Minn. committee lays over two bills to reduce fishing fees for seniors, DNR warns of fund impacts

A House committee on Wednesday laid over two bills that would change fishing-license costs for Minnesota residents 65 and older after proponents described them as conversation starters and the Department of Natural Resources warned of large funding impacts.

Representative Mary Franson introduced House File 413, saying the bill “would allow a resident age 65 or older to fish without a licence.” She read a constituent letter from an 80-year-old veteran urging the change and said many seniors are discouraged from buying licenses because they fish only occasionally and have reduced incomes. Representative Jim Nash introduced House File 276, which would reduce the license fee by $10 for people 65 and older.

The committee chair moved both bills be laid over for possible inclusion in a future bill; both motions were carried and the bills were laid…