Committee approves Fish and Game funding amendment to modernize licensing; unanimous votes advance bill

The committee took executive session votes on a non‑germane amendment to HB1199 that Fish and Game requested to modernize its licensing infrastructure.

Melissa Nemeth summarized the amendment: it would credit $600,000 from the prepaid license fund across fiscal years 2027 and 2028 while maintaining a $1,000,000 minimum balance; those funds would support a new customer relationship and licensing system to improve sales, distribution and digital outreach. The amendment also makes a narrow technical change to the infant discounted lifetime license to allow purchase up through the child's first birthday.

The committee moved into executive session. Amendment 0347 (a typographical/technical amendment) was moved and seconded and passed on roll call 14 yes, 0 no. The non‑germane amendment itself then received a motion (moved by Representative Harvey, seconded by Representative Tudor) and passed on roll call 14 yes, 0 no. With no further amendments pending, the committee voted the bill as amended 14–0 and placed it on consent; Representative DeVito was assigned to prepare the majority report.

Recorded roll calls listed the following members voting yes: Vice Chairman Ouellette; Representatives Khan, Smith, Tudor, Aldrich, Durkin, DeVito, Harvey, Fox, Davis, Jacobs, O'Rourke, Pearson; and Chairman Spillane (total 14 yeses).