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Finance committee adopts Fish and Game fee and sweep changes, moves some habitat fee revenue to general Fish and Game Fund
Summary
Members approved an HB2 amendment that raises certain habitat fees, directs a floor of $2.50 to wildlife habitat with the remainder to the Fish and Game Fund, and triggers end-of-year sweeps from three small accounts into the fish and game fund; motion carried unanimously with a small statutory tweak requested by members.
The Finance - Division I committee adopted an amendment (11 82H as presented) to HB2 that changes several Fish and Game fee structures, raises the fisheries habitat fee, creates automatic end-of-year transfers from small dedicated accounts into the Fish and Game Fund when balances exceed $750,000, and allows some limited additional uses of hunting/fishing revenues.
Key points: the fisheries habitat fee was raised (statutory language sets a minimum and splits proceeds) so that at least $2.50 per fee goes to the wildlife habitat account and the remainder is routed to the unrestricted Fish and Game Fund; the committee clarified that any amount above the statutory floor would accrue to the Fish and Game Fund. The amendment also designates three accounts (fisheries habitat, game management account and the fish-food sales account) for a fiscal-25 sweep of amounts above $750,000 into the main Fish and Game Fund.
Budget effect and requests: Staff showed estimated additional revenue to the Fish and Game Fund from the fee changes and a set of department requests (an environmental-review position, DOAT increase, and a net personnel conversion). Taken together, the Fish and Game Fund ended the biennium with an estimated balance modestly higher than the governor's proposal; committee members approved the language and asked staff to include the change in tracking.
Vote: Committee voted to adopt the amendment with the small procedural change (fixing distribution language so $2.50 goes to wildlife habitat and the remainder to the unrestricted Fish and Game Fund); motion carried unanimously, 7-0.
Why it matters: The move gives Fish and Game more unrestricted revenues while preserving a dedicated minimum for wildlife habitat; it also provides immediate one-time and recurring revenue adjustments to address departmental operating needs.
Next steps: Staff will update the tracking packet to reflect the adopted amendment and the committee's drafting note; the department may pursue further rulemaking for fee-setting items that remain in administrative rule.
