[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6373364,"mediaKeyId","2145935-6905a1cca398846e7909bb9a1bb0b8e4","parentId",2145935,"title","Bill would require school districts to offer to sell condemned property back to prior owners before changing its use","audioSeconds",667,"startMs",4793000,"endMs",5460000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145935-6905a1cca398846e7909bb9a1bb0b8e4&start=4793&end=5460","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145935-6905a1cca398846e7909bb9a1bb0b8e4/thumbnail_4793000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6373364/Washington/Bill-would-require-school-districts-to-offer-to-sell-condemned-property-back-to-prior-owners-before-changing-its-use","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373364-25cb6ece24fe2374b199e13c69754951/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188289&Signature=hCjXquSNFry0qhphRgCZtQiGKSctwa4airXZ9jVt3mZtvpju8JoO9JjrLHv-hPzahKevs1vfCGbSnrNN81AxQ~aEvjvZYmfjByMl5hMMKHW7XyJLicWrHcPjPOit7jzj4BXeLppt6ZFL6KryQGPrVzXi4YQoZpE0ctDJ-wQeJis4pvky-jOBuSZCWJqxOhpDnI9Z9dxnTUvA9ecrHVUY3LqnJqSEJq7B9XuI2hR-LjULylEOxpYbGx~k~ruaWpf~2UTMYZEmd~PKV5apnsh6-OSDfF3aQlQxTobi0y~AjR2wvhICKD0Vbc0PyJUi3f8WWdpUCtADTyHDAKd7AlUZew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Law & Justice","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Sen. Bob Hasegawa told the Law & Justice Committee on Jan. 23 that Senate Bill 5142 would require school districts that acquire privately owned real estate through condemnation (eminent domain) or under threat of condemnation to provide the prior owner a written offer to repurchase the property at the original purchase or condemnation compensation amount before selling or repurposing the land for any other use.

\"When real property is acquired through a condemnation action or under threat of one, the school district must provide the previous property owner a written statement that identifies the use for which the property is being acquired,\" staff counsel Patrick Moore told the committee during the staff briefing. If the school district later decides not to use the land for the school or additional school grounds, it must offer to sell the property back to the prior owner at the same amount the district paid.

Nut graf: Sponsor and witnesses described historical and present-day cases in which families lost property to condemnation and later saw the land used for different, often more lucrative private development. Supporters framed the bill as a limited corrective measure to protect homeowners and small-property holders, not a general limit on eminent domain.

Testimony and examples

John Houston, whose family previously lost land after a condemnation-related process in Renton, told the committee the family home and acreage were taken and later sold for development. Houston recounted fires and other harm he says occurred while the property was in dispute, and he described the long-term economic and personal losses his family experienced. He told senators the bill is designed to prevent future families from suffering similar outcomes.

Sen. Hasegawa and supporters said the measure was intentionally limited to school districts for this session because the sponsor wanted to act quickly and because school districts use public dollars for property acquisition.

Committee reaction and next steps

Several senators expressed support for the bill on the floor of the committee, describing other local examples where property taken for public projects was later sold or used differently. Sen. Fortunato said he would have signed on to the bill had he known about it earlier and recounted a case in which a municipality acquired land for a reservoir and later sold it to a developer.

The committee held a public hearing with multiple witnesses supporting the bill; testimony included family members of the Houston property and community advocates describing land‑loss history and reparative approaches. Committee staff noted a fiscal note had been requested. The bill was scheduled for further consideration on the committee’s upcoming agenda.

