Earlier this week, the Environment Committee raised Senate Bill 207.  SB207 is designed to reduce the recent fee increases associated with hunting and fishing licenses to only a 20% increase as opposed to the 100% increase that was approved during last year’s legislative session. 

With many families struggling to afford basic necessities in this difficult economy, it’s important that we keep hunting accessible to all, regardless of their socio-economic status.  In addition, there have been recent experiences in other states that show lower license fees generate more revenue for conservation and the state by giving lower-income earners the opportunity to buy a license they might not otherwise afford, thereby broadening the base of hunters.  Because of declining numbers of hunters, overpopulation of species like the whitetail deer, and decreased revenue for conservation projects, it simply makes sense to lower hunting license fees.

Please contact members of the Environment Committee TODAY and respectfully urge them to support SB207.  Contact information for committee members can be found by clicking here. 

On Thursday, February 18, a public hearing was held in the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Security for House Bill 5158, a bill that contained language that would among other things, outlaw the private transfer of long guns and require gun owners to register their rifles and shotguns with state and local law enforcement.

During the committee meeting, the Department of Public Safety agreed to remove the entire section of the bill pertaining to long guns.  The agreement to remove the language was announced by the Committee Chair after testimony by the Department of Public Safety.