Michigan hunt, proposal to increase fishing license fees: What would you pay

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proposed over $ 208 million for taxes and taxes for budget 2026.
The largest proposed growth is an increase in storage fees of the landfill, which is expected to generate $ 80 million for environmental initiatives.
Other notable increases include a new tax on Vape and Nonobacco nicotine products and higher fees for hunting, fishing and water vessels.

Lansing – ten dollars more to put on a deer. An additional $ 13 to pull pheasant. And $ 84 more to license a 24 -meter engine boat.

These are among the over 208 million dollars in taxes and higher taxes proposed in Gretchen Whitmer’s state budget for 2026The records launched in the free press of Budget State Office Show.

The increase proposed by taxes could be significant in the future budgetary negotiations involving Whitmer, the Senate controlled by the Democrat and the camera controlled by GOP. Republicans are generally obvious to new income measures, but the Whitmer administration notes that many of the taxes have not increased in decades and say that new revenues are needed just to maintain the services existing in the face of inflation.

The biggest increase in the revenues proposed in the fiscal year budget that starts on October 1 is an increase in waste storage fees, which are expected to generate 80 million extra for environmental initiatives, largely by increasing “Solid waste” from 36 to $ 36 for each tonne. The Environmental Department, Great Lakes and Energy says it would bring more Michigan in accordance with other Midwest states and would help to pay for cleaning contaminated sites.

The next one is A new tax on Vape and Nonobacco Nicotine productswhich is expected to generate $ 57 million annually to improve health and healthcare. Whitmer’s proposal would tax these products with 32% at the GROS level, matching the Michigan tax on cigars and noncigarette tobacco.

Larger license fees at the Natural Resources Department are the third largest article, at $ 28.9 million, with $ 22 million coming from higher hunting and fishing taxes and $ 6.9 million from higher water vessels. The state budget office last week launched the details on the proposed increase, plus all the other tax and increase of the taxes included in the budget 2026, After repeated requests from free press.

Whitmer’s proposal would increase the basic fee for small game hunting from 11 to $ 17 for resident adults, from $ 6 to 10 for minors resident and $ 151 to $ 165 for non -residents. A combined hunting and fishing license would increase from $ 76 to $ 115 for residents and $ 266 to $ 275 for non -residents. The cost of a basic hunting license for seniors would be more than double, from $ 5 to $ 13.

For adult residents, the tax for a wild turkey license would increase from $ 15 to $ 23; The fee for a waterproof license of water birds from $ 12 to $ 18; The fee for a pheasant hunting license from 25 to $ 38; The fee for a deer hunting license from 20 to $ 30; The fee for a bear hunting license from 25 to $ 38; and the fee for an elan hunting license from 100 to $ 150. For the elderly, the cost of a deer license would increase from $ 8 to $ 23.

For a fishing license with all species, the budget would increase the tax from 26 to $ 40 for residents and from $ 76 to $ 90 for non -residents. The cost for seniors would increase from 11 to $ 30.

Returning to water vessels, the budget proposes license fees for motor boats that would range from $ 24.17 for boats with less than 12 meters to $ 773.57 for boats longer than 50 meters. The current tax range is from 14 to $ 448. The fee for a commercial fishing ship would increase from 15 to $ 25.90.

The cost of a Passport of recreation DNR, for entering the state parks, would be constant at $ 14. But instead of opting when they renew their license tabs, the residents of Michigan will be charged, if they do not give up. This change, if approved, is expected to generate additional $ 17.2 million, above the revenues raised from hunting, fishing and water browsing taxes.

Hunting fees in Michigan last increased in 2014; The navigation fees have not increased since 1993, according to the summary provided by the Budget Bureau.

“The lack of financing will lead to the loss of hunting, fishing, sports shooting and other recreation for wild animals,” said Netes who accompany the summary of taxes. “In addition, the quality of fish and wild animals populations and habitat on public and private lands and waters will decrease due to the lack of coordination and management and the negative impact of climate change, invasive species and diseases.”

But some sports enthusiasts from Michigan have expressed the opposition to the proposed increases from the recent E -mails to the free press.

“Unfortunately, the hunting was declining in this state, from year to year,” said Ted Rickabus, the resident of Mecosta County, who leads a furniture repair workshop with his wife. “The increase of prices will only accelerate the decrease of participation.”

Matt Kosiara, the resident of St. Clair, who works for a car supplier, said a better solution would be to reduce government spending and make certain improvements, such as providing more places for people to park when going to fish to state installations.

“I was tired of congratulating my passion for outdoors with less money for my sport and more money to repair the cursed roads!” Kosiara said.

The budget also proposes about $ 5.6 million in increased revenues from higher taxes related to the workers’ disability compensation agency and $ 5.3 million in increased revenues of higher water and land taxes and the elimination of sunsets on taxes that are scheduled to expire. Proposes to raise $ 5 million from the hazardous waste management fees.

Proposes to increase additional $ 2.5 million from higher aircraft registration fees, which have not increased since 1948. The budget proposes to increase the tax from 1 cent per kilogram of gross weight to 10 cents per kilogram of gross weight.

The smaller increase of the taxes proposed in the budget would affect fertilizers, gas storage wells, ski operations, medical care houses, adult maternal assistance facilities and age houses.

Whitmer and legislative leaders are Working separately to a proposed road funding plan. As it was presented, the budget did not include additional revenues for roads, but Whitmer and MPs would like to find more than $ 3 billion annually.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [email protected].