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HB2117 • 2026

Board of natural resources

Adding a tribal member to the board of natural resources.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Stearns, Representative Nance, Representative Leavitt, Representative Parshley, Representative Ryu, Representative Ramel, Representative Doglio, Representative Simmons, Representative Peterson, Representative Santos, Representative Zahn, Representative Cortes, Representative Wylie, Representative Duerr, Representative Scott, Representative Thomas, Representative Ormsby, Representative Berg, Representative Callan, Representative Fosse, Representative Bergquist, Representative Salahuddin, Representative Hill, Representative Davis, Representative Pollet, Representative Donaghy, Representative Bernbaum, Representative Timmons
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
H Ag&Nr
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Board of natural resources

Board of natural resources

What This Bill Does

  • Board of natural resources

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 House

    First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.

Official Summary Text

Board of natural resources

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to adding a tribal member to the board of natural 1
resources; amending RCW 43.30.205; and creating a new section.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that inclusion of a 4
tribal member on the board of natural resources will provide crucial 5
perspective and expertise that will be invaluable as it makes 6
decisions that serve the public.7
Sec. 2. RCW 43.30.205 and 2025 c 94 s 1 are each amended to read 8
as follows: 9
(1) The board shall consist of ((six)) seven members:10
(a) The governor or the governor's designee; 11
(b) The superintendent of public instruction or the 12
superintendent's designee from the office of the superintendent of 13
public instruction; 14
(c) The commissioner; 15
(d) The director of the University of Washington school of forest 16
resources; 17
(e) The dean of the Washington State University college of 18
agricultural, human, and natural resource sciences; ((and))19
Z-0502.1
HOUSE BILL 2117
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Stearns, Nance, Leavitt, Parshley, Ryu, Ramel,
Doglio, Simmons, Peterson, Santos, Zahn, Cortes, Wylie, Duerr, Scott,
Thomas, Ormsby, Berg, Callan, Fosse, Bergquist, Salahuddin, Hill,
Davis, Pollet, Donaghy, Bernbaum, and Timmons; by request of
Department of Natural Resources
Prefiled 12/08/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Agriculture & Natural Resources.
p. 1 HB 2117
(f) A representative of those counties that contain state 1
forestlands acquired or transferred under RCW 79.22.010, 79.22.040, 2
and 79.22.020; and3
(g) A tribal representative. 4
(2)(a) The county representative on the board shall be selected 5
by the legislative authorities of those counties that contain state 6
forestlands acquired or transferred under RCW 79.22.010, 79.22.040, 7
and 79.22.020. In the selection of the county representative, each 8
participating county shall have one vote. The Washington state 9
association of counties shall convene a meeting for the purpose of 10
making the selection and shall notify the board of the selection.11
(b) The county representative must be a duly elected member of a 12
county legislative authority who shall serve a term of four years 13
unless the representative should leave office for any reason. The 14
initial term shall begin on July 1, 1986. 15
(3)(a) The tribal representative shall be appointed by the 16
governor and must be a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe 17
who shall serve a term of four years unless the representative should 18
leave office for any reason. The initial term shall begin on July 1, 19
2026.20
(b) When appointing a tribal representative, the governor shall 21
solicit and consider nominees from each of the federally recognized 22
tribes in Washington state. The governor shall collaborate with 23
federally recognized tribes on the selection of the tribal 24
representative.25
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 2117