding license changes into bill

The House adopted a second substitute to Senate Bill 149, a Natural Resources Operations measure that sponsors said implements recommendations from an audit and incorporates provisions from another bill related to big‑game guiding licenses.

Representative Albrecht described changes that remove a requirement for the public lands office (PLIPCO) to prepare and submit a constitutional defense plan. The substitute renames the executive director of PLIPCO as the senior advisor on public lands to the governor and clarifies appointment and reporting relationships for the senior advisor and the director of the Office of Energy Development; sponsors said those positions are appointed by the governor with Senate advice and consent and may report to the executive director of the Department of Natural Resources upon request.

Representative Shipp explained the sub had also inserted provisions from House Bill 153 to move guiding licensing from DOPL to the Division of Wildlife Resources, add one additional guided permit for certain hunts, and establish a fund for license fees to support enforcement. Sponsors characterized the insertion as budgetarily necessary and said stakeholders (outfitters and guides) had worked with the author on those additions.

Floor debate included support from Representative Snyder and a brief back‑and‑forth on process; the House adopted the substitute and later approved the bill. The second substitute passed the House by a vote of 63 yes and 9 no and will be sent to the Senate for further consideration.