Legislation that would significantly raise the cost of a hunting license in Maryland will be introduced at this year’s General Assembly. The 2013 legislative session begins Wednesday.
The bill would raise the cost from $24.50 to $44.50 for hunters ages 16 to 64, with the money going to help the financially-strapped Wildlife & Heritage Service, according to the Cumberland Times-News.
The bill isn’t going to have an easy time getting passed. Last year, a similar proposal was rejected in a 69-62 vote with the opposition arguing that it imposed an unnecessary hardship on hunters. But last year’s bill—which raised the cost of a license to $40—also included various other fee hikes related to hunting stumps. Some estimated that all together the increases could amount to $100.
This year, the proposal does not include an increase to hunting stamp fees. The goal is to raise an additional $2.5 million to ensure the Wildlife Service can maintain and expand its services.
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