Bill to add tribal seats to Fish and Wildlife Commission gets bipartisan support and questions

The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee took testimony on House Bill 2,578 on Jan. 28, a measure that would add four commissioner seats and four alternates to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission to represent federally recognized tribes whose traditional lands include parts of Washington.

"House Bill 2,578 adds 4 new commissioner positions and 4 alternates ... all representing federally recognized tribes whose traditional lands and territories included parts of Washington," Rebecca Lewis, committee staff, told members during the staff briefing, describing qualification and quorum changes and noting staggered four‑year terms for the new tribal seats.

Prime sponsor Representative Deborah Lekanoff (40th District) described the bill as strengthening co‑management and tribal partnership while explicitly saying the measure "does not replace government to government consultation." She told the committee the new positions are intended to represent tribal interests broadly and cited longstanding collaborations such as the Centennial Accord as precedent for deeper partnership.

Members asked logistical questions about how the governor would make appointments to the new seats and whether tribal consultation obligations would be affected. Lekanoff said she would follow up offline with members on appointment mechanics but reiterated the bill’s intent is to expand venues for co‑management rather than to supplant formal consultation processes.

The committee paused further questions due to time and suspended the hearing later in the agenda; donors of testimony included tribal leaders who voiced support for adding tribal perspectives to the commission. No vote was taken during this session; sponsors and staff signaled willingness to work on details and amendments.