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Senate rejects proposed license fee increases for fish and wildlife; plan aimed to fund hatcheries fails after close vote
Summary
Senate debate on substitute HB45 centered on a $2 fishing-license increase and other wildlife fee adjustments dedicated to a new State Fish Hatchery Maintenance account; proponents said it would increase production by about one-third, while opponents called it a burdensome user fee. The measure failed in a tie vote.
Senators debated a substitute for House Bill 45, which would have increased fishing license fees (from $18 to $20) and created a State Fish Hatchery Maintenance account funded by the fee increases. Sponsor Senator Swazow described the increases as a targeted user fee to restore hatchery infrastructure and predicted the change "would be able to increase production about a third in our fish hatcheries." He also said the funds would be dedicated to restricted accounts for hatcheries and small‑game releases.
Opponents questioned the fairness of the increases and whether they amounted to a tax on users, urging alternatives. Senator Jones said he supported improving hatcheries but objected to placing the burden on license holders and described the percentage increase as heavy for some citizens. Senator Fairfield called the proposal a user's fee and said consumptive users had volunteered to pay, but others warned it could price out occasional or low‑income participants.
The Senate conducted a roll call on whether to read the substitute for a third time; the result as announced in the transcript was 13 aye, 14 nay, and 2 absent, and the bill failed to advance.
