Bills: HF647, HF2824, HF1249, HF623, HF820

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Bills: HF647, HF2824, HF1249, HF623, HF820

Keywords: water appropriation, aquifer management, potable water, water conservation, environmental policy, fishing regulation, angling, sustainability, biodiversity, game fish, Carley State Park, Minnesota state parks, state lands, park boundary expansion, Wabasha County, Department of Natural Resources, DNR, public lands, land acquisition, park addition

Transcript Highlights:

• This is a bunch of dedicated sportsmen and sportswomen who are hunters, anglers, conservationists of
• As you know, the sportsmen always come and put on a good feed for all of us.
• This is a bunch of dedicated<00:29:11.320><c> sportsmen</c><00:29:11.960><c> and</c><00:29:12.120><c>
• sportswomen</c><00:29:13.159><c> who</c> dedicated sportsmen and sportswomen who dedicated sportsmen
• As you know, the sportsmen<00:29:33.640><c> always</c><00:29:34.000><c> come</c><00:29:34.240><c> and

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:15:01.839><c> All</c><00:15:02.079><c> sportsmen</c> have that opportunity.
• All sportsmen have that opportunity.
• There's problems with for uh sportsmen.
• With that, sportsmen across the state.
• </c><00:21:39.120><c> and</c> the relationship between sportsmen and the relationship between sportsmen

Bills: SF0025, SF0027, SF0043, SF0066

Keywords: landowner licenses, hunting, wildlife management, quota hunt areas, game and fish commission, game management, hunting regulations, black bear, tracking dogs, wildlife conservation, conservation, contracting, supervisor, funding, districts, hunting licenses, donated licenses, life-threatening illness, vision impairment, nonprofit organizations

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> sportsmen um doing backcountry hunting. sportsmen um doing backcountry hunting.
• Representative Wharff said he worried that sportsmen could end up saying, “Well, I can do this,” and
• He said he wants to keep honest guys from getting caught and getting sportsmen and landowners into a
• He said he worries that sportsmen could end up saying, “Well, I can do this,” and that law enforcement
• and land owners in a getting sportsmen and land owners in a contentious<00:31:29.120><c> issue.

Bills: HB0015, HB0017, HB0019

Keywords: right to repair, digital electronics, consumer protection, embedded software, manufacturers, repair providers, tools and documentation, anti-theft measures, blockchain, financial technology, digital innovation, economic development, select committee, trespass, hunting, land use, public access, wildlife, 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• , much like the commission is making sure that things are run in the interest of the hunters and sportsmen
• have authority, and I think they need that authority to be able to make sure that the will of the sportsmen
• The commission is making sure that things are run in the interest of the hunters and sportsmen across
• have authority, and I think they need that authority to be able to make sure that the will of the sportsmen
• Sportsmen should not be of the opinion that more people out there mean more problems to deal with.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Well, the sportsmen are coming, and we're saying, "Let's talk about how we do this bigger."
• And I don't want it to seem like this ask is coming from sportsmen.
• And I don't want it to seem like this ask is coming from sportsmen.
• And I don't want it to seem like this ask is coming from sportsmen.
• </c> is This ask is coming from sportsmen. is This ask is coming from sportsmen.

Keywords: 916, all

Summary: The committee opened with quorum and housekeeping, then began setting interim topics for discussion. The first major topic was trapping, including prior legislation on mandatory trapper education and trapping setbacks. The Game and Fish director said the department had already gone through a trapping reform process in 2018-2019 and was prepared to testify on those issues again, noting that the commission had previously wanted legislative authority for them. A substantial portion of the meeting focused on a proposed non-motorized trail user fee. Supporters argued it could help fund trail systems and match state trail grants, citing demand for professionally built trails and examples from other states. Testimony estimated potential revenue at roughly $150,000 to $250,000 annually, depending on the model, while noting enforcement would likely rely on an honor system. Committee members discussed possible alternatives and related ideas, including using good neighbor authority with federal land managers and looking at motorized trail funding models. The director said the concept was not yet ready for immediate passage but was worth continued discussion. The committee also briefly discussed fishing outfitter issues, with the co-chair noting a prior bill had passed and that the current board still exists, but more data would be needed later in the interim. Another topic addressed ticket scalping and fake tickets at Jackson’s rodeo, which the sponsor said was affecting visitors and could warrant broader state discussion. The State Archives topic proposed expanding the digital archive and requiring agencies to use it, with added resources for local governments; staff said it would improve security, access, and storage efficiency. The committee then discussed problematic gaming and program funding, but noted a pending bill to create a separate statutory select committee on gaming, so the topic may be better handled there if formed. The final major discussion was the Game and Fish budget. The director said employee compensation increases had raised salary costs from about 40% to 60% of the budget, while overall revenue had not kept pace, forcing cuts to habitat and research work. She warned the department could reach a critical budget point by 2030. Committee members and the Wyoming Wildlife Federation supported a deeper interim review of the department’s finances and possible new revenue sources, with the director suggesting a three-meeting structure: first to lay out the budget outlook, then to discuss additional revenue options, and finally to consider what future generations may have to pay.

