The bill amends various sections of the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) concerning recreational fishing and hunting licenses, introducing new definitions and clarifying existing terms. It updates the definition of "youth" to refer to individuals under 16 years old for both fishing and hunting, and allocates two percent of the revenue from small game hunting licenses to the eastern Washington pheasant enhancement account. The bill also empowers the commission to impose administrative penalties for non-compliance with wildlife harvesting reporting requirements, aiming to improve compliance rates among hunters and fishers. Additionally, it mandates annual reporting by the department on compliance rates and penalties collected.

Further amendments include the introduction of a migratory bird permit requirement, adjustments to application fees for special hunting season permits, and a revised fee structure for catch record cards and endorsements. The bill raises the minimum age for personal use fishing licenses from 15 to 16 years and establishes a temporary combination fishing license valid for one to three consecutive days. It also introduces a 50-cent surcharge for various licenses, allocated to the rockfish research account, and allows the commission to establish a surcharge on all fees to address inflation. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with the surcharge provision commencing on September 1, 2027.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 77.08.010, 77.12.810, 77.12.820, 77.32.155, 77.32.350, 77.32.370, 77.32.430, 77.32.440, 77.32.450, 77.32.470, 77.32.480, 77.32.520, 77.32.570, 77.32.575