Fish and wildlife commission

AN ACT Relating to reforming the fish and wildlife commission; 1
amending RCW 77.04.030 and 77.04.040; adding a new section to chapter 2
77.04 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 77.12 RCW.3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 77.04.030 and 2001 c 155 s 1 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) The fish and wildlife commission consists of nine registered 7
voters of the state ((. In January of each odd-numbered year, the 8
governor shall appoint with the advice and consent of the senate 9
three registered voters to the commission to serve for terms of six 10
years from that January or until their successors are appointed and 11
qualified. If a vacancy occurs on the commission prior to the 12
expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a registered voter 13
within sixty days to complete the term. Three members shall be 14
residents of that portion of the state lying east of the summit of 15
the Cascade mountains, and three shall be residents of that portion 16
of the state lying west of the summit of the Cascade mountains. Three 17
additional members shall be appointed at large. No two members may be 18
residents of the same county. )), to be appointed to six-year terms as 19
follows:20
H-1213.4
HOUSE BILL 1930
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Dent and Orcutt
Read first time 02/10/25. Referred to Committee on Agriculture &
Natural Resources.
p. 1 HB 1930
(a) Six members, one from each of the six regions of the 1
department, as those regions existed on January 1, 2025, shall be 2
appointed by the counties within each region as follows:3
(i) Each county legislative authority within each region must 4
nominate candidates from within their county for appointment to the 5
commission. The county legislative authority may solicit input on 6
candidates from the department's regional director, and from 7
organizations representing all aspects of fish and wildlife.8
(ii) The counties within each region must select one person to 9
represent their region on the fish and wildlife commission. Each 10
county legislative authority must delegate one member to vote on the 11
final list of nominated candidates.12
(iii) If a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of a term, the 13
appropriate counties shall conduct the appointment process 14
established in this subsection (1)(a) to appoint a registered voter 15
within 60 days to complete the term.16
(b) The governor shall appoint three additional at-large members 17
with the advice and consent of the senate. At least one at-large 18
member must reside in eastern Washington and at least one at-large 19
member must reside in western Washington. If a vacancy occurs prior 20
to the expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a registered 21
voter within 60 days to complete the term.22
(c) No region may be represented on the commission by more than 23
two members.24
(2) To establish staggered terms, initial appointees to the 25
commission shall draw lots to determine:26
(a) Three appointees whose initial term ends after two years; and27
(b) Three appointees whose initial term ends after four years.28
(3) Initial regional appointments made pursuant to subsection 29
(1)(a) of this section must be made by December 31, 2025, and begin 30
their terms January 1, 2026.31
(4) The term of each commissioner appointed as of January 1, 32
2025, ends on December 31, 2025. Commissioners appointed as of June 33
1, 2025, are eligible for reappointment pursuant to this section.34
(5) The legal office of the commission is at the administrative 35
office of the department in Olympia. 36
Sec. 2. RCW 77.04.040 and 1995 1st sp.s. c 2 s 3 are each 37
amended to read as follows: 38
p. 2 HB 1930
Persons eligible for appointment as members of the commission 1
((shall have general knowledge of the habits and distribution of fish 2
and wildlife )) must have held a hunting or fishing license under 3
either chapter 77.32 or 77.65 RCW, or both, in three of the five 4
years immediately preceding appointment, and shall not hold another 5
state, county, or municipal elective or appointive office. In making 6
these appointments, the governor and appointing counties shall seek 7
to maintain a balance reflecting all aspects of fish and wildlife, 8
including representation recommended by organized groups representing 9
sportfishers, commercial fishers, hunters, private landowners, and 10
environmentalists. Persons eligible for appointment as fish and 11
wildlife commissioners shall comply with the provisions of 12
chapter((s)) 42.52 ((and 42.17)) RCW and Title 29B RCW.13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 77.04 14
RCW to read as follows: 15
Subject to amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the 16
commission shall convene in-person meetings in each of the 17
department's six regions, as those regions existed on January 1, 18
2025, to increase the capacity of participants to represent different 19
interests and constructively communicate and address conflicts.20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 77.12 21
RCW to read as follows: 22
The department is encouraged to invite commissioners to 23
participate in any department training offered to staff on tribal 24
sovereignty, treaty rights, comanagement, and working with tribal 25
governments. Within existing resources, commissioners may participate 26
in such training. 27
--- END ---
p. 3 HB 1930