Last week, on March 12, the gavel fell, closing the 2026 Washington legislative session sine die. In legislative terms, “sine die” (Latin for “without day”) means the assembly has finished its business and adjourned for the year without setting a specific date to return. For us, it means the legislative clock has stopped, and the fate of this year’s bills is sealed.
2026 Legislative Impact on Washington Sportsmen
This year, the legislative session was relatively quiet for sportsmen. There were several sportsmen-related bills introduced, and nothing good or bad made it to the Governor’s desk for final consideration. This included the two bills supported by the Sportsmen’s Alliance.
HB 2221/SB 5960 would have mandated specific actions by the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to protect declining populations of ungulates, which included mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, moose, mountain goat, mountain caribou, and bighorn sheep.
HB 2235 would have protected the personal information of sportsmen by exempting from public disclosure information related to permits to purchase firearms, firearm transfers or purchases, and concealed pistol licenses (CPLs).
The Fight Continues During the Interim
While the session is over, our work is not. Animal extremists and anti-hunting and gun groups never clock out. They are already pivoting to the interim period, looking for ways to bypass the legislature through ballot initiatives or administrative rule changes that threaten our traditions and lifestyle.
We’ve seen it in neighboring states: the moment we look away, they strike. We need you to stay engaged, keep your boots on the ground, and be ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice.
Review a complete list of monitored bills via the Interactive Legislative Map. Please share this message with fellow sportsmen to help defend our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage in the Evergreen State.
The Sportsmen’s Alliance guarantees hunting, fishing, and trapping for the American sportsman now and forever. We’re there when sportsmen need us most. We are the only organization specifically created to protect the individual hunter, angler, and trapper – no matter the threat. We will never compromise when it comes to defending our way of life in the courts, in the legislatures, in the public square, and at the ballot box. We make this promise to the American sportsman: we will never give up and never give in while proudly securing our future against those seeking to destroy our values, beliefs, and traditions. Stay connected to the Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
