S1433-119

What This Bill Does

Reauthorizes and restructures the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative by defining the Northwest Straits Advisory Commission, updating its 14-member composition, adding Tribal representation, assigning NOAA liaison support, setting restoration and stewardship duties, requiring annual benchmark reports, allowing gifts and cooperative agreements, and authorizing $3,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.

Who Benefits and How

The Northwest Straits Advisory Commission benefits from renewed statutory duties, NOAA liaison support, state staffing agreements, nonprofit cooperative agreements, gift authority, and six years of authorized funding. County marine resources committees in San Juan, Island, Skagit, Whatcom, Snohomish, Clallam, and Jefferson Counties benefit from technical support and Commission membership. Tribal governments in the Northwest Straits region benefit from two Interior-appointed Commission seats, consultation duties, technical participation support, and explicit protection of Tribal treaties, cultures, subsistence, and treaty rights. Northwest Straits coastal communities benefit from restoration work on marine habitats, sustainable resource use, water quality, data collection, outreach, kelp, marine debris, and coastal economies.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NOAA Oceans and Atmosphere staff must appoint a liaison, coordinate NOAA programs, administer funding, review annual reports, and potentially route assistance through Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve unless Washington's Governor objects. Commission members must meet at least quarterly, select a chair, coordinate with governments, collect data, develop restoration recommendations, consult Tribal governments, publish annual reports, and track benchmarks. Washington Governor staff and county marine resources committees must make appointments and fill vacancies. The Commission is limited because it cannot issue regulations or implement federal law.

Key Provisions

• Defines the Commission, marine resources committees, Northwest Straits region, Tribal government, and Under Secretary.
• Provides a 14-member Commission with seven county marine-resources seats, two Tribal-interest seats, one Puget Sound Partnership seat, and four Washington resident seats.
• Requires a NOAA liaison to coordinate NOAA programs and Commission work.
• Directs the Commission to protect and restore Northwest Straits waters, habitats, species, water quality, marine resources, stewardship, data, and sustainable resource use.
• Requires Tribal consultation and technical support for Tribal representation and participation.
• Allows cooperative agreements, nonprofit assistance, gifts, annual public reports, and benchmark tracking.
• Authorizes $3,000,000 per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2031.