Commission chair previews bills to formalize outdoor restricted account priorities and adjust commission membership

Representative Jeff Stenquist told the commission he is drafting several bills ahead of the legislative session. One bill would define how the Outdoor Adventure restricted account (created last session as a sales-tax carve-out for recreation) is prioritized and spent, including possible allocations to state parks, grant programs and discretionary project funding. Stenquist said the current statutory language created the account but did not specify how money should be prioritized.

He also said he expects to propose changes to the commission's statutory makeup to reflect the division's move fully under the Department of Natural Resources and indicated he may add a designated seat for state parks. Commissioners discussed shared stewardship or co-management agreements with federal land managers and urged that cities and counties be included in any framework to avoid confusion with existing federal "shared stewardship" wildfire programs.

Stenquist described an additional idea for a small registration fee or carve-out on RV registrations intended to fund public RV hookups at state or public campgrounds. He emphasized that bills are at early draft stages and that further public hearings and changes are expected during the session.