(The Center Square) – After more than a decade of holding steady, Senate Democrats voted Wednesday to advance a 38% “inflationary adjustment” that would raise the price of hunting and fishing licenses in Washington state if passed by the House.
The 25-24 party-line vote advanced Senate Bill 5583, pending further consideration by the House of Representatives before final adoption. If approved, the bill would raise the price of hunting and fishing licenses for the first time since 2011 amid a significant budget shortfall.
The majority party put the figure at about $12 billion over the next four years, but Republicans say the shortfall is closer to $6.7 billion. Some call it a ploy by Democrats to raise taxes higher than necessary to fund future initiatives, but the minority lacks enough votes to stand in the way.
Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, argued that hunting and fishing fees are falling behind the cost of maintaining the Pacific Northwest. He said even his “very thrifty” dad, an avid hunter, “reluctantly admitted” that the hike is necessary but noted his excitement to receive new discounts.
“This bill proposes to make an inflationary adjustment. It’s a big adjustment, but inflation has been significant over the last 15 years to keep up with those costs,” Liias said on the Senate floor, “and as the amendment alluded, it also charts a sustainable path forward.”
The proposal also establishes reduced rates for hunting and fishing for seniors at least 70 years old. Liias said his dad isn’t quite that old yet but was excited about the prospect of an estimated 66% discount from the regular license fee, which varies depending on the option purchased.
The standard big game combination, with tags for deer, elk, bear and cougar, currently costs $85 for residents, but SB 5583 would raise that to $117.30. Meanwhile, seniors would pay $39.88.
The combination fishing package, which includes fresh and saltwater, currently costs $45.50 for residents. If approved, the proposal would raise it to $62.79, with seniors paying $21.39.
Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy, proposed removing one provision of SB 5583, allowing the Fish and Wildlife Commission to put surcharges on the fees. She argued that appointed bodies shouldn’t have the power to raise taxes or fees and that the authority should remain with elected officials.
“Look, I get where things are at, but I think really those decisions ought to rest with the Legislature,” Short said during a floor debate. “We’re a body of checks and balances … which is to say, maybe at times these are necessary, and other times they aren’t.”
Liias agreed that the commission needs oversight but highlighted language added earlier in the process that limits the surcharge authority. According to SB 5583, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and its commission can only add surcharges at the Legislature’s direction.
He asked the majority to reject Short’s amendment, which failed without Democratic support.
According to a fiscal note, SB 5583 could generate $19.6 million next year, even after assuming an 11% decline in license sales due to the prices. If approved, hunters and fishers will pay the increased rates starting in July, posing a barrier to some who stock up to feed their families.
“A lot of people in my district [are] subsistence hunters. This is the meat that they put in their freezers,” Short said. “You know, hunting and fishing all across the state, it’s really part of our custom and culture.”
Many Washingtonians, especially in rural areas, rely on hunting and fishing to cut down on food costs. Some Republicans mentioned their own impoverished upbringing and how fishing was a cheap activity that kept them busy and put food on the table.
“Thinking about the number of hunters and fishers who are out there buying licenses and the visitors to these same properties … I sometimes wonder about that,” said Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor. “Whether it’s bird watchers on Fir Island [or] mountain bikers in the Okanagan … they don’t pay for these properties. We do.”
