SB 5851
In CommitteeSenate
Sea lion predation donations
Providing for donations to the sea lion predation control account at the time of vessel registration for the purpose of salmon level preservation.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill allows Washington vessel owners to make a voluntary donation during vessel registration to support salmon preservation by funding sea lion population management in the lower Columbia River. It creates a dedicated account for these donations and ensures any interest earned on those funds is distributed to the account like other state funds.
- Creates a new voluntary donation option during vessel registration (initial or renewal), allowing owners to donate $1 or more in whole-dollar increments for salmon preservation.
- Establishes the 'sea lion predation control account' in the state treasury to receive all donations; funds may only be spent after legislative appropriation and only for pinniped (e.g., sea lion) management in the lower Columbia River to protect salmon.
- Requires that funds from the account may not replace (‘supplant’) existing state funding for pinniped management—only supplement it.
- Adds the sea lion predation control account to the list of accounts that receive a proportionate share of state treasury investment earnings based on average daily balance.
- Includes multiple contingent and staggered expiration and effective dates for different sections of the bill, with the main donation provision taking effect July 1, 2026.
- Section 7 (which adds the sea lion account to the earnings distribution list) expires when RCW 74.76.040 expires (a related law concerning tribal opioid settlements), while other sections expire between July 1, 2028 and January 1, 2029.
Who is affected
- Vessel owners — Vessel owners in Washington State who register or renew their vessels will be offered a voluntary opportunity to donate $1 or more (in whole-dollar increments) toward salmon preservation efforts.
- Salmon populations — Salmon populations in the lower Columbia River may benefit from increased funding for pinniped (e.g., sea lion) population management, which can reduce predation on juvenile salmon.
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife — The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife may use donated funds to support authorized activities to manage pinniped populations in the lower Columbia River, but only for new or supplemental efforts—not to replace existing funding.
- State treasury accounts and programs — State treasury accounts and programs that receive investment earnings may see a small reduction in their share of interest income, as earnings from the newly created sea lion predation control account will be distributed proportionally like other accounts.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (2)
The bill enables direct, voluntary public support for salmon preservation by funding sea lion predation control in the lower Columbia River—a scientifically documented threat to juvenile salmon survival—potentially improving recovery trajectories for listed salmon stocks and supporting tribal treaty rights and commercial/recreational fisheries.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2), Sec. 2By allowing vessel owners to contribute during routine registration, the bill creates a low-barrier, transparent mechanism for public engagement in ecosystem stewardship—potentially increasing civic investment in salmon recovery and fostering broader support for long-term conservation policies.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1), Sec. 1(2)
Potential Concerns (3)
The bill adds the sea lion predation control account to the list of accounts receiving proportionate shares of state treasury investment earnings, which slightly reduces the share available to other accounts—including many that fund core local services like K-12 education, transportation, and public health—by distributing interest based on average daily balance. While the absolute impact is likely minimal due to the small projected size of the account, it creates a structural precedent that could erode funding equity over time if more voluntary accounts are added without offsetting revenue.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2The requirement that donated funds may not supplant existing state funding for pinniped management creates a risk that increased donations could lead to political pressure to freeze baseline funding, resulting in net stagnation or even decline in total salmon protection efforts—especially if federal or tribal funding does not increase in tandem.
EnvironmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2The donation is voluntary and capped at whole-dollar increments, meaning most vessel owners will likely contribute $1–$5, generating minimal revenue relative to administrative costs of collection and oversight—particularly for small county auditor offices that lack integrated digital registration systems.
FinancialRef: Sec. 1(2)
Who Is Most Affected
Vessel owners (especially recreational boaters and commercial operators) gain a symbolic, low-cost way to support salmon recovery, but may perceive minimal personal benefit unless they fish or rely on healthy salmon populations. The $1+ donation is unlikely to meaningfully impact their finances, but may create a sense of participation in conservation.
Salmon populations—particularly Chinook listed under the Endangered Species Act—may benefit from reduced predation by California sea lions in the lower Columbia River, especially during smolt migration. However, effectiveness depends on whether donated funds enable new or supplemental actions beyond current federal/tribal management efforts.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) gains a new funding stream for pinniped management, but is constrained from using donations to replace existing appropriations—limiting flexibility. WDFW may benefit if federal/tribal partners also increase funding in response, but administrative burden for tracking and reporting on donated funds could strain small program staff.
Tribal nations (especially Cowlitz, Yakama, and Warm Springs) with treaty-reserved fishing rights and salmon recovery responsibilities may benefit indirectly if reduced sea lion predation improves salmon returns. However, the bill does not explicitly include tribal co-management or consultation, potentially limiting equitable benefit sharing.
Other state accounts (e.g., common school construction, transportation) may receive marginally less interest income due to the proportional earnings distribution rule, but the effect is likely negligible given the small projected size of the sea lion account. No group is directly harmed, but the precedent of adding new interest-earning accounts without offsetting revenue could cumulatively weaken fiscal resilience.