Committee reconsiders and approves amendment to fix fund diversion issue in HB 372

The House Fish, Wildlife and Parks Committee voted to reconsider House Bill 372 on Saturday after the majority leader re‑referred the bill to the committee. Lawmakers then adopted a corrective amendment and passed the bill as twice amended.

Representative Parsons summarized the reason for the reconsideration: committee members had previously amended and advanced HB 372, but subsequent review identified a possible diversion of license funds caused by miscommunication among staff. Committee members and staff worked over the intervening days to draft an amendment intended to remedy that issue.

Representative Frantz moved the corrective amendment (H.372.002.002) and asked FWP officials to confirm it resolved the diversion. Lena Havron, chief financial officer for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, addressed the committee and confirmed on the record that the amendment “pinky promise[s] that this amendment solves the diversion issue.” After the agency confirmation, the committee adopted the amendment by voice vote, and later approved the bill as twice amended. Proxies were recorded and the chair announced the bill will advance to the House floor.

Committee members said the diversion issue was complicated and that staff and legislators had double‑ and triple‑checked language to ensure the amendment fixed the problem before moving the bill forward. The committee’s action reinstates the bill with the new amendment and sends it on to the House floor for further consideration.