WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

LD 1679

An Act To Allocate Scallop Dragging Licenses For Island Communities

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Steve Bishop and 3 co-sponsors

LD 1679 would reallocate scallop dragging licenses to island communities, prioritizing local fishers; the bill did not advance and is dead for the 2025 session.

Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
#licenses #scallops #shellfish
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · LD 1679

Summary of LD 1679: An Act To Allocate Scallop Dragging Licenses For Island Communities

Overview

LD 1679, titled An Act To Allocate Scallop Dragging Licenses For Island Communities, was introduced on April 17, 2025. The bill’s stated purpose is to allocate scallop dragging licenses to island communities. The Legislature indicated the bill is dead for the current session.

  • Status: Dead (Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files)
  • Introduced: April 17, 2025
  • Committee: Marine Resources
  • Subject: Licenses, Scallops, Shellfish

Purpose and Intent

  • The central aim of the bill is to change how scallop dragging licenses are distributed, with a focus on island communities. This implies a shift from existing allocation methods (which are not detailed here) toward prioritizing or directing licenses to communities located on islands.
  • Specific objectives, such as promoting local economic benefits, improving access for island fishers, or preserving traditional fishing practices, are not explicitly stated in the provided summary. Text-level details (eligibility criteria, allocation formula, quota counts, duration of licenses, or safeguards) are not available in the information provided.

Key Provisions (Implied by Title)

  • Allocate scallop dragging licenses specifically to island communities.
  • The bill would describe how licenses are distributed to these communities, though the exact criteria, number of licenses, eligibility rules, and administration are not included in the available information.

Note: The actual statutory language, including any eligibility requirements, allocation formulas, caps, renewal provisions, enforcement, and oversight, is not provided in the summary you supplied.

Affected Parties

  • Island community scallop draggers and fishing cooperatives
  • Current or prospective license holders for scallop dragging
  • Island communities whose economies and cultures are tied to shellfisheries
  • State regulatory agencies overseeing shellfisheries (e.g., Department of Marine Resources)

Procedural History and Timeline

  • 2025-04-17: Referred to the Committee on Marine Resources.
  • 2025-04-17: Sent for concurrence; ordered printed.
  • 2025-04-17: Committee on Marine Resources received the bill in concurrence.
  • 2025-05-08: Work Session Held.
  • 2025-05-08: Voted - ONTP (Ought Not to Pass) in committee.
  • 2025-05-14: Reported Out - ONTP.

  • 2025-05-20: Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 placed in Legislative Files (DEAD).

  • Status indicates there will be no further action in this legislative session unless reintroduced.

Potential Implications and Considerations

  • Administrative and Economic: If enacted, the bill could reallocate fishing rights, potentially affecting license values, entry opportunities for island fishers, and local seafood supply chains.
  • Equity and Community Impact: Aimed at island communities, the measure could address access disparities, though the effectiveness would depend on the implemented criteria and monitoring.
  • Legal and Regulatory: Implementation would require clear rules on eligibility, allocation method, license duration, and enforcement to avoid unintended consequences such as concentration of licenses or license dumping.
  • Future Steps: If policymakers pursue similar goals, future bills could refine eligibility, carve-out caps, or establish performance metrics to evaluate impact on island communities.

Takeaway

LD 1679 sought to reorient scallop dragging licenses toward island communities, but the bill did not advance beyond committee in the 2025 session and is currently dead. The available information does not disclose the exact statutory mechanics, so the concrete impact would hinge on the eventual text if reintroduced.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.