Why It Matters: On Tuesday, October 22nd, the Pennsylvania State Senate voted 47-3 to send House Bill 1409 (HB 1409) to Governor Josh Shapiro’s desk. HB 1409 (sponsored by Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus Member and Chair of the House Fish & Game Committee, Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik) extends the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s (PFBC) Board of Commissioner’s authority to set its own license fees. Without the enactment of this legislation, the PFBC would have to relinquish its ability to set its own license fees back to the legislature due to a sunset provision in the originating statute. Allowing state agencies to set their own license fees provides the flexibility needed to adjust for inflation and properly manage the public resource in a timely and effective manner.
Highlights:
- HB 1409 passed out of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives on September 27, 2023, with a 154-48 vote and out of the Pennsylvania State Senate on October 22nd, 2024, with a 47-3 vote.
- The PFBC originally received the authority to set its own licenses fees from Act 56 of 2020 (spearheaded by members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus) for 5 years (expiring on July 15, 2025).
- In necessity to extend this authority, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) submitted a letter of support for HB 1409, granting the PFBC’s fee setting authority until July 15, 2035 (an additional 10 years).
The first residential hunting license did not appear in the United States until 1895 when the state of Michigan issued a $0.50 license for deer hunting. From its success, many states followed suit, and, by the early 20th century, newly created state fish and wildlife agencies were issued licenses across the country. These licenses sold and enforced by state agencies are designed to generate funding for the state agency for the sustainable management of fish and wildlife, and their habitats.
Despite having jurisdiction over the fish and wildlife within the state, most state fish and wildlife agencies have little control over setting the prices for hunting and fishing licenses, permits and tags. Rather, the authority often rests with the state legislature, requiring new legislation each time the state agency needs to keep up with inflation. This process makes it difficult to increase license fees to ensure the agency maintains the pace of inflation and that they are adequately funded to continue managing fish and wildlife on behalf of the public. The legislative cycle is a complex system by design, but sometimes lacks the ability to act in a timely and effective manner.
Legislation such as HB 1409 is imperative for the PFBC as the agency receives no general fund monies and is funded by the sportsmen and women of the Commonwealth. When an agency such as the PFBC must wait for legislation to pass to increase license fees (which directly impacts their budget), they are at risk being unable to properly manage the resource due to the lack of available funds. When adequate funding is unavailable, the fish, their habitat, agency law enforcement, agency employees, and the public are all negatively impacted.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds the legislature for passing this important legislation yet again and encourages Governor Josh Shapiro to quickly sign this legislation so there is not a lapse in fee setting authority with the PFBC’s Board of Commissioners. The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation will continue to work with the Pennsylvania Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, and the PFBC, like it has done historically, to secure the agency’s ability to set its own license fees.
