03/09/2021 11:00 AM House FISHERIES

         HB 115-AQUATIC FARMING & HATCHERY SITE LEASES                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
11:46:09 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR TARR  announced that the  final order of business  would be                                                               
HOUSE  BILL NO.  115, "An  Act  relating to  aquatic farming  and                                                               
hatchery site leases; and requiring  the director of the division                                                               
of  lands  to  provide  the legislature  with  an  annual  report                                                               
relating to aquatic farming and hatchery site leases."                                                                          
                                                                                                                                
11:46:26 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STORY stated that  the bill pertains to expediting                                                               
the leasing  process.  She  stated that,  should HB 115  pass and                                                               
become law,  the expedited lease  process would  remain optional;                                                               
the commissioner could still require  an applicant to undergo the                                                               
full  lengthy  process; the  public  would  continue to  have  an                                                               
opportunity to contact the Department  of Natural Resources (DNR)                                                               
with any complaints  at any time; and the  department would still                                                               
be required to  issue public notice of an  approved renewal which                                                               
includes a 30-day appeal window.                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
11:47:56 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  TARR   opened  public   testimony  on   HB  115.     After                                                               
ascertaining that  there was  no one who  wished to  testify, she                                                               
closed public testimony.                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
11:50:15 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
The committee took an at-ease from 11:50 a.m. to 11:51 a.m.                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
11:51:40 AM                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
REPRESENTATIVE STUTES  moved to  report HB  115 out  of committee                                                               
with  individual  recommendations  and  the  accompanying  fiscal                                                               
note.   There  being no  objection, HB  115 was  reported out  of                                                               
House Special Committee on Fisheries.