MORE FEES, THIS TIME IT'S ON BOATS
Times-Picayune (excerpt)

The Senate agreed in a 36-0 vote to a bill that would require people buying new boats to register a title with the state and pay $26 to the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The titling would be similar to the required registration of a car or truck with the state. It would apply to new boats bought after July 1, 2008, if the boat cost more than $2,500. The fee for a title would be $18, and the department would add an $8 handling fee.

The House had approved House Bill 524 by Rep. Jack Smith, D-Patterson, but at the time, it didn't include the fees.

Those were added in the Senate and must go back for approval to the House, which defeated a similar fee bill last year.

Lawmakers keep litter fee

The $1 fee tacked onto the cost of renewing a driver's license to raise money for litter abatement programs should continue, the Legislature has agreed. The fee raises $800,000 a year for public service announcements and other programs to fight litter.

It was set to expire this year, but would continue until 2011 under House Bill 407 by Rep. Karen Carter, D-New Orleans. The Senate gave the bill final legislative passage with a 31-7 vote. It heads next to the governor's desk.