Governor Bob Ferguson's Executive Order 25-10, issued October 22,
2025, calls for a more meaningful, accountable relationship between
Washington state and Tribal Nations. The Order directs all cabinet
agencies to strengthen government-to-government consultation,
increase collaboration with Tribal Nations in developing policies
and programs, and build Tribal staff capacity. Notably, for land
use and environmental regulation, state agencies must also
incorporate tribally accepted Indigenous Knowledge into
decision-making, research, policy development, interpretations,
outcomes, findings, and recommendations when setting standards or
making decisions based on "best available science." This
change will directly affect how state agencies like Ecology, Fish
& Wildlife, Natural Resources, and WSDOT make decisions and set
standards related to wetland buffers, wildlife habitat, stormwater
systems, geologic hazard areas, and major infrastructure
projects.
