Bill Description: House Bill 585 would increase fees on all recreational motorized vessels not titled in Idaho by a projected $1 million annually.

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Does it directly or indirectly create or increase any taxes, fees, or other assessments? Conversely, does it eliminate or reduce any taxes, fees, or other assessments?

House Bill 585 would create Section 67-7013A, Idaho Code, to impose a new fee (in addition to significant existing fees) of $25 per year on "all recreational motorized vessels that are not titled in Idaho" "prior to launch into waters of the state."

This money would go into the park and recreation account, of the the Idaho department of parks and recreation, which is an account used for "defraying the expenses, debts and costs incurred in carrying out the powers and duties of the department as provided in this chapter [Idaho Safe Boating Act], and for defraying administrative expenses of the department, including salaries and wages of employees of the department, expenses for traveling, supplies, equipment and other necessary expenses of the department as they relate to administration of this chapter."

The fiscal note for House Bill 585 suggests this fee increase will result in $1 million being transferred from the private sector to the government. The fiscal note does not address the possibility that these significant fee hikes may result in fewer nonresidents using Idaho's waterways nor does it address the secondary economic consequences of such a result. 

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