The Finance, Ways and Means Committee voted 20-7 to advance House Bill 24 after adopting an amendment that narrowed and adjusted criminal penalties related to wildlife offenses.

Representative Hammer, the bill sponsor, and committee members agreed to an amendment that removed broader fine updates and limited the change to trespassing-related wildlife offenses. Under the amended measure, hunting, taking, chasing, trapping, or killing a wild animal while trespassing would be elevated from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class B misdemeanor punishable only by a fine not to exceed $500; the amendment preserves the issuing of citations and warnings by the enforcing agency.

Representative Henry noted the committee had previously considered the bill the prior Thursday and that members had asked questions and requested counter rules. "We did hear this bill Thursday," Henry said, and the amendment narrows its scope.

Committee members voted on the amendment (drafting code 081933) and then on moving the bill to calendar and rules. The amendment passed and the bill was advanced on a 20-7 committee vote; the committee then recessed for about three minutes before taking up the next agenda item.

The bill will next be considered by the calendar and rules committee.