Why It Matters: As Wyoming State Legislative Committees begin their transition from interim meetings to the 2025 session, new bills are being filed. These early bills can provide insight into the legislative focus for the coming session. Several of the bills filed recently by the joint Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee included recommended hunting and snowmobile license fee increases along with the creation of new tags. With 100% of Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s (WGFD) budget coming from sportsmen and sportswomen’-generated dollars, fee structures are a necessary topic each session.
Highlights:
- The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) has been closely monitoring both interim committee meetings and early bill filings.
- Through collaboration with the Wyoming Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, WGFD, and our in-state partners, we are working to ensure that the sportsmen’s voice is represented in all applicable legislation during the 2025 session.
- With the majority of WGFD’s budget coming from sporting dollars, fee structures are an expected topic each year.
The Travel, Recreation, Wildlife, and Cultural Resources Committee is a joint legislative committee consisting of five Wyoming State Senators and nine Wyoming State Representatives, including Caucus Co-Chair Representative Cyrus Western. This Committee has held three interim meetings since the legislative session closed on March 8, 2024. Their last meeting coincidentally coincided with National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrations in the state. As the committee members near the end of their 2024 term, they pre-filed seven legislative bills for the 2025 session. These early bills will be up for consideration after the 2025 committee members are selected and begin their regularly scheduled meetings.
Among the seven bills filed by the committee are:
- HB0002 – Hunting license application fee increase
- HB0004 – Snowmobile registration and user fee
- HB0005 – Fishing outfitters and guides-registration of fishing boats
- SF0003 – Mule and whitetail deer-separate hunting seasons
As outdoor recreation and inflation continue to increase, states are looking at ways to adequately support the work of their fish and wildlife agencies. In Wyoming, 100% of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s budget comes from sportsmen and women generated dollars. Since the department does not receive state general funds, fee increases and/or restructuring of fees will be considered each time there is a financial need. The above-mentioned bills were discussed during the committee’s interim meetings with WGFD in attendance.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation has been monitoring these interim meetings and has been in conversations with our Wyoming Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus, WGFD, and our in-state partners as the 2025 Wyoming State Legislative Session draws near. We will continue closely monitoring and working on sportsmen’s policy in Wyoming throughout the coming year. Sign up for our weekly newsletter HERE to receive pertinent updates as they become available.
