Rep. Hunter Abell proposes local-impact legislation to protect wildlife and allow family burial grounds
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Rep. Hunter Abell proposes local-impact legislation to protect wildlife and allow family burial grounds
As the 2026 legislative session gets underway, Rep. Hunter Abell, R-Inchelium, is proposing legislation focused on local priorities in Northeast Washington, including protecting declining wildlife populations and preserving family connections to privately owned land.
One proposal, House Bill 2221, addresses significant declines in deer and elk populations in areas of Eastern Washington where gray wolves are no longer federally protected. The bill establishes clear, science-based thresholds that require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to act when ungulate herds fall to unsustainable levels.
Under the legislation, if a local deer, elk, or other ungulate population drops 25% below its 10-year rolling average, the department must designate the herd as “at risk” and initiate predator mitigation within 60 days. Actions may include nonlethal deterrence, translocation, or targeted removal, as needed, with management decisions tailored to regional conditions.
“For rural communities, healthy deer and elk populations are not abstract policy debates,” Abell said. “They support local economies, hunting traditions, tribal and nontribal subsistence, and wildlife viewing. When herds decline, the state has a responsibility to manage predators responsibly and proactively, not wait until the damage is already done.”
The bill also requires annual population surveys conducted in collaboration with sportsmen and public reporting to ensure transparency and accountability in wildlife management decisions.
Abell is also proposing House Bill 2239, which recognizes the deep connection many families have to their land by allowing the creation of small family burial grounds on privately owned property.
The measure allows landowners to designate a portion of their property as a family burial ground, subject to clear size limits, setbacks, health standards, and recordkeeping requirements. The bill prohibits the sale of burial plots or their commercial use and requires that burial sites are disclosed during property sales, balancing flexibility for families with protections for neighbors and future owners.
“For many families, the land they live on holds generations of memories,” Abell said. “It is where parents raised children, where grandparents worked the soil, and where family history is rooted. This bill gives families the option to honor loved ones in a deeply personal way, while still setting clear, commonsense rules to protect public health, property rights, and future landowners.”
Abell said both proposals reflect a broader commitment to rural values, local decision-making, and practical solutions rooted in respect for community traditions.
“These are local issues with real consequences for real people,” Abell said. “State policy should reflect the values of the communities it affects and give families and landowners reasonable options, not one-size-fits-all mandates.”