Transcript Highlights:

• c> women</c><00:49:03.240><c> who</c><00:49:03.400><c> are</c><00:49:03.520><c> here</c> for the sportsmen
• and women who are here for the sportsmen and women who are here in<00:49:03.800><c> the</c><00:49:03.880
• Uh, we do, as I mentioned, have some of our sportsmen and women representatives here in the chamber.
• We do, as I mentioned, have some of our sportsmen and women representatives here in the chamber.
• Uh, we do, as I mentioned, have some of our sportsmen and women representatives here in the chamber.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Today is sportsmen<00:13:16.000><c> and</c><00:13:16.320><c> sports</c><00:13:16.720><c> women</c><00
• :13:16.959><c> day</c><00:13:17.360><c> in</c> sportsmen and sports women day in sportsmen and sports
• <c> to</c><00:13:19.040><c> invite</c><00:13:19.360><c> all</c><00:13:19.519><c> of</c> Today is sportsmen

Keywords: House streaming session for Thursday, January 22, 2026, 957, house, all

Summary: The House met in session with 127 members initially present, opened with prayer and the journal reading, and then took up introductory business. House Bills 394 through 444 were read the first time and referred to the appropriate committees, and Introductory House Bond Initiatives Number Two was referred to Appropriations. The Speaker also announced and the House adopted appointments to the Joint Committee on Legislative Ethics and the Joint Audit and Evaluation Committee. Most of the meeting consisted of committee and delegation announcements. Appropriations, Environment and Transportation, Health, Judiciary, and Ways and Means all announced briefings later that day, while several other committees said they would not meet. Delegations from Frederick, Anne Arundel, the Eastern Shore, Prince George’s, Montgomery, Charles, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, and Southern Maryland announced upcoming meetings, many by Zoom. A Montgomery County delegate also announced a Public Safety and Administration Subcommittee briefing on the Department of Social and Economic Mobility. The floor included multiple guest and caucus recognitions. The Women’s Caucus promoted a service drive for hygiene, baby, and women’s products for the YMCA Druid Hill pantry, and the Legislative Black Caucus announced new leadership, with Chair N. Scott Phillips and Senate Vice Chair Shaneka Henson. The House welcomed visitors for Maryland Bankers Association Day, Transportation Association of Maryland advocacy day, the Maryland chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies, CPA Day, and sportsmen and sportswomen day, along with student visitors and a guest of a Prince George’s County delegate. No substantive debate or recorded votes occurred beyond the adoption of committee appointments, and the House adjourned until Friday, January 23 at 11:00 a.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• I testify before you today in strong support of AB 1912, as it would provide lawful sportsmen and sportswomen
• California Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the California Sportsmen
• So the effort is to try to just afford all of those lawful sportsmen and sportswomen the ability to have
• So I’m really hopeful that we can give our hunters and our sportsmen...” “This.
• So I’m really hopeful that we can give our hunters and our sportsmen the just security when they’re out

