Several members of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee used the Jan. 15 work session to announce bills they plan to carry this session, offering brief descriptions and signaling topics the committee is likely to consider.

Rep. Andrew Engel (R), 7th District, said he intends to carry legislation to downlist gray wolves after state agencies recommended removing them from sensitive status. “This would provide some help for our people who are struggling with management of wolves,” Engel said, summarizing his intent to pursue a statutory change to wildlife status and management.

Rep. Stephanie McClintock (R), 18th District, said she is “exploring the idea of streamlining the way we purchase our fishing and hunting license” by moving away from long paper receipts and toward an app-based system, following practices used in other states.

Rep. Adam Birnbaum (D), 24th District, said he plans two bills: a stumpage fee sunset reporting measure prepared with the Office of Financial Management (OFM) and a pilot program to “help cover escapement liability to encourage prescribed burns.” Birnbaum characterized the prescribed‑burn proposal as a pilot to reduce liability barriers for landowners and managers pursuing controlled burns.

Rep. Greg Nance (D), 23rd District, said he plans to work on expanding authority for pre‑positioning firefighting equipment to additional local municipalities to accelerate response times. Nance also mentioned a separate priority to designate kelp as the state’s official marine forest, a matter he expects may cross into state and local government committees.

Rep. Joe Schmick (R) and others noted existing programs and capacity in eastern Washington; Schmick described experience with an international Ag‑Forestry leadership trip and Rep. Ed Orcutt summarized the Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation’s two‑year leadership program, which includes national and international seminars. Orcutt said the program provides leadership training and exposure to policy issues affecting agriculture and forestry.

Chair Christine Reeves said two bills she had introduced previously—the carbon sequestration on state lands bill and a social equity land trust bill—are expected to return to the committee this session.

None of the items announced during the session were the subject of a formal committee hearing or vote on Jan. 15; members described the remarks as early alerts of measures they intend to draft or file.