Washington State pending legislation affecting landowners and water users

Posted 2/17/07

House Bill 2245 (Clarifying when a water right is relinquished.):

Introduced by Rep. Bill Grant on February 14, 2007, to provide that holders of perfected water rights shall no longer be required to show beneficial use of a water right beyond the most recent 15 year period in order to improve the certainty and clarity of water resource management in the state.  This bill would not apply to surface water rights and claims already undergoing adjudication for which final orders or conditional final orders have not yet been issued. See companion SB 5877.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51851

House Bill 2229 (Allowing hydropower to be included as a renewable energy resource for the purposes of the energy independence act.):

Introduced by Rep. Joel Kretz on February 14, 2007, to modify the Energy Independence Act.  In 2006, Washington voters approved I-937 requiring utility companies to produce at least 15% of their energy generation from renewable resources by 2020.  This bill would include hydropower in the definition of “eligible renewable resource.”  Since this bill would amend an initiative within two years of its enactment, the state constitution requires the bill to receive two-thirds approval from both the Senate and House of Representatives.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51835

Senate Bill 6051 (Modifying the definition of "eligible renewable resource" under RCW 19.285.030.):

Introduced by Sen. Jenea Holmquist on February 15, 2007, to modify the Energy Independence Act. In 2006, Washington voters approved I-937 requiring utility companies to produce at least 15% of their energy generation from renewable resources by 2020. This bill would include hydropower in the definition of “eligible renewable resource.” Since this bill would amend an initiative within two years of its enactment, the state constitution requires the bill to receive two-thirds approval from both the Senate and House of Representatives    .

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51980

Senate Bill 5141 (Affirming the applicability of land use regulations to divisions of land created by testamentary provisions or the laws of descent.):

Substitute offered to the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee on February 14, 2007, to change the language in the original bill to clarify that divisions of land made under testamentary provisions or the laws of descent must comply with all land use and development regulations.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=48822

Senate Bill 5216 (Maintaining Washington's working forest land base.):

Substitute offered to the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation Committee on February 14, 2007, to remove the provision authorizing DNR to directly transfer land to land conservation organizations for at least fair market value without public auction.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=49019

Senate Bill 6035 (Authorizing the creation of beach management districts.):

Introduced by Sen. Erik Poulsen on February 14, 2007, to authorize beach management districts. The bill authorizes beach management districts, after a public hearing and decision to grant the same from a county legislative authority.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51827

House Bill 2212 (Addressing the application of the growth management act to certain agricultural activities occurring on agricultural lands.):

Introduced by Rep. Brian Blake on February 13, 2007, to initiate actions to identify, consider, reduce, and resolve issues causing conflicts between Growth Management Act regulations and agricultural activities.  Among other provisions, the bill would create a Joint Legislative Task Force on Development Regulations and Agricultural Lands to help identify and resolve these conflicts.  The task force would be made up of one member from each of the four legislative caucuses and a non-voting liaison from the Office of Financial Management and the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.  The task force must submit a progress report to the Governor and the Legislature by January 1, 2008, and a final report by October 1, 2008.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51733

House Bill 2213 (Addressing the application of the growth management act to certain agricultural activities occurring on agricultural lands.):

Introduced by Rep. Brian Sullivan on February 13, 2007, to initiate actions to identify, consider, reduce, and resolve issues causing conflicts between Growth Management Act regulations and agricultural activities.  Among other provisions, the bill would create a Joint Legislative Task Force on Development Regulations and Agricultural Lands to help identify and resolve these conflicts.  The task force would be made up of one member from each of the four legislative caucuses and a non-voting liaison from the Office of Financial Management and the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development.  The task force must submit a progress report to the Governor and the Legislature by January 1, 2008, and a final report by October 1, 2008.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51734

House Bill 2218 (Protecting the rights of former owners in real property that has been acquired through eminent domain.):

Introduced by Rep. Ed Orcutt on February 13, 2007, to create protections for former real property owners under condemnation procedures. The bill allows the previous owners of real property to repurchase the property or to receive proceeds from the sale of the property through condemnation, if a sale occurs within ten years of the condemnation proceedings.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51739

House Bill 2219 (Regarding forest practices regulations that apply to small forest landowners.):

Introduced by Rep. Ed Orcutt on February 13, 2007, to create restrictions on forest harvesting in riparian areas and on unstable slopes. The bill amends the riparian easement program by restricting forest harvesting in sensitive and unstable habitat.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51740

Senate Bill 5811 (Extending an advisory committee to evaluate animal identification programs.):

Substitute offered to the Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee on February 12, 2007, to remove the emergency clause. The scope of the cattle advisory committee is limited to cattle and does not extend to other species of livestock. The cattle advisory committee shall be reactivated until July 1, 2008 and is to submit a final report on December 2007.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=50740

Senate Bill 6012 (Concerning shoreline master program provisions on islands in Puget Sound.):

Introduced by Sen. Erik Poulsen on February 13, 2007, to amend the shoreline master program provisions for island habitat in Puget Sound. The bill makes technical definition adjustments and allows a county master program to completely prohibit or limit the intensity of mining uses in certain circumstances. See companion HB 2249.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51707