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills related to parks, wildlife, water, and veterans. AB 1592 would authorize the Department of Parks and Recreation to partner with the California Indian Heritage Center support organization; supporters said it would help move the long-planned center forward with Native-led governance. AB 2216 would expand the Delta Conservancy’s service area and update its authority to better support watershed-scale conservation, climate resilience, workforce, tribal grants, and related projects. AB 1702 would expand state parks access for veterans, National Guard, reservists, and active duty service members by broadening eligibility for the Distinguished Veterans Pass and creating a discounted parks pass. AB 1673 would allow county fish and game commissions to use certain revenues to reimburse sheriffs for fish and wildlife enforcement and wildlife-conflict prevention, especially in rural counties with limited state enforcement presence. The committee also considered AB 1912, which would allow archery deer hunters to carry concealed firearms while hunting, aligning deer hunting rules with those already in place for other big game archery hunts. Supporters argued it would improve hunter safety in remote areas without harming wildlife enforcement, while opponents were not present. AB 1987 would dedicate revenues generated from state wildlife areas back to those areas for operations, maintenance, and habitat management; supporters said the areas are underfunded and need a stable funding source. All of these bills received due pass recommendations and were later approved by the committee, with AB 2216 passing 11-1 and the others passing 12-0. The most contested measure was AB 2630, which would give the State Water Resources Control Board emergency-style authority to make measurement and reporting changes for water diversions and use, with a five-year sunset. The author and supporters said the board needs flexibility to update the CalWATRS reporting system quickly as technology and conditions change. Water agencies, farm groups, and business groups opposed the bill, arguing it would bypass public input and could allow repeated emergency regulations affecting compliance and operations. After extended debate, the committee passed AB 2630 on an 8-4 vote. The committee also approved two consent items, AB 1804 and AB 2260, both unanimously.

Transcript Highlights:

• Wildlife shall also conduct and resume annual population counts of whitetail deer in partnership with sportsmen
• Sportsmen and women play a vital role in this model, serving as key practitioners in the management of
• taxes, like the Pittman-Robertson Act, which comprises the American system of conservation funding, sportsmen
• Sportsmen and women contribute the vast majority of funds that state fish and wildlife agencies rely
• the department recognizes the importance of hunting to rural communities, to tens of thousands of sportsmen

Bills: SB5838, SB5960, SB6097

Keywords: tribal representation, natural resources, board of natural resources, environmental policy, community involvement, ungulate populations, wildlife management, habitat restoration, conservation, sustainability, Indian tribes, conservation futures program, federal recognition, environmental protection, 904, all

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5838, which would add a federally recognized tribal representative to the State Board of Natural Resources beginning in 2026. The Department of Natural Resources commissioner and tribal affairs director supported the bill, saying a board seat would add a vote and direct participation in decisions affecting trust lands, while not replacing existing tribal consultation. Senator Kaufman, the prime sponsor, said the measure is about inclusion and equity and suggested she would be open to an amendment adding both an east-side and west-side tribal representative. Supporters from the Colville and Yakama tribes emphasized tribal forest management expertise and the importance of tribal voice in state land stewardship. Counties and some economic interests did not oppose tribal participation in principle but raised concerns about fiduciary duties to county trust beneficiaries and said they had not been consulted. The hearing closed with written testimony totals reported as 33 pro, 107 con, and 2 other. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5960, which would require Fish and Wildlife to designate certain ungulate populations as at risk when they fall 25% below a 10-year average and to begin predator mitigation, including possible wolf removals and translocation, along with annual reporting and renewed deer counts. Senator Short said the bill responds to declining deer herds and a lack of management balance, especially in northeast Washington. Supporters, including hunters, ranchers, and some conservation advocates, argued the bill would codify existing agency plans and respond to local declines. Opponents, including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Kettle Range Conservation Group, Washington Wildlife First, Sierra Club, Humane World for Animals, and others, said state and university research shows wolves are not the main driver of ungulate declines, pointing instead to habitat, forage, drought, disease, and vehicle collisions; they warned predator control would have limited value and could worsen conflicts. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said it supports the intent of the bill but has concerns about feasibility, cost, and the need for legislative approval for some actions. Written testimony totals were reported as 1,197 pro, 352 con, and 2 other. In a work session on Lake Washington salmon predation, Larry Phillips and Muckleshoot Tribal fisheries director Jason Schaffler described efforts to reduce invasive and predatory fish in the Lake Washington system, including walleye, rock bass, yellow perch, smallmouth bass, American shad, and northern pike. They said these species are heavily impacting sockeye and Chinook smolts and that targeted suppression has already improved understanding and may improve salmon survival further. They asked for continued and modest sustained funding to expand removal efforts, noting prior state support and a recent King County emergency appropriation. Senators asked about the methods for suppression, invasive species prevention, and the effect of prior budget cuts; the presenters said larger fish are being selectively removed and that more programmatic funding would help scale the work. Finally, the committee heard Senate Bill 1697, which would add federally recognized tribes as eligible participants in the conservation futures program. Staff explained the program allows counties to levy a property tax for open space, timber, and farmland conservation, and the bill would extend eligibility to tribes with an estimated Department of Revenue fiscal note of about $273,000. The Washington Farmland Trust and Tulalip Tribe supported the bill, saying it would improve partnerships, allow tribes to access county conservation funds, and help preserve farmland, salmon habitat, and other lands for long-term stewardship. Tulalip described current collaborative conservation projects and said the change would be voluntary for counties, landowners, and tribes. Senator Short asked about county approval processes, and Tulalip explained that each county sets its own criteria and priorities for conservation futures projects.

