WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5203

SB 5203: Wildlife safe passages

Ensuring connectivity for Washington wildlife through safe passages.

Summary

  • Requires the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to create, in consultation with various stakeholders, the integrated wildlife habitat connectivity strategy, to implement and periodically update the Washington Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Action Plan (Action Plan).
  • Creates the Washington Wildlife Corridors Account and the Washington Wildlife Crossings Account in the State Treasury, defines use of the authorized accounts, and allows these accounts to retain their earnings.
  • Establishes requirements for the WDFW to implement and update the Action Plan.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5203), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
  1. IntroducedJan 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeJan 22, 2026
  3. Passed SenateFeb 4, 2026
  4. Passed Housestopped here
  5. Governor
  6. Law
Prime sponsor
Jesse Salomon (D-32)
Introduced
January 13, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
March 12, 2026
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5203, SSB 5203, ESSB 5203

AN ACT Relating to ensuring connectivity for Washington wildlife through safe passages;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Jesse Salomon (D-32)

5 co-sponsors (5 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Sharon Shewmake D-42Adrian Cortes D-18Bob Hasegawa D-11Marko Liias D-21T'wina Nobles D-28

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 4, 2026
Version voted on: ESSB 5203
31 Yea 18 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican11800
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

History

  1. By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading. (ESSB 5203)
  2. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5203)
  3. TR - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5203)
  4. Minority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5203)
  5. Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 5203)
  6. TR - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (ESSB 5203)
  7. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5203)
  8. First reading, referred to Transportation. (ESSB 5203)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 31; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5203)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5203)
  11. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5203)
  12. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5203)
  13. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  14. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5203)
  15. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  16. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5203)
  17. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  18. WM - Majority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5203)
  19. WM - Majority; without recommendation.
  20. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (ESSB 5203)
  21. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
  22. Referred to Ways & Means. (ESSB 5203)
  23. Referred to Ways & Means.
  24. And refer to Ways & Means. (ESSB 5203)
  25. TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5203)
  26. Minority; without recommendation. (ESSB 5203)
  27. Minority; without recommendation.
  28. TRAN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  29. And refer to Ways & Means.
  30. First reading, referred to Transportation.
  31. Prefiled for introduction.

SB 5203 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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