Ferguson Signs WA Fish-Hunt License Fee Hike, Return Of Columbia Endorsement Bills Into Law

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson has signed into law a pair of bills increasing the cost to fish and hunt in the state.

One raises the price of most fishing and hunting licenses by 38 percent and the other brings back the Columbia River endorsement.

Both were passed by the Democrat-controlled state legislature this past session, and the fee hike will take effect July 1 while the Columbia endorsement returns January 1, 2026.

Ferguson signed the two bills on Saturday as well as provided brief remarks on each.

“Senate Bill 5583 makes essential updates to Washington’s recreational hunting and fishing license structure by modestly increasing fees to ensure (the Department of) Fish and Wildlife can continue to sustainably manage and protect our state’s natural resources,” the governor stated.

“This is the first fee increase for hunting and fishing licenses since 2011. The prime sponsor of this legislation is State Senator Marko Liias,” he added.

The bill was not requested by WDFW but will raise $19.3 million every two years, though lawmakers sucked a like amount of state General Fund dollars out of the agency’s budget, making the increase a wash at the end of the day. It is also expected to result in an 11 percent decrease in license sales as well as $350,000 less in federal disbursements tied to those sales

In noting the news, the Washington state Republican Caucus tweeted, “All Republicans voted NO on increasing fishing and hunting license fees (SB 5583).” It was also opposed by five Democrats in the Senate and eight in the House.

Hunters 70 and older will enjoy a 66 percent price break on hunting licenses.

As for House Bill 2003, it brings back the Columbia River Recreation Salmon and Steelhead Endorsement, which sunsetted in 2019, Ferguson said.

“Anyone 15 years or older who wants to fish for salmon or steelhead on the Washington side of the Columbia, or its connected streams, needs to have the endorsement, which costs $7.50. The endorsement fee is lower for kids and seniors,” he said.

Out the door, the cost will be $8.75 for adult anglers.

“The funds raised by the endorsements can only be used to help recreational salmon and steelhead fishing in the Columbia River,” Ferguson explained. “That includes hatcheries, dealing with seal and sea lion populations that eat the fish, and ensuring fishers play by their rules. The legislature will evaluate the endorsement program in 2027 and decide if it will continue in to the future.”

The original endorsement was in effect from 2010 to 2019 and came out of the Great Recession, which carved a $30 million hole out of WDFW’s budget.

Ferguson thanked prime sponsor, Representative Christine Reeves (D-Federal Way), who was on hand with her daughter for the signing.

Correction, 9:44 a.m., May 20, 2025: Senator Marko Liias’s first name was misspelled as Marco and has since been corrected.