Transcript Highlights:

• shall also conduct and resume annual population counts of white-tailed deer in partnership with sportsmen
• Sportsmen and women play a vital role in this model, serving as key practitioners in the management of
• taxes, like the Pittman-Robertson Act, which comprises the American system of conservation funding, sportsmen
• Sportsmen and women contribute the vast majority of funds that state fish and wildlife agencies rely
• the department recognizes the importance of hunting to rural communities, to tens of thousands of sportsmen

Summary: The committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5838, which would add a federally recognized tribal representative to the State Board of Natural Resources. The Department of Natural Resources commissioner and tribal leaders said the change would bring Indigenous knowledge and a voting voice to decisions on trust lands, while preserving existing tribal consultation. Some county and economic interests said they were not opposed to tribal participation but stressed the board’s fiduciary duty to trust beneficiaries and asked for more review of the board’s purpose; one witness questioned whether the beneficiaries had been consulted. The prime sponsor, Senator Claudia Kaufman, said the bill is about inclusion and equity and indicated openness to an amendment adding both eastside and westside tribal representation. The hearing closed with 142 written comments reported: 33 pro, 107 con, and 2 other. The committee then heard Senate Bill 5960, which would require Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and take predator mitigation actions when populations fall below specified benchmarks. Senator Shelley Short said the bill responds to declining deer and elk numbers and a lack of management, especially in northeast Washington. Supporters argued the bill would codify existing agency plans and restore balance in wildlife management, while opponents—including conservation groups, the Sierra Club, and several scientists and advocates—said the state’s predator-prey study found wolves were not the main driver of ungulate declines, pointing instead to habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions. Ranching and farm groups supported the overall goal but objected to the bill’s in-state wolf translocation provisions. The Department of Fish and Wildlife said it recognized the bill’s intent but opposed it because some directives were impractical, costly, or would require legislative approval. The hearing closed with 1,197 written comments reported: 843 pro, 352 con, and 2 other. The committee then held a work session on Lake Washington salmon predation. Larry Phillips and Muckleshoot Fisheries Director Jason Schaffler described a coalition effort to reduce predation on juvenile salmon in the Lake Washington system, saying invasive and predatory fish such as walleye, rock bass, American shad, northern pike, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass are harming sockeye and Chinook recovery. They said sockeye returns have fallen from hundreds of thousands to about 18,000 in recent years, ending tribal and sport fisheries, and argued that targeted predator removal, supported by prior state and county funding, could help restore runs. Senators asked about the methods and funding, and the presenters said fishing and netting are being used to suppress larger predatory fish and that more sustained investment is needed. Finally, the committee began public hearing on Senate Bill 1697, which would make federally recognized tribes eligible recipients for county conservation futures funds. Testifiers from the Washington Farmland Trust and the Tulalip Tribe said the bill would expand voluntary conservation partnerships, help tribes steward farmland and habitat, and make it easier to leverage county funds with other grants. They described past projects where tribal participation improved conservation outcomes but said tribes could not directly access conservation futures dollars under current law.

