Relates to offenses involving thefts of identity; repealer

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Kavanagh

Requires annual reimbursement from the general fund to the Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Fund for revenue lost to free licenses, shifting costs to taxpayers.

REFERRED TO CODES

Purpose / Intent

The bill requires the Commonwealth’s general fund to reimburse the Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Fund for revenue lost when free marine recreational fishing licenses are issued under an existing statutory provision (subsection (d) of G.L. c.130, §17C). The intent is to prevent the Development Fund from bearing the fiscal impact of legislatively-authorized free license issuances.

Key provision (text added)

The bill amends Section 17C of chapter 130 of the Massachusetts General Laws by adding subsection (h), which states, in effect:
- “The Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Fund shall be reimbursed annually from the general fund for all lost revenue attributed to the issuance of free licenses pursuant to subsection (d).”

What this changes

Places responsibility for covering lost fee revenue (from free licenses authorized under subsection (d)) on the Commonwealth’s general fund rather than on the Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Fund itself.

Ensures annual reimbursement of the exact revenue loss amount (mechanism for calculation and transfer not specified in the text).

Who is affected

Marine Recreational Fisheries Development Fund: will no longer have to absorb revenue losses from free-licensing programs.

Massachusetts general fund / taxpayers: will assume those costs on an annual basis; net fiscal impact depends on the number and type of free licenses issued.

Recreational fishing license programs and beneficiaries of free licenses: continuity of program funding is supported; eligibility and scope of “free licenses” are determined by existing subsection (d) (not reproduced here).

Fiscal and administrative implications

Creates an ongoing state budget obligation equal to the amount of lost license revenue each year. The bill does not include a fiscal note or specify the administrative process for calculating and transferring the reimbursement.

Operationally, an agency (likely the Division of Marine Fisheries or state accounting officials) would need to quantify “lost revenue” annually and request/receive reimbursement from the general fund.

Procedural history & status (as reported)

Introduced in the Senate: 2025-01-13 (read twice, referred to Judiciary per record); presented by Bruce E. Tarr.

Referred to committees: Judiciary; Agriculture and Fisheries; Codes (records show multiple referrals).

Hearing scheduled: 05/13/2025 (B-1).

Committee action: Reported favorably and referred to Senate Ways & Means (reported 2025-10-02).

Current/status label in materials: REFERRED TO CODES.

Note: the provided sponsor list and some timeline entries contain inconsistencies (some names and dates appear to relate to other jurisdictions or sessions). Verify current status, exact statutory cross-references (subsection (d)), and any official fiscal note with the Massachusetts Legislature’s website or committee staff for authoritative details.

Bill