State senators have decided to reimburse those who purchased a fishing or hunting license, permit or tag between Oct. 1, 2009 and April 14, 2010 in the form of a credit to be applied to the fee for a license, permit or tag purchased after Oct. 1.
The credit would be equal to the difference between the amount originally paid and the amount the fees were reduced to in April. Fishing fees dropped from $40 to $28, and hunting fees decreased from $28 to $19.
Lawmakers say last year’s decision to increase fishing and hunting license, permit fees was a mistake, and last month, they scrambled to decrease those fees before the start of fishing season. Now, they are taking another step to make amends.
About 180,000 people pay the hunting and fishing fees each year.
The Senate passed the bill 25-9 today. It still has to go to the House.