Results Of 2009 Legislative Session
Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 6:22 pm
This year WDFW, along with other state agencies, faced budget cuts and staff layoffs. WDFW's 2009 legislative requests included two major funding initiatives: (1) Across-the-board increases in license fees, and (2) selling stamps that allow anglers to fish with 2 poles. The 2-pole permit is of interest to tiger muskie anglers because trolling for tiger muskies is more practical with multiple lines, due to the large areas of water that muskie trollers must cover to locate fish.
The general fee increase was introduced as Senate Bill (SB) 6084. WDFW proposed to increase all hunting and fishing license fees. The annual resident freshwater license would have gone from $20 to $24. Senate staff recommended temporary license surcharges instead, and this bill didn't go anywhere.
Until now, it has been illegal for anglers to have more than 1 line in the water at a time. The 2-pole stamp was included in House Bill (HB) 1778. Temporary license surcharges of 10% for the 2010-2011 biennium were added to this bill.
HB 1778 passed the House by a final vote of 65-35 and passed the Senate by a final vote of 31-17, and was partially vetoed by the Governor. The partial veto has to do with wildlife damage mitigation, and does not affect the 2-pole authorization or the license surcharges.
This bill, as passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, boosts the cost of fishing and hunting licenses by 10% for the next 2 years. The additional revenue will help WDFW make up part of the State General Fund funding it has lost over the last several years. This bill does not per se change the fishing regulations to allow use of 2 lines, but only authorizes the F & W Commission to sell 2-pole stamps, so Commission action is still required before 2-pole permits become available. The 2-pole stamp will cost $20 regardless of whether you have a resident or non-resident license, except resident seniors (i.e., age 70 or older) will pay $5.
The 2-pole provision is found in HB 1778 Sec. 6, which will be codified as RCW 77.32.470(6) (amending Laws of 2008, Chap. 35, Sec. 1). The temporary fishing license surcharge is found in HB 1778 Sec. 71(2), which will be codified as RCW 77.32.050(2) (amending Laws of 2003, Chap. 389, Sec. 1).
Although the final approved legislation won't raise as much money for WDFW as its original proposal, the financial impact nevertheless will be substantial, and will help WDFW maintain programs and activities beneficial to hunters and anglers. WDFW expected the 2-pole fee to raise about $2 million to $2.5 million a year, and the license fee increases to raise $11 million in 2010-11 and $13.5 million in subsequent bienniums. The projected revenue from HB 1778 is about $8.4 million over the next 2 years, and dropping thereafter due to expiration of the temporary license surcharges.
None of us like paying higher taxes or fees. But a resident annual freshwater license still will cost about what a couple would spend on a Saturday night at the movies, and it takes money to support field work, fisheries management, and enforcement of game and fish laws. If you are an avid sportsman, it is some of the best money you'll ever spend, in terms of what it returns to you as a user of our state's natural resources. The $20 fee for the 2-pole stamp is optional -- you don't have to buy the stamp -- and, assuming the Commission implements it, will offer an opportunity to tiger muskie anglers who enjoy developing new tactics to experiment with more efficient trolling techniques.
The general fee increase was introduced as Senate Bill (SB) 6084. WDFW proposed to increase all hunting and fishing license fees. The annual resident freshwater license would have gone from $20 to $24. Senate staff recommended temporary license surcharges instead, and this bill didn't go anywhere.
Until now, it has been illegal for anglers to have more than 1 line in the water at a time. The 2-pole stamp was included in House Bill (HB) 1778. Temporary license surcharges of 10% for the 2010-2011 biennium were added to this bill.
HB 1778 passed the House by a final vote of 65-35 and passed the Senate by a final vote of 31-17, and was partially vetoed by the Governor. The partial veto has to do with wildlife damage mitigation, and does not affect the 2-pole authorization or the license surcharges.
This bill, as passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor, boosts the cost of fishing and hunting licenses by 10% for the next 2 years. The additional revenue will help WDFW make up part of the State General Fund funding it has lost over the last several years. This bill does not per se change the fishing regulations to allow use of 2 lines, but only authorizes the F & W Commission to sell 2-pole stamps, so Commission action is still required before 2-pole permits become available. The 2-pole stamp will cost $20 regardless of whether you have a resident or non-resident license, except resident seniors (i.e., age 70 or older) will pay $5.
The 2-pole provision is found in HB 1778 Sec. 6, which will be codified as RCW 77.32.470(6) (amending Laws of 2008, Chap. 35, Sec. 1). The temporary fishing license surcharge is found in HB 1778 Sec. 71(2), which will be codified as RCW 77.32.050(2) (amending Laws of 2003, Chap. 389, Sec. 1).
Although the final approved legislation won't raise as much money for WDFW as its original proposal, the financial impact nevertheless will be substantial, and will help WDFW maintain programs and activities beneficial to hunters and anglers. WDFW expected the 2-pole fee to raise about $2 million to $2.5 million a year, and the license fee increases to raise $11 million in 2010-11 and $13.5 million in subsequent bienniums. The projected revenue from HB 1778 is about $8.4 million over the next 2 years, and dropping thereafter due to expiration of the temporary license surcharges.
None of us like paying higher taxes or fees. But a resident annual freshwater license still will cost about what a couple would spend on a Saturday night at the movies, and it takes money to support field work, fisheries management, and enforcement of game and fish laws. If you are an avid sportsman, it is some of the best money you'll ever spend, in terms of what it returns to you as a user of our state's natural resources. The $20 fee for the 2-pole stamp is optional -- you don't have to buy the stamp -- and, assuming the Commission implements it, will offer an opportunity to tiger muskie anglers who enjoy developing new tactics to experiment with more efficient trolling techniques.