Utah House narrowly defeats Wildlife Heritage Act after extended debate

Representative David M. Jones, sponsor of House Bill 150, told the House the measure would create a voluntary "wildlife heritage license," set up an advisory committee appointed by the Wildlife Board, and develop incentives to encourage purchases. "Basically, the bill does 3 things," Jones said, describing the license, an advisory committee and incentive options such as decals or magazine subscriptions.

Supporters argued the program would channel new, voluntary revenue to nonconsumptive programs (wildlife viewing, habitat research, endangered species recovery) and noted the measure sunsets in 1998 if it proved ineffective. Representative James said the idea was "logical" and urged colleagues to consider the DWR funding history; Representative Goodfellow successfully moved the bill's fee amendment, lowering the proposed license from $25 to $15 to encourage participation.

Opponents voiced process and oversight concerns: Representative Brown and others called HB150 a "boxcar" bill that left too many policy details to future rulemaking and worried an advisory committee could become an internal lobbying body. Questions focused on who would administer the fund (the Division of Wildlife Resources), how incentives would be set, and whether the Legislature was ceding too much authority to an appointed committee.

After previous-question motions and final summations, the House voted. House Bill 150, as amended, failed in the House with 34 affirmative and 40 negative votes, denying the bill passage and sending it back for reconsideration or further work.

The sponsor said he hoped coalition-building between hunting and nonconsumptive interests could continue despite the vote; no further action date was announced at adjournment.