March 1 legislative items of interest to landowners and water users

House Bill 1726 (Planning for a supply of housing that accommodates growth.):

Substitute offered to the House Local Government Committee on February 27, 2007, to make changes to provsions relating to the roles and functions of the Office of Financial Management (OFM) as retlated to this bill.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=50148

House Bill 1727 (Planning to ensure sufficient land and densities available to accommodate growth.):

Substitute offered to the House Local Government Committee on February 27, 2007, to modify amendatory provisions for the land use element of a comprehensive plan and require the element to designate a sufficient quantity of land suitable for development to accommodate anticipated commercial and industrial land use growth.  The substitute bill also deletes amendatory provisions related to land use and planning.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=50149

House Bill 2066 (Clarifying the regulatory authority for on-site sewage systems.):

Substitute offered to the House Select Committee on Environmental Health on February 27, 2007, to change the adjudicative proceeding authority of the DOH to the Pollution Control Hearings Board for initial permitting for on-site septic systems disposing of 14,500 to 100,000 gallons per day. The adjudicative proceeding authority for on-site septic systems disposing of 3,500 to 14,500 gallons per day is specified as the DOH. The substitute adds requirements of

public notification and opportunity for review and comment of an initial permit for a large on-site septic system.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=51218

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

Substitute offered to the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on February 27, 2007, to modify the original bill which expanded the 20-acre exemption to the current Forest Practices Rules, did not allow landowners eligible for the 20-acre exemption to participate in the FRE Program, required all FRE Program compensation estimates to be completed within 60 days of application, and did not require the SFLO or Forest Practices Board to take any specific actions.

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

Senate Bill 5129 (Creating the crime of unlawfully hunting upon the property of another.):

Substitute offered to the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation Committee on February 28, 2007, to authorize fish and wildlife officers to seize wildlife, fish, and shellfish that a fish and wildlife officer has probable

cause to believe was taken, transported, or possessed while committing the crime of criminal trespass in the second degree. All other provisions of the original bill are removed.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=48810

Senate Bill 5130 (Expanding hunter access to certain private lands.):

Substitute offered to the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation Committee on February 28, 2007, to require the DFW to develop legislative options to increase access for nonconsumptive users to department owned and leased lands.  The options must include a discussion of the cost of providing additional access for nonconsumptive users and an equitable fee structure or other revenue source to support such access, if necessary.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=48811

Senate Bill 6141 (Expanding provisions affecting forest health.):

Introduced by Sen. Ken Jacobsen on February 28, 2007, to express the legislative intent to create a forest health program. The bill states Washington currently faces forest health threats. In response, the bill says the legislature intends to create a comprehensive forest health program

.

Details and Comments: http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=52479