CHEYENNE - The Wyoming House on Thursday gave preliminary approval to a bill that would raise fees at state parks for all visitors and end annual camping permits for nonresidents.

Rep. Mark Semlek, R-Moorcroft, suggested continuing the annual camping permit system for nonresidents while raising the fee from $60 to $100.

But Rep. Kermit Brown, R-Laramie, said the House Travel, Recreation, Wildlife and Cultural Resources Committee has heard testimony that none of the states surrounding Wyoming offers nonresidents the option of buying annual permits to their state parks.

"So we said, 'Well, who's the sucker in this shell game?"' Brown said. "Obviously, it was us."

"Their residents are getting a benefit in our state that our residents aren't getting in their state," he said. "I'd ask you to resist this amendment, and do unto others as they're doing unto us."

The House rejected Semlek's proposal as well as one by Rep. Elaine Harvey, R-Lovell, that would have given Wyoming residents over age 65 a discount on the daily and annual use fees at state parks. She said she has heard from constituents who enjoy fishing at Buffalo Bill Reservoir who say they can't afford to pay more.

Rep. Owen Petersen, R-Lyman, was among those who spoke against Harvey's proposal. He said state parks are heavily used and need to be improved.

Petersen said requiring state parks to check visitors' ages to determine fees would be a "convoluted affair."

Rep. Mary Meyer Gilmore, D-Casper, said the state needs to be cautious about increasing costs too much for tourists.

"I don't necessarily think that trying to gouge tourists from out of town, and out of state, is the tool we need to use to let them come," Gilmore said. She said Wyoming should be encouraging them to come to the state to spend money in local businesses and restaurants.

As approved by the House, HB 10 calls for raising annual daily use permits at state parks from $25 to $33. Nonresident annual daily use permits would increase from $40 to $53. Permits purchased between Jan. 1 and Feb. 15 of each year would increase to $27 for residents and $46 for nonresidents.

Daily use permits for state parks would increase from $2 to $4 for residents. Daily use fees for nonresidents would increase from $4 to $6.

Resident annual overnight camping permits would increase from $30 to $40 per year. Fees for group tours, use of group camping facilities and other fees would increase as well.

The bill needs to pass two more hearings in the House before it would head to the Senate.