The cost of Louisiana hunting and fishing licenses and boat registrations would be boosted every two years, along with every other fee charged by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, if lawmakers approve a bill that received the backing of a House committee Tuesday.
House Bill 879 by Rep. Eddie Lambert, R-Gonzales, would allow the department to raise any fees it charges and collects every two years up to the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index, which tracks the national inflation rate. Lambert said the department faces ever-growing equipment and fuel costs and doesn't receive state general fund money to cover its operating costs. He said hikes in the license and registration fees charged by the department would help cover agency costs. The bill would place a cap on increases, saying that no fee could grow by more than 50 percent. After that, fee hikes based on the price index wouldn't be allowed. The House Natural Resources and Environment Committee agreed to the bill without objection, sending it to the House floor for debate.