Transcript Highlights:

• I’m a farmer myself, third generation, and there’s also a lot of sportsmen in my area, whether they’re
• 37.160><c> of</c> generation and uh there's also a lot of generation and uh there's also a lot of Sportsmen
• in my area whether they're Sportsmen in my area whether they're absentee<00:02:39.599><c> land</c><00
• There's going to be a broader conversation relative to issues that sportsmen and women around the state
• women around the issues that Sportsmen women around the state<00:41:54.960><c> would</c><00:41:55.400

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• never been to the Musial Awards, you've got to go, because it's about, it's not just about famous sportsmen
• You've got to go because it's about, it's not just about famous sportsmen, it's about true sportsmanship

Keywords: 959, house, all

Summary: The Missouri House convened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, then approved the House Journal for the first day by roll call vote, 123 ayes and 12 nays. The chamber then spent much of the session on points of personal privilege, with members offering tributes and moments of silence for several deceased individuals, including Patty Green, Renee Nicole Good, and two young people, Lucas Long Jr. and Jaasia Lewis. Members also recognized special guests, including a veteran from Waynesville, a former MU classmate of the Speaker, and constituents from Maplewood. The House later approved the Journal for the second day by voice vote. During first reading, the clerk read three bills: House Bill 2898 on unpaid taxes and fees, House Bill 2899 on design-build contracts, and House Bill 2900 on Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. The Speaker also appointed members to the escort committee for the upcoming State of the State address. Several committee and informational meeting announcements were made, including Ways and Means, Elections, Children and Family, Economic Development, and a nonpartisan Capitol Commission Bible study. The House then adopted a motion to adjourn and stood adjourned until 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

Transcript Highlights:

• I testify before you today in strong support of AB 1912, as it would provide lawful sportsmen and sportswomen
• So the effort is to try to just afford all of those lawful sportsmen and sportswomen the ability to have
• So I’m really hopeful that we can give our hunters and our sportsmen…” “So I’m really hopeful that we
• can give our hunters and our sportsmen the just security when they’re out there in the forest and the

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm representing the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation.
• I'm representing the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation.
• For the record, I'm Chuck Podalak, also with Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation.
• Chairman, based on the numbers that we on the ranching and the sportsmen side came up with, that $11
• gabble out or not yes sir yeah mr. chairman based on the numbers that we on the the ranching and the sportsmen

Summary: The Arizona Off-Road Vehicle Study Committee met to review Senate Bill 1519 and broader OHV policy issues, including funding, mitigation, enforcement, and education. Staff summarized the bill’s amended provisions: raising the OHV/ATV weight threshold from 2,500 to 3,500 pounds, directing ADOT to create a new usage classification, creating an Off-Highway Vehicle Law Enforcement Fund, and setting a 50% vehicle license tax for vehicles in the 2,500–3,500 pound range. Members discussed how many vehicles would be affected, with industry testimony estimating about 2,600 new Arizona sales in that weight class in 2025 and growth of roughly 10% annually. Committee members also debated whether changes should be revenue-neutral to ADOT/HIRF or instead generate dedicated enforcement and mitigation funding without reopening HIRF distribution. The committee then turned to education. Staff reviewed SB 1567, which requires OHV course completion before issuance of an OHV indicia and includes a report due December 1, 2026. Game and Fish said the mandatory education appears to be improving behavior, especially helmet use by children. Several witnesses, including representatives from Riding Arizona and ABATE Arizona, supported a consistent statewide training model and suggested expanding the requirement from owners to operators, with possible reciprocity or compact-style recognition with other states. Members also raised practical questions about proof of completion, online access, and how law enforcement would verify compliance. For mitigation and enforcement funding, committee members and invited stakeholders discussed the scale of the need. A research presentation from Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation estimated about $3.5 million annually for additional law enforcement and about $7.5 million annually for natural resource mitigation, for a combined target of roughly $11 million per year. The estimate was based on county sheriff input and existing federal land-management data on illegal or user-created roads, with a statewide rough range of 12,000 to 17,000 miles of roads needing some form of closure or decommissioning. Members emphasized that the estimate did not include all possible costs, such as fence repair, tank restoration, or environmental compliance, and discussed soft versus hard closures, prevention, and the need to pair any mitigation spending with enforcement and education. No formal vote was taken in the portion provided; the committee mainly received information, asked questions, and continued discussion of possible recommendations.

