Bill
SB 5583
SB 5583 hikes resident/nonresident hunting and fishing licenses about 38% to boost DFW funding, modernize licenses, and allow a biennial surcharge with revised revenue allocations.
Status and timeline
- Passed Legislature (Senate 3/26/2025; House 4/23/2025). Governor signed 5/17/2025.
- Enacted as Chapter 328, 2025 Laws. Effective date: July 27, 2025.
- No new appropriation; fiscal note available.
Purpose / intent
- Increase state hunting and recreational fishing license fees administered by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) to strengthen revenue for DFW operations, and to modernize several license, revenue-distribution, and program provisions.
Key provisions and changes
- Fee increases: Many resident and nonresident license fees are increased — generally about a 38% increase from prior statutory levels. Examples of updated resident / nonresident rates:
- Annual freshwater license: $34.50 / $103.50 (resident / nonresident)
- Annual saltwater license: $35.19 / $72.45
- Annual combination license: $62.79 / $149.73 (resident senior reduced rate established: $21.39; youth free)
- Big-game licenses (examples): deer/elk/bear/cougar license — resident $117.30; nonresident $1,076.40.
- Catch record cards: first card free; additional cards $15.18 each.
(Full fee tables are specified in the bill.)
- Resident senior rates: establishes reduced license rates for resident seniors (rates listed in bill).
- Fish & Wildlife Commission surcharge authority: the Commission may add an equal surcharge to all fishing and hunting fees by November 1 of each odd-numbered year if needed to fund compensation, central services, and other increased operating costs approved in the Legislature’s biennial budget.
- Revenue distribution changes: certain freshwater and combination fishing license revenue (including temporary combination licenses) is allocated by fixed percentages rather than participation:
- Warm Water Game Fish Account — 6.8%
- Recreational Fisheries Enhancement Account — 12%
- Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group Account — 2.3%
- Rockfish Research Account — 1.8%
- 5% of small-game license revenue to the Eastern Washington Pheasant Enhancement Account (replacing participation-based allocation).
- Program and regulatory changes include:
- DFW may offer temporary discounted promotional pricing to increase participation.
- Youth defined as under 16 (changed from under 15) for fishing eligibility.
- One-time discount (up to $20) for first-time resident hunters who complete hunter education.
- Requirement of migratory bird authorization for hunting certain species (band‑tailed pigeon, brant, sea duck, snow goose, southwest Canada goose).
- 11% of Dungeness crab endorsement revenue (instead of $1 per endorsement) directed toward removal of derelict shellfish gear.
- Removed an eight‑day pause on temporary combination license activity tied to lowland lake season opening.
- Increased reduced combination fishing license rate for certain disabilities from $5 to $6.90.
- Raised age exempting shellfish/seaweed license from under 15 to under 16.
- Eliminated a 10‑hour minimum for hunter education courses.
- Increased share of turkey tag revenue for turkey management from one‑third to two‑thirds.
- Increased maximum raffle ticket cost for big game / wild turkey fundraising from $25 to $30.
- Penalties, conforming amendments, and statutory cross‑references updated as needed.
Who is affected
- Primary: Washington anglers and hunters (resident, resident senior, youth, and nonresident license purchasers).
- Secondary: DFW operations and program accounts (changes to fee revenue flows), Fish and Wildlife Commission (new surcharge rulemaking authority), NGOs and programs funded from specified accounts (e.g., fisheries enhancement, regional groups, turkey and pheasant programs), and users of temporary promotional pricing.
- Some proposed floor amendments (veteran senior rates, multi‑year phase‑ins, bag‑limit increases, income‑based fee freezes, targeted allocations) were considered but not adopted in the enrolled bill.
Fiscal and procedural notes
- Fee increases are expected to raise DFW revenue and alter distributions across DFW-managed accounts; the bill included a fiscal note (see DFW/Fiscal Note for details).
- The bill removed the emergency clause during amendment activity; the law takes effect on the published effective date (July 27, 2025).
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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