Committee expands DNR invasive blue‑catfish pilot to include gillnets, extends program to 2030

Senate Bill 610 was presented to the Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and amended to expand an existing Department of Natural Resources invasive blue catfish pilot program.

Under sponsor amendments from Senator Maltz, the committee struck the introduced bill text and expanded the pilot to include a blue‑catfish gillnet program, extended the pilot through 2030, and required the department to submit annual reports on pilot activities to this committee and the House Environment and Transportation Committee.

Committee staff described the pilot as a limited licensing program that tests gear types and monitors effects on other species and locations. The goal, staff said, is to allow targeted testing with licensing limits and monitoring so DNR can evaluate ecological impacts before wider deployment.

Members asked whether DNR could implement the amended program; a committee member noted DNR gave a “thumbs up” during the discussion, indicating agency support for the sponsor’s draft. Senator Cora moved the Maltz (Mounts) amendment; the vice chair seconded and the amendment passed. Senator Brooks moved the bill as amended, the vice chair seconded, and the committee approved SB 610 as amended.

The amendment extends the existing invasive‑species pilot through 2030 and formalizes annual reporting requirements to the legislature. The transcript does not record specific license counts, expected catch volumes, or fiscal impacts; those details will depend on DNR implementation and any appropriations.