Transcript Highlights:

• And, you know, I'm here for the hunters, for the other sportsmen that benefit from this property.
• And, you know, I'm here for the hunters, for the other sportsmen that benefit from this property.
• And, you know, I'm here for the hunters, for the other sportsmen that benefit from this property.
• This is one section that’s open that is there specifically for sportsmen.
• But, like I said, this section was specifically set aside for sportsmen or women of the state.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Summary: The meeting was an orientation for the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee, led by Chair Bob Harb. He reviewed committee procedures, including pink cards for witnesses, blue sheets for counts, use of drawers in the committee room, scheduling practices, and how bills would be posted and distributed. Members briefly introduced themselves and explained why they wanted to serve on the committee, with several citing interests in conservation, water quality, outdoor recreation, land use, and related local issues. The committee then opened a hearing on HB 1113, relative to OHRV operation on certain highways within the town of Windsor. Representative Ré Colcombe, the sponsor, explained that the bill would allow local OHV/UTV access across a short section of state road in Windsor so residents on divided portions of town could travel legally between areas. He said the town selectmen were already allowing OHRV use on town roads, the route was paved, traffic impacts were expected to be minimal, and local police had no objections. He also said the town would hold public hearings and notify abutters as required, and that if the select board ultimately opposed the proposal he would recommend killing the bill. Members asked about the legal authority for the change, speed limits, traffic volume, winter maintenance, and whether the Department of Transportation or select board had to approve the route. Colcombe said the town must hold a public hearing and that the change would need to be incorporated into RSA 258:10, section 4. He said the road is maintained by the town in winter and by the state in summer. An opponent, Anne Davis, testified that she opposed the bill, saying ATV use should be treated as a tool for forest management rather than recreation, that law enforcement capacity in Windsor was a concern, and that she believed affected residents should be fully notified before any approval. No vote or final action was taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• countless Colorado gun owners<01:18:12.400><c> such</c><01:18:12.640><c> as</c><01:18:13.040><c> sportsmen
• ,</c><01:18:14.320><c> firearm</c> owners such as sportsmen, firearm owners such as sportsmen, firearm
• , this bill criminalizes everyday activities between our citizens, basically between gun owners, sportsmen
• , sportsmen, sportsmen, firearm<01:32:23.520><c> enthusiasts,</c><01:32:24.239><c> and</c><01:32:24.480
• </c> between citizens, gun owners, sportsmen. between citizens, gun owners, sportsmen.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• department must also conduct and resume annual population counts of white-tailed deer in partnership with sportsmen
• department must conduct and resume annual population counts of white-tailed deer in partnership with sportsmen
• the department recognizes the importance of hunting to rural communities, to tens of thousands of sportsmen
• the department recognizes the importance of hunting to rural communities, to tens of thousands of sportsmen
• things that I heard that's relevant to this bill that I'm happy to hear, by the way, is that the sportsmen

Bills: HB2131, HB2221, HJM4009, HB2619

Keywords: sea lion, predation control, salmon preservation, fishing industry, voluntary donations, ungulate, wildlife conservation, ecosystem management, population sustainability, environmental impact, wildfire, federal response, community protection, natural resources, firefighter safety, agriculture, regulations, farming, compliance, economic impact

