TOPIC:

Leaked from MI DNR


From: Claramunt, Randall (DNR) <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>
Date: Sat, Dec 14, 2024 at 8:43 AM
Subject: Update on the license package
To: Claramunt, Randall (DNR) <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>Fisheries Division Staff and Partners,It is with great disappointment that I share the news that the hunting and fishing license fee bill did not make it out of the House yesterday and therefore will not be passed into law during lame duck.As we had to wait until lame duck to introduce the license package, it resulted in an intense couple of months of trying to find a pathway for the bill with little movement in the House for weeks, opposing ideas in the Senate, and opposition from the minority even in the face of extremely strong stakeholder and partner support. Please know that we pushed every angle we could, contacted our supporters throughout the process to leverage support, and made our case as strong as possible. I conclude that we did everything we could.Even though we did not end up with the outcome that we wanted, I believe that the process that we went through with HB-6229 galvanized our effort and will set the stage for strong discussions beginning in earnest in 2025 about our need for a more sustainable funding solution to protect our fishing heritage in Michigan.  Of course, it is still very disappointing and frustrating, and we know that the new session will bring a different set of challenges. But know this as well, people care about our fisheries, and this is not an indication that our fisheries are not valued or worth pursuing sustainable funding for its protection and management. But we will have to fight harder.I want to thank all of the staff, partners, supporters, advisory committees, and fishing groups across the state, etc., as you stepped up in a big way so that for the first time in a decade we had movement on a more sustainable funding model and a bill introduced.  I look forward to working with you in pursuit of this common goal in 2025 and feel confident that together we can get it over the finish line.  Have a safe holiday season.Randy

Michigan’s current fee structure has remained unchanged since 2014 while inflation has increased the cost of state fish and game management. The price of fish feed at state hatcheries is up more than 80% since 2018, Ridderbusch said.