HB 2578 — Fish and wildlife commission

Summary

Adding tribal members to the fish and wildlife commission.

Bill Text

Compared against the Revised Code of Washington as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 3 section(s) of the Revised Code of Washington: RCW 77.04.030; RCW 77.04.040; RCW 77.04.060.

• RCW 77.04.030

  nine sixty → read as follows: (1) The fish and wildlife commission consists of 13 members and four alternate members. (a) Nine members must be registered voters of the state. In January of each odd-numbered year, the governor shall appoint with the advice and consent of the senate three registered voters to the commission to serve for terms of six years from that January or until their successors are appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs on the commission prior to the expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a registered voter within 60 days to complete the term. Three members shall be residents of that portion of the state lying east of the summit of the Cascade mountains, and three shall be residents of that portion of the state lying west of the summit of the Cascade mountains. Three additional members shall be appointed at large. No two members may be residents of the same county. Persons eligible for appointment as members of the commission under this subsection (1)(a) shall have general knowledge of the habits and distribution of fish and wildlife and shall not hold another state, county, or municipal elective or appointive office. (b)(i) Four additional members must be elected chairs, or elected to an equivalent executive office, of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose traditional lands and territories include parts of Washington. Two members must be from tribes located east of the summit of the Cascade mountains, and two members must be from tribes located west of the summit of the Cascade mountains. In January of each odd-numbered year, the governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, two elected tribal chairs to the commission to serve for terms of four years from that January or until their successors are appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a qualified tribal chair within 60 days to complete the term, and an alternate member appointed pursuant to (b)(ii) of this subsection shall serve as commissioner until a new qualified chair is appointed. If a member appointed under this subsection (1)(b)(i) no longer serves as an elected chair or equivalent executive office for any reason, the seat is considered vacant. (ii) Four alternate members must be elected to a tribal council, or an equivalent legislative body, of a federally recognized Indian tribe whose traditional lands and territories include parts of Washington to serve in the absence of a member appointed under (b)(i) of this subsection. Two alternate members must be from tribes located east of the summit of the Cascade mountains, and two alternate members must be from tribes located west of the summit of the Cascade mountains. In January of each odd-numbered year, the governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the senate, alternate members for terms of four years from that January or until their successors are appointed and qualified. If a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of a term, the governor shall appoint a qualified elected tribal councilmember within 60 days to complete the term. If an alternate appointed under this subsection (1)(b)(ii) no longer serves on a tribal council or equivalent tribal legislative office for any reason, the position shall be considered vacant. (iii) When acting in the role of commissioner, members appointed under this subsection (1)(b) shall represent the interests of all federally recognized tribes whose traditional lands and territories included parts of Washington. (2) The legal office of the commission is at the administrative office of the department in Olympia.

  amended

• RCW 77.04.040

  Persons eligible for appointment as members of the commission shall have general knowledge of the habits and distribution of fish and wildlife and shall not hold another state, county, or municipal elective or appointive office. these 42.17 → amended to read as follows: ⟦INS⟧ In ing all appointments to the commission the r s l seek to maintain a balance ll as ts of and life, including representation by or ized rep nting sportfishers, commercial nters rivat owne federally recognized tribes, ental s. P elig e for as h and missi rs s mply th th of pters 42.56

  amended

• RCW 77.04.060

  five Five → 201 23 s h am ed to le one r g du g the ar q ter, eeti when seven Seven --- END ---

  amended

Action History

1. January 20, 2026

   First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.

Sponsors

• (Lekanoff) · Primary

Subjects