House Bill 2598 (H-3006.3), introduced in the 69th Legislature (read 01/20/26 and referred to the Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources), amends RCW 77.85.005 (updating legislative findings about salmon and steelhead recovery) and adds a new section to chapter 77.85 RCW that creates a salmon advisory commission. The commission is charged with improving coordination and understanding of habitat, harvest, hydro, hatcheries, predation, and other factors affecting salmon and steelhead recovery; identifying gaps; receiving and discussing monitoring and adaptive management needs; and developing recommendations to the governor and legislature on agency actions, legislation, and budget priorities. Membership includes designees or representatives from the governor’s office of Indian affairs, invited elected chairs of federally recognized tribes (who may designate an alternate), the departments of Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources, Ecology, Transportation, Agriculture, Health, the Puget Sound Partnership, Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, Recreation and Conservation Office, State Conservation Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, two city/county representatives appointed by the governor, and legislative members (one from each of the two largest House caucuses appointed by the Speaker and one from each of the two largest Senate caucuses appointed by the President of the Senate). The commission must meet at least twice per year, choose cochairs from its legislative membership (one from the Senate and one from the House), provide semiannual reports under RCW 43.01.036 with the first report due October 1, 2026 and subsequent reports due June 1 and December 1 each year, and receive staff support from Senate Committee Services and the House Office of Program Research. Legally, the bill creates a new statutory advisory body and updates existing legislative findings; it is an organizational and procedural change rather than a change to criminal penalties. Travel reimbursement is specified: legislative members are reimbursed under RCW 44.04.120, nonlegislative members who are elected officials or representing an employer or governmental entity are not entitled to travel reimbursement, and any other nonlegislative reimbursement is subject to chapter 43.03 RCW. The bill text provided does not state an effective date, the total or capped membership size, detailed procedures for tribe invitations or acceptance, specific operational relationships with existing entities, or any budget or appropriation details.

If enacted, H.B. 2598 would create a statewide salmon advisory commission made up of state agencies, invited tribal elected chairs, legislators, and local government representatives that must meet at least twice a year and send semiannual reports to the governor and legislative fiscal and policy committees (first report due October 1, 2026, then every June 1 and December 1). That will likely increase coordination and give the commission a regular role in shaping recommendations on habitat, harvest, hydro, hatcheries, predation, monitoring, and funding priorities, which can influence future agency workplans and budget requests. The most affected parties are the listed state agencies, tribal leaders who are invited, the two legislative caucuses and their staff, and the two local government appointees; those groups will need to commit staff time to meetings and reports, and legislators can claim travel expenses while most nonlegislative members will not be reimbursed unless state rules allow it. Important details are missing: the bill text here does not specify a funding source, an effective date, limits on how many tribes may participate, or how the new commission will operate alongside existing recovery boards, so the actual costs and operational changes to agencies and tribes are unclear.