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Evergreen Ledger

SSB 5583

Signed

Senate

Fishing and hunting licenses

Concerning recreational fishing and hunting licenses.

How does a bill become law?
  1. Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
  2. Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
  3. Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
  4. Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
  5. Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
  6. Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
Introduced: February 26, 2025
Last Action: May 17, 2025
Status: C 328 L 25
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AI Analysis

This analysis was generated by AI and may contain errors. It is not legal advice. Always refer to the official bill text for authoritative information.
People & CommunitiesBalancedCorporate & Wealthy Interests

This bill overhauls Washington’s recreational fishing and hunting license structure by updating fee schedules, expanding discounts for veterans and people with disabilities, revising hunter education and special hunt requirements, and directing new revenue streams to specific conservation and management programs. It also creates a mechanism for future fee adjustments to match inflation.

  • Updates and standardizes recreational fishing and hunting license fees across all license types, including new discounted rates for residents aged 65+ with qualifying military service or disabilities, and free licenses for active full-time state/national guard members.
  • Requires catch record cards for certain fisheries (e.g., Dungeness crab, halibut), with fees for duplicate cards and new endorsements; revenue from these fees is directed to specific accounts for fisheries management and gear removal.
  • Modifies hunter education requirements: allows one-time deferral for first-time hunters accompanied by a licensed hunter, waives firearms portion for certain military and law enforcement personnel, and authorizes a $20 discount for first-time residents who complete training.
  • Revises special hunt permit application fees (e.g., big game, turkey, migratory birds), creates new 'quality' hunt options, and updates Western Washington pheasant licensing options and fees.
  • Authorizes the commission to impose a biennial surcharge (starting September 1, 2027) to offset inflationary cost increases in the fish and wildlife budget, and allows combination licenses spanning multiple years.

Who is affected

  • Recreational anglers and hunters — Residents and nonresidents who fish or hunt recreationally in Washington will see updated license fees, new discounts for certain groups (e.g., veterans with disabilities, seniors), and changes to license requirements and validity periods.
  • Military and disabled residents — Active-duty military personnel, veterans with service-connected disabilities, people with qualifying disabilities, and members of the state or national guard may qualify for discounted or free licenses.
  • Special hunt applicants and upland game hunters — Hunters applying for special hunts (e.g., big game, quality permits) will face updated application fees and rules for deferred hunter education, while turkey and pheasant hunters will see new licensing options and fees.
  • Commercial and guided fishing operators — Charter boat operators, guides, and commercial shellfish harvesters will be affected by changes to catch record card fees, Dungeness crab endorsements, and temporary license rules.
Effective: 2025-07-01Fiscal impact: The bill establishes a new surcharge authority (effective September 1, 2027) to adjust license fees for inflation, and redirects revenue from certain license fees (e.g., Dungeness crab endorsements, halibut catch cards, turkey tags) into dedicated accounts for fisheries management, turkey management, and derelict gear removal. It also creates a new fee for hunter education deferrals and adjusts fees for catch record cards and endorsements.
Model: Intel/Qwen3-Coder-Next-int4-AutoRoundGenerated: Mar 19, 2026 at 9:06 PM

Pro/Con Analysis

Stronger case for benefits

Potential Benefits (5)

  • The bill expands free or deeply discounted licenses for disabled veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities — including free combination licenses for active full-time National Guard members — directly improving access to outdoor recreation for historically underserved groups with limited means.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 12 (new), RCW 77.32.480 amendments

  • The bill establishes deeply discounted (and in some cases free) licenses for residents aged 65+ with qualifying service-connected disabilities or blindness — significantly lowering the cost of recreation for low- and fixed-income seniors, many of whom rely on public lands for affordable outdoor access.

    Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 17 (Hunting Fee Table), Resident Senior discounts (e.g., $6.90 freshwater, $7.59 saltwater, $21.39 combination licenses)

  • The $20 discount for first-time resident hunters who complete hunter education directly reduces the barrier to entry for new participants — especially youth and low-income adults — and supports long-term conservation ethics through education.

    EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 4 (new), RCW 77.32.155 amendments: $20 discount for first-time residents who complete hunter education

  • Dedicated funding from Dungeness crab endorsement fees for derelict gear removal helps reduce marine debris and protects nearshore ecosystems — benefiting all coastal residents through improved water quality, safer beaches, and healthier fisheries.

    EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 7(6)(a), Dungeness crab endorsement revenue allocation: 11% for derelict gear removal

  • By expanding access to free or discounted licenses for military personnel and vulnerable populations, the bill supports inclusive public safety efforts (e.g., predator control, harvest reporting) and strengthens community engagement in wildlife stewardship.

    Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 17 (Hunting Fee Table), Free youth licenses for disabled veterans and seniors; Sec. 12, free licenses for active full-time National Guard members
Potential Concerns (5)

  • The biennial surcharge authority (Sec. 18) allows the commission to raise *all* license fees (except commercial/transaction fees) to offset inflation — but does not cap the surcharge level or require legislative approval of the *amount*, creating risk of repeated fee hikes that disproportionately burden low- and middle-income recreational anglers/hunters who cannot easily absorb recurring cost increases.

    FinancialLean industryRef: Sec. 18 (new), effective 9/1/2027

  • The bill significantly increases fees for nonresidents (e.g., big game combination license up to ~$2,070 for moose/goat/sheep), which primarily benefits state revenue and large commercial outfitters who serve wealthy out-of-state clients — while pricing out middle-income Washingtonians who may have previously hunted in Washington but now face prohibitive costs.

    FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 17 (Hunting Fee Table), Big Game combination packages (e.g., Deer+Elk+Bear+Cougar: $1,076.40 for nonresidents; $117.30 for residents)

  • The $138 nonresident special hunt application fee (e.g., for quality deer/elk) is high relative to the $5.63 resident fee and may disproportionately benefit commercial guided hunting operations that cater to high-paying nonresidents — while creating a financial barrier for Washington residents seeking access to limited-entry hunts.

    FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 17 (Hunting Fee Table), Special hunt application fees ($138 for nonresidents, $5.63 for residents for 'quality' hunts)

  • The new catch record card and Dungeness crab endorsement fees ($10.35 per card) increase compliance costs for small-scale recreational shellfish harvesters and charter operators — especially those on fixed incomes or running micro-businesses — while the revenue stream is directed to state management accounts, not direct support for these operators.

    Business & EmploymentLean industryRef: Sec. 7(6)(a), Dungeness crab endorsement ($10.35 for residents, $10.35 for nonresidents; $4.14 for 1–3 day temp licenses)

  • The master hunter permit fee structure ($69 initial, $34.50 renewal) creates a new cost barrier for residents seeking to participate in controlled predator-control hunts — but the program is narrowly scoped and likely used by a small subset of hunters, so the broader financial impact on everyday Washingtonians is limited.

    FinancialLean industryRef: Sec. 17 (Hunting Fee Table), Master Hunter Permit fees ($69 initial, $34.50 renewal)

Who Is Most Affected

Recreational anglers and huntersMixed Impact

Low- and middle-income recreational anglers and hunters — especially seniors, disabled veterans, and first-time hunters — benefit significantly from discounted/free licenses and education incentives, though rising base fees and surcharges may strain some.

Military and disabled residentsPositive Impact

Disabled veterans and seniors gain major access and cost savings; active-duty and National Guard members receive free licenses — but nonresidents face steep fee hikes, especially for big game and special hunts.

Special hunt applicants and upland game huntersMixed Impact

Special hunt applicants (e.g., big game, turkey) face higher application fees ($138 for nonresidents), but first-time hunters get a $20 discount — while commercial guided operators may benefit from higher nonresident fees funding better habitat and game management.

Commercial and guided fishing operatorsMixed Impact

Charter operators and small-scale harvesters face new fees (e.g., $10.35 Dungeness crab endorsement), but the dedicated gear removal funding may improve long-term shellfish bed health — a net benefit only if revenue offsets compliance costs.