Bill Description: House Bill 964 is an enhancement of $14,178,500 and 0.00 new full-time positions for the Department of Fish and Game for fiscal year 2027. This legislation appropriates a total of $161,517,000 and 550.00 full-time positions to the agency.

Analyst Note: This legislation is an updated version of Senate Bill 1382, which failed to pass the house floor.

Rating: -2 

Is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending, if any, inappropriate for the changes in circumstances, scope of the agency, or current economic environment? Conversely, is the continuation or growth in ongoing spending appropriate given any change in circumstances or economic pressures?

This legislation authorizes an ongoing spending enhancement for the Department of Fish and Game of $5,341,400, adding onto last year’s (FY26) increase in ongoing spending of $1,536,000. FY26’s ongoing spending is wrapped into FY27’s base increase, making ongoing spending especially important to scrutinize. Volatility in these increases (or decreases) is to be expected, and makes discernment on the propriety of new spending imperative.

There are several ongoing enhancements in this budget. The first two are for Fisheries Inflationary Costs ($500,300) and Fisheries Facility Inflation ($791,000). The third is for Good Neighbor Authority Projects ($4,050,000) to alleviate wildfire risk.

(0)

Does this budget incur any wasteful spending among discretionary funds, including new line items? Conversely, does this budget contain any provisions that serve to reduce spending where possible (i.e. base reductions, debt reconciliation, etc.)?

This legislation authorizes onetime spending for the Department of Fish and Game of $8,837,100, adding additional expenditures to last year’s (FY26) onetime spending of $16,768,400. Onetime spending is often even more volatile than ongoing, which is to be expected due to the onetime expenses generally being utilized for projects or capital outlay. This also calls for special scrutiny and discernment.

Some of these outlays are inappropriate and wasteful, especially in a deficit year. Part of the request includes over $8 million in funding for Fisheries Habitat Projects.

(-1)

Does this budget perpetuate or expand state dependence on federal dollars, thereby violating principles of federalism? Conversely, does this budget actively reduce the amount of federal dollars used to balance this budget?

This legislation appropriates $5,890,600 in federal enhancements to the agency. This represents a significant commitment to continued reliance on federal dollars, deepening the dependence on the federal government and violating the principles of federalism.

(-1)