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Panel hears proposals to raise fishing and hunting license fees; outdoor groups urge phased approach
Summary
Substitute Senate Bill 5583 would increase many Fish & Wildlife license fees — roughly 38% on average — and allow the Fish and Wildlife Commission to add periodic surcharges. The bill drew opposition from hunter-angler groups and some industry stakeholders who urged phasing or protections for low‑income participants.
The House Appropriations Committee took public testimony on Substitute Senate Bill 5583, a broad package of changes that would increase about 50 types of Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) fishing and hunting license fees, alter how certain license revenues flow into dedicated accounts, and give the Fish and Wildlife Commission authority to add periodic surcharges.
Dan Jones, committee staff, briefed the panel, explaining the bill “increases these costs for around 50 different types of licenses, generally by 38%.” He gave examples: under the bill a resident annual combination fishing license would rise from roughly $46 to $63 and a nonresident combination license would increase from $109 to $150; some small‑game and big‑game license fees would also rise.
The nut graf: DFW’s fiscal note projects a net revenue increase of about $19.5 million per biennium, with most of that entering the fish, wildlife and conservation account for general operating costs; some accounts would see decreases because of shifting allocation formulas. The bill also includes a commission surcharge mechanism allowing additional fees every other year if the commission determines surcharges are necessary to cover approved costs.
Public testimony was largely split. Several sportfishing and hunting organizations, including Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Coastal Conservation Association of Washington, acknowledged that DFW needs sustainable funding and that fee increases may be unavoidable, but urged alternatives such as phasing increases, caps on future surcharges and limits to avoid pricing out license buyers. Brian Henderson said increasing fees in combination with other tax proposals would “disproportionately target low‑income Washingtonians.” Daniel Wilson of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers cited a study estimating up to an 11% drop in license purchasers and urged sensitivity to outdoor access and enforcement consequences.
Other testifiers representing anglers, license dealers and local conservation groups raised economic arguments: Michelle Schreiber, a fishing license dealer and angler, said outdoor recreation drove about $9 billion in local spending and urged lawmakers not to price out the next generation of outdoors people.
DFW and association speakers had technical exchanges with members on distributional effects. Representative Couture asked whether license limits would change; staff said the bill does not alter bag or harvest limits. The fiscal briefing also noted an expected small reduction in federal reimbursements tied to license sales if license sales decline after price increases.
There was no committee vote at the hearing. The fiscal note and budget proposals referenced by staff differ on how the new revenue would be shifted across accounts; the bill is reflected in the Senate budget assumptions and partially in the House proposal.
