SB 5838 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Adding a tribal member to the board of natural resources.

SB 5838 amends Washington State law to add a seventh member to the Board of Natural Resources, specifically a tribal representative. This representative must be a member of a federally recognized tribe in Washington, appointed by the governor after consulting with tribes, and serve a four-year term. The change directly affects the board's composition and decision-making process regarding natural resources management. The bill requires the governor to collaborate with tribes during the appointment and specifies that the tribal representative joins existing members like the governor's designee and county representatives. This adjustment aims to integrate tribal perspectives into natural resource decisions, as stated in the bill's findings.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Dec 5, 2025 Last action Mar 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill Engrossed Substitute Bill · 1 edit · Feb 11, 2026
MINOR
The bill was officially advanced to its 'Engrossed' version, indicating it has passed its initial reading and is ready for further legislative action. The primary substantive change is a slight wording adjustment in the act's title, shifting from 'adding tribal members' to 'adding tribal representation,' which clarifies that the focus is on the collective presence of tribes rather than just individual members.
Scope change
The scope of the bill remains focused on amending the Board of Natural Resources to include tribal representation, with no changes to the specific sections of law being amended or the core policy goal.
SCOPE

The act title was updated to use the phrase 'tribal representation' instead of 'tribal members,' refining the description of the bill's intent to emphasize group representation.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 11, 2026

How they voted

3219
Passed
Total votes 51
Feb 11, 2026
D Democratic31
31 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
1 Yea 19 Nay
95% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
7
Committee
6
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM.
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 8:00 AM.
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Upper · Passed
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; do not pass.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
upper
Jan 19, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
upper
1 primary · 15 co-sponsors

Sponsors