Summary: The committee first heard House Bill 2221, which would require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to designate at-risk ungulate populations and trigger predator mitigation if populations in the federal delisting area fall 25% below a 10-year rolling average. The sponsor, Rep. Hunter Abel, said the bill is meant to address declining deer and elk herds in northeast Washington, support tribal and subsistence hunting, and help rural economies. Staff explained the bill’s definitions and reporting requirements, while committee questions focused on what animals count as ungulates and whether livestock are included. Public testimony was sharply divided: supporters, including some local residents, a sheriff, a county commissioner, cattle and farm groups, and a tribes representative, argued that predators are contributing to herd declines and economic harm; opponents, including WDFW, Washington Wildlife First, Sierra Club, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and conservation groups, said the science does not support predator control as an effective way to boost ungulate populations and pointed instead to habitat, forage, weather, disease, and vehicle collisions. WDFW said parts of the bill are impractical and costly, while some supporters asked for amendments, especially on in-state wolf translocation. The hearing closed with the record showing 138 in favor, 339 opposed, and no other signed in without testifying. The committee then heard House Bill 2619, which would create a joint legislative task force to review and recommend ways to reduce regulatory stress in agriculture, including rules on land use, water stewardship, grazing, and pesticides. Rep. Tom Dent said the bill grows out of prior task force work on farm stress and suicide, and is intended to ease financial and mental health pressures on producers by reducing regulatory overload. The Washington State Department of Agriculture testified in support of the concept but noted a fiscal note and said it was working with the sponsor to reduce the cost. Farm and commodity groups also supported the bill, describing it as a practical response to stress on family farms. The committee then moved to House Joint Memorial 4009, which asks Congress to ensure federal wildfire response agencies remain capable of protecting communities, natural resources, and firefighter safety amid federal consolidation of wildfire programs. Rep. Springer and multiple tribal, county, forest industry, conservation, and public employee witnesses supported the memorial and repeatedly tied it to restoring full funding for state wildfire resilience efforts, especially House Bill 1168 funding, arguing that state and federal investments together reduce fire risk and costs. The memorial hearing ended with the record showing 181 in favor, two opposed, and no other signed in without testifying. The committee returned to House Bill 2221 for public testimony. WDFW said it supports the goal of healthy herds but raised concerns about feasibility, cost, and the bill’s harvest benchmarks. Opponents again argued that predator control is not supported by the science and that habitat and forage are the main drivers of ungulate trends. Supporters, including tribal, county, ranching, and local resident witnesses, said deer and elk declines are visible on the ground and are affecting hunting, tourism, livestock, and rural life. Several witnesses requested amendments, especially to the in-state wolf translocation language. After closing the hearing, the committee began House Bill 2131, which would add a voluntary $1-or-more donation option to vessel registrations to support sea lion predation control and salmon preservation in the Lower Columbia River. Staff explained that the account would fund pinniped management and not supplant existing funds, and noted an amendment delaying implementation from July 1 to October 1, 2026. The sponsor, Rep. Ed Orcutt, began his testimony describing sea lion impacts on Columbia River salmon and the need for the donation mechanism.

Transcript Highlights:

• Since the passage of this law, I have heard from countless constituents, law-abiding gun owners, sportsmen
• Imagine the result if you remove the oversight provided by sportsmen in the Youth Hunt program.
• The law-abiding sportsmen of Plymouth County leave you with a simple concept that should govern your
• The law-abiding sportsmen In criminals, don't obey laws.
• The law-abiding sportsmen of Plymouth County leave you with a simple concept that should govern your

Keywords: 995, all

Summary: The hearing focused heavily on firearms legislation, especially bills to repeal Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024 (including H. 2618/S. 1671 and related repeal measures) and bills on firearm industry accountability (H. 2672/S. 1653). Supporters of repeal, including Senator Peter Durant, Rep. Ken Sweezey, gun owners, instructors, sportsmen, and women’s gun-rights advocates, argued that Chapter 135 overreaches, creates confusion in licensing and training requirements, burdens lawful gun owners, restricts pepper spray and semi-automatic firearms, and is being enforced in ways they said criminalize responsible conduct. Committee members defending the law said it was the product of years of work, public listening sessions, and multiple drafts, and argued that Massachusetts remains the safest state for gun violence and that implementation issues, such as live-fire training, had been delayed to allow time for regulations and infrastructure. Several witnesses also testified on H. 2672/S. 1653, which would create firearm industry standards of conduct and allow civil actions against manufacturers, distributors, and dealers that engage in unsafe or unlawful practices. Supporters from the Massachusetts Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, Everytown, Brady, Giffords, and survivors described the bill as a way to hold the industry accountable, reduce the flow of crime guns, and give victims and the Attorney General a path to sue bad actors. They cited data on crime-gun traces, disproportionate impacts on communities of color, and examples from other states that have enacted similar laws. Opponents, including gun dealers and industry representatives, argued that existing law already punishes illegal sales, that most crime guns are stolen or diverted after lawful sale, and that the bill would improperly target manufacturers for the actions of others. The committee also heard testimony on a bill to remove the non-resident ban on semi-automatic firearms for hunting (H. 2710/S. 1676), with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers supporting the change as a way to restore access for returning residents, veterans, and hunting programs that had been displaced. Later testimony returned to repeal and related gun-law bills, with sportsmen’s groups arguing Chapter 135 was rushed, confusing, and harmful to youth hunting and lawful ownership. No votes or final committee actions were taken during the hearing; it was a public testimony session with extensive questioning by committee members.