HR578: HR578 Sport Fish Restoration Program; part of the American System of Conservation Funding; 75th anniversary; recognize

This resolution does not change any Georgia law. It is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives marking the 75th anniversary of the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program, which began with the 1950 Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act and was expanded by a 1984 amendment. The resolution describes how excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel are distributed to states through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to fund fisheries conservation and angler and boater access. It praises anglers, boaters, the sportfishing industry, state wildlife agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their role in restoring fish populations. It directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

• Formally commends anglers, boaters, the sportfishing industry, state wildlife agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their role in fish conservation.
• Recognizes the 75th anniversary of the Sport Fish Restoration Program as part of what it calls the American System of Conservation Funding.
• Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press.
• Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory requirement in Georgia; it is a symbolic statement only.

This resolution mainly affects no one in a binding legal sense. It speaks to Georgia's anglers, boaters, the sportfishing industry, and state and federal wildlife agencies by praising their conservation work, without imposing duties on any of them.

Because this is a commendatory resolution rather than a law, it does not change funding levels, taxes, or regulations for fishing or conservation in Georgia. Its practical effect is limited to a public statement of recognition distributed by the House Clerk.

• The whereas clauses describe the history of the Sport Fish Restoration Program, starting with the 1950 Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act and its 1984 Wallop-Breaux expansion.
• The resolution notes that manufacturers' excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel fund fisheries conservation through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• The resolved clause commends anglers, boaters, the sportfishing industry, state agencies, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for restoring fish populations.
• A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

1. 2025-03-11House Read and Adopted (House)
2. 2025-03-11House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-11House Hopper (House)

• Charles Cannon (R, HD-172)Primary sponsor
• Trey Rhodes (R, HD-124)
• Jesse Petrea (R, HD-166)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)
• Trey Kelley (R, HD-016)

• fishing and boating
• conservation funding
• wildlife management
• ceremonial resolutions