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House rejects proposal to raise boat registration fee from $10 to $18
Summary
A proposal to increase the annual boat registration fee from $10 to $18 to raise roughly $600,000 a year for boating accounts failed on the House floor, 30-37.
Representative Brent Goodfellow presented House Bill 225 on behalf of the Division of Parks and Recreation, saying the division seeks authority to raise the authorized annual boat registration fee from $10 to $18 to offset operating and capital reductions.
Goodfellow told the chamber the proposed fee increase "could generate approximately $600,000 per year in new revenue," and said those funds would be restricted to a boating account for boat ramps, docks, safety education and matching federal grants. During questioning Representative Alexander confirmed the funds would go into a restricted boating account and could not be used for general park upgrades.
After floor discussion, the House opened a roll-call vote. House Bill 225 failed to pass, receiving 30 yes votes and 37 no votes; the bill will be filed.
The sponsor framed the request as a response to sustained budget cuts dating back to 2001 and rising maintenance costs for boating facilities; opponents on the floor expressed concern about fees imposed on recreational users.
