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Bill

HB 2003

Concerning the Columbia river recreational salmon and steelhead endorsement program.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Joe Fitzgibbon and 2 co-sponsors

Washington establishes a new Columbia River salmon and steelhead recreational endorsement program effective 2026 to fund dedicated fishery management and conservation efforts.

Effective date 1/1/2026.
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Bill Summary · HB 2003

Legislative bill overview

HB 2003 establishes a new recreational salmon and steelhead endorsement program specific to the Columbia River in Washington State. The bill creates a dedicated licensing mechanism for recreational fishing in this region, which became law on May 17, 2025, and takes effect January 1, 2026.

Why is this important

This program generates dedicated revenue for Columbia River salmon and steelhead management, habitat restoration, and recreational fishing infrastructure. The endorsement system allows the state to better track fishing pressure and allocate conservation resources specifically to one of the Pacific Northwest's most economically and ecologically significant fisheries.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost burden on recreational anglers: The endorsement creates an additional licensing fee on top of existing fishing licenses, which may reduce fishing participation among lower-income anglers
  • Revenue allocation transparency: Questions about whether endorsement revenue will be used effectively for conservation versus general fund purposes
  • Equity concerns: Different rules or costs for Columbia River fishing versus other state waters could create fairness debates among recreational fishing communities

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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