House passes invasive species fee hike for out-of-state boaters, sends to Senate

The House has voted 65-4 in favor of raising the invasive species sticker fee for out-of-state motorboats that use Idaho waters from the current $22 to $30 on Jan. 1, 2018. Rep. Terry Gestrin, R-Donnelly, said the bill, HB 211 , would raise about $70,000 more a year for Idaho’s efforts to keep invasive quagga and zebra mussels out of the state, and just the out-of-state boat sticker fee is being raised because that’s where the threat lies. The fast-spreading, tiny invasive shellfish aren’t yet found in Idaho, but they’ve been spreading around the country. Rep. Mat Erpelding, D-Boise, said, “This is good legislation – this is legislation that’s needed to protect our state.”

The only “no” votes came from Reps. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard; Steven Harris, R-Meridian; Ron Nate, R-Rexburg; and Mike Kingsley, R-Lewiston. Scott asked Gestrin several questions about the bill, which now moves to the Senate side.

“If a boat is just traveling through the state, do they need the sticker, or is the sticker only required for launching?” she asked. “My understanding is the sticker is only required for launching,” Gestrin responded. Scott then said, “We have some of these stations in my district, and we have chaser vehicles that go after these vehicles that try to not stop at the stations.” If a boat is “brought back to the station, are they required to buy a sticker at that point?” she asked. Gestrin said, “At this time we do not have the ability to sell a sticker at the inspection station. That is something that is being looked at. … However, they aren’t required; in my understanding, you’re only required to have it to launch in Idaho. But you are required to stop at the check stations.”

Gestrin noted that other legislation is pending to expand hours at Idaho’s boat inspection stations.