Senate Bill 5343 would allow continued use of funds from the Northeast Washington wolf-livestock management account for nonlethal wolf-deterrent resources and for grants to the Stevens and Ferry county sheriff's offices to fund a local wildlife specialist. Committee staff said the bill removes a time-limited restriction so those uses are not limited to specific biennia.

Elena Becker, committee staff, said existing statute allows funds to be used for nonlethal deterrents in Okanogan, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties and that the bill expands the statute so those grants and the sheriff's-office wildlife specialist funding are not restricted to the 2021-25 biennia. The fiscal note shows no state cost; Stevenson and Ferry counties estimate indeterminate local revenue impacts depending on grant awards.

Testimony reflected a mix of views. Dave Hedrick, manager of the Ferry Conservation District and an advisory-board member, told the committee the wildlife specialist is critical and that a published, legislature-funded report recommended retaining that position in its current capacity. Ranchers and cattle-industry representatives urged continuation and expansion of locally based wildlife specialists. Jeff Dawson, a Stevens County rancher who also represents the Washington Cattlemen's Association, said the sheriff-office specialist "builds a trust factor" and urged consideration of adding positions in other parts of the state.

Sheriff Brad Monke, speaking for Stevens County and on behalf of Ferry County's sheriff, described the wildlife specialist as a "force multiplier" that has helped rebuild a contentious relationship between livestock producers and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. "I'm truly afraid that if we do lose this funding, our counties...won't be able to maintain this position, and I think it would really set us back years," Monke said.

Conservation Northwest's Paula Swadine testified the position supports coordination needed to deploy range riders and other nonlethal measures and noted a recent third-party review gave the program positive evaluations and emphasized the specialist role. By contrast, Francisco Santiago Avila, a remote testifier, urged that funds remain focused on nonlethal tools and called for auditing or monitoring to ensure effective use: "Nonlethal deterrents like range riders, like fencing, and others have proven to be the most effective way of preventing and mitigating those conflicts before they escalate," Avila said.

Committee staff and the sponsor said the bill would simply memorialize uses that have already been implemented via budget notes and would make grant uses available ongoingly. No vote was taken at the hearing.