Senate agrees to substitute amendment updating Fish & Wildlife statutes and adding fee schedule
May 23, 2026 | SENATE, Committees, Legislative , Vermont
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The Senate adopted a substitute amendment and ordered H 9 28 for third reading after committee reports recommended technical and administrative updates to Fish & Wildlife law.
The amendment, reported by the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, removes references to PFAS and several program areas from the earlier committee report so those matters can receive additional testimony next year, the reporter said. The bill chiefly updates statutory cross-references, clarifies uniform point systems for wildlife violations, allows certain hunting licenses to expire 365 days after issuance rather than strictly on December 31, and amends reporting and champion-lands language.
Finance and appropriations reports: The Finance Committee offered a substitute amendment inserting a schedule of fees the Department of Fish and Wildlife had adopted by rule; the change places those fees into statute for the 2026 season and preserves legislative oversight of fee setting. The Finance Committee and Appropriations reported the fiscal impacts were limited and largely contained to transfers and the Department of Liquor & Lottery minor increase tied to handling fees in a different bill discussed that day.
Committee process and next steps: Committees cited testimony from agency staff, enforcement leadership, municipal representatives and stakeholders. The Senate voted to propose the committee-recommended amendments to the House and ordered the bill for third reading, with an effective date noted during the report (07/01/2026).
Quote
“The bill makes a series of technical and administrative updates in Fish and Wildlife law,” the reporter said, adding that the proposal is intended to improve clarity and implementation rather than create new policy initiatives.
Ending
The Senate ordered H 9 28 for third reading and proposed the committee’s substitute amendments to the House. The adoption places routine fees into statute and defers PFAS policy for separate consideration.
The amendment, reported by the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy, removes references to PFAS and several program areas from the earlier committee report so those matters can receive additional testimony next year, the reporter said. The bill chiefly updates statutory cross-references, clarifies uniform point systems for wildlife violations, allows certain hunting licenses to expire 365 days after issuance rather than strictly on December 31, and amends reporting and champion-lands language.
Finance and appropriations reports: The Finance Committee offered a substitute amendment inserting a schedule of fees the Department of Fish and Wildlife had adopted by rule; the change places those fees into statute for the 2026 season and preserves legislative oversight of fee setting. The Finance Committee and Appropriations reported the fiscal impacts were limited and largely contained to transfers and the Department of Liquor & Lottery minor increase tied to handling fees in a different bill discussed that day.
Committee process and next steps: Committees cited testimony from agency staff, enforcement leadership, municipal representatives and stakeholders. The Senate voted to propose the committee-recommended amendments to the House and ordered the bill for third reading, with an effective date noted during the report (07/01/2026).
Quote
“The bill makes a series of technical and administrative updates in Fish and Wildlife law,” the reporter said, adding that the proposal is intended to improve clarity and implementation rather than create new policy initiatives.
Ending
The Senate ordered H 9 28 for third reading and proposed the committee’s substitute amendments to the House. The adoption places routine fees into statute and defers PFAS policy for separate consideration.
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