Change in outdoor license fees recommended in Virginia
RICHMOND, Va. – Changes in the method used to determine fishing, hunting and boating license fees were endorsed yesterday by the Virginia House of Delegates Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources Committee, according to an article in today’s Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The bill, which would allow the Board of Game and Inland Fisheries to revise the fees, was approved, along with a bill that would give the Virginia Marine Resources Commission the authority to set fees for commercial and recreational saltwater-fishing licenses, the newspaper reported.
In both cases, the fees could not be increased more than once every three years and increases would have a $5 cap, though the saltwater levy could rise if inflation dictated a higher fee, the story said.
Fee levels are now set by the General Assembly.
The article said that the committee also gave its blessing to a bill that would let anglers buy a combined freshwater and saltwater fishing license starting in 2005. Fishermen would realize a small savings in the form of reduced store fees from the change.
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