WSR 26-01-104

EXPEDITED RULES

DEPARTMENT OF

FISH AND WILDLIFE

[Order 25-27—Filed December 16, 2025, 8:56 a.m.]

Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: The reinstatement of the Columbia River recreational salmon and steelhead endorsement program (CRSSE) due to the passage of HB 2003 in the 2025 legislative session. This expedited rule making is in response to the passage of this bill and will create rule in chapter 220-220 WAC (previously repealed in 2019).

Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: CRSSE was established by the legislature in 2009 with revenue dedicated to maintaining and improving recreational fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River Basin. Projects included monitoring of salmon and steelhead fisheries in the Columbia and Snake rivers and tributaries to ensure the Washington state department of fish and wildlife (department) remains within conservation and allocation guidelines, increased enforcement of regulations in designated areas, and funded research that allowed fishery managers to more accurately estimate angling impacts to listed fish populations. Anglers were required to have CRSSE when fishing for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River Basin.

The original CRSSE authorization expired after six years. The legislature extended CRSSE in 2016 for one year. The legislature again extended CRSSE in 2017 for two years. The department's agency request legislation to extend CRSSE was not adopted in the 2019 legislative session, and thus CRSSE expired on July 1, 2019. After the dedicated CRSSE funding expired, the monitoring and activities needed to maintain and improve recreational fishing opportunities throughout the Columbia River Basin was continued using general fund state dollars. The 2025 legislature reduced general fund state dollars and correspondingly reestablished CRSSE to expire January 1, 2028. The net effect of the 2025 legislature cutting agency general fund state dollars and reestablishing CRSSE was to maintain monitoring and activities in the Columbia River Basin through 2027.

This expedited rule making temporarily reestablishes CRSSE as it existed prior to its expiration on July 1, 2019.

Reasons Supporting Proposal: Based on the legislature's reinstatement of CRSSE, the department must amend its existing rules to conform to state law.

Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.240, 77.12.800, 77.32.090, and 77.32.470.

Statute Being Implemented: RCW 77.04.012, 77.04.055, 77.12.240, 77.12.800, 77.32.090, and 77.32.470.

Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.

Name of Proponent: Governmental.

Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: Tom McBride, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501; Implementation: Kelly Cunningham, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501; and Enforcement: Chief Steve Bear, 1111 Washington Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, 360-902-2605.

This notice meets the following criteria to use the expedited adoption process for these rules:

Adopts or incorporates by reference without material change federal statutes or regulations, Washington state statutes, rules of other Washington state agencies, shoreline master programs other than those programs governing shorelines of statewide significance, or, as referenced by Washington state law, national consensus codes that generally establish industry standards, if the material adopted or incorporated regulates the same subject matter and conduct as the adopting or incorporating rule.

Explanation of the Reason the Agency Believes the Expedited Rule-Making Process is Appropriate: The department must implement the statutory changes enacted by passage of HB 2003 during the 2025 legislative session and that will result in reestablishing a repealed rule; rule making is therefore appropriate under RCW 34.05.353.

NOTICE

THIS RULE IS BEING PROPOSED UNDER AN EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS THAT WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR THE AGENCY TO HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS, PREPARE A SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT, OR PROVIDE RESPONSES TO THE CRITERIA FOR A SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATIVE RULE. IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS USE OF THE EXPEDITED RULE-MAKING PROCESS, YOU MUST EXPRESS YOUR OBJECTIONS IN WRITING AND THEY MUST BE SENT TO Scott Bird, Rules Coordinator, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98501, phone 360-902-2403, fax 360-902-2155, email rules.coordinator@dfw.wa.gov, BEGINNING December 16, 2025, AND RECEIVED BY February 23, 2026.

December 16, 2025

Scott Bird

Rules Coordinator

RDS-6852.1