Ending

Committee members closed the public hearing after wide-ranging testimony and indicated the bill would appear on the committee’s agenda the following week for further action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Law & Justice - 1/23/2025 10:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 5142 would require school districts that acquire property by condemnation or under threat of condemnation to offer the prior owner the opportunity to repurchase the parcel at the purchase or condemnation price before selling or using it for another purpose.","taxTitle","Law & Justice, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20508,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373367,"Witness statements by child witnesses debated: prosecutors back broader hearsay exception, defenders and advocates raise constitutional concerns",565,4006000,4571000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145935-6905a1cca398846e7909bb9a1bb0b8e4&start=4006&end=4571","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145935-6905a1cca398846e7909bb9a1bb0b8e4/thumbnail_4006000.jpg","/articles/6373367/Washington/Witness-statements-by-child-witnesses-debated-prosecutors-back-broader-hearsay-exception-defenders-and-advocates-raise-constitutional-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373367-9d8d5854dad595c8343c95ad444a0889/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188289&Signature=HBm~sdy0mQDTOPDxIGeGwQ5kdMXwvxgi~11dpA~oA1LV~THItBzhieYa5WtyyX4PsFmVq28OA8CZL9b4AtqE0ymbhEAutQ~mm9OOGBu29S8yCiuWjO7C~sBL014m5B0EsUu2C5D1q~a7CQjrikEb3F7m5E6smXaMPg1~gKC83zshaC5PK1nHZLValCAmjMBygMpUKMBX8QJS1VGXiL20dd9cOw5juHCSqsKCNhXs9ZvmhY~3AeNaNVH6wfffMNcuc-Z2AtCUpw3caOluMqZt6eOtvUXfc8IgHojV6IQbhl54Gx3G0tJHvNmJ4rUM9Lm43yfJPTsWRdX2IwwWx72atA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sen. Tawana Nobles (D-28) told the Law & Justice Committee on Jan. 23 that Senate Bill 5169 would allow out-of-court statements from children under age 18 to be admitted in dependency proceedings, criminal trials and juvenile adjudications when the statements describe sexual contact, physical abuse, trafficking, exploitation or violent offenses the child witnessed.

\"Children who witness violent crimes endure profound trauma,\" Nobles said, arguing the bill would let children share their experiences \"without added harm of a courtroom.\" The bill would align the ages and covered offenses for two existing exceptions and allow testimony by closed-circuit television (CCTV) in more circumstances.

Nut graf: Supporters, including prosecutors who try child-abuse and assault cases, said existing rules force some children to testify years later, retraumatizing victims and weakening evidence if an interview cannot be used. Opponents, led by public defenders and other civil‑liberty advocates, said the proposed expansion to language that covers all minors up to 18 is broader than typical child‑hearsay statutes, risks constitutional challenges under the Confrontation Clause and could produce appellate reversals.

Prosecutors urged the committee to act

Lindsey Chenella, deputy prosecuting attorney in Pierce County's Special Assault Unit, told the committee that in some cases current law prevents prosecutors from admitting a child's out-of-court interview unless the child suffered “substantial bodily injury.” She gave a case example in which a 5-year-old who witnessed a shooting could not have her interview admitted because she did not meet that statutory threshold; she also described a 6-year-old who witnessed strangulation situations where proving \"substantial bodily harm\" was difficult.

\"We do believe that this is a bill that would both allow child testimony, and trauma, while still allowing defendants to be able to question the witnesses as to what happened,\" Chenella said.

Sarah Park, assistant team lead for Pierce County's Special Assault Unit, described a case involving a 13-year-old rape victim who attempted suicide before trial; Park said that if the child’s forensic interview had been admissible, \"she wouldn't have to tell at least 19 strangers how she was raped in specific detail.\" Park described forensic interviews as conducted by trained professionals in neutral, non‑suggestive settings.

Opposition and constitutional questions

Kate Benward, associate special counsel at the King County Department of Public Defense, testified in opposition. Benward said SB 5169 would be \"an unprecedented expansion\" that could make Washington an outlier because it would extend the hearsay exception to all minors up to age 18 and to witnesses who are not the direct victims.

\"Because of the accused's Sixth Amendment right to cross examine one's accusers and the inherent unreliability of hearsay ... the use of hearsay testimony allowed under this bill would almost certainly draw post-conviction appeals on constitutional grounds,\" Benward warned.

Parent testimony

Beth Warner, a parent of a child survivor, urged the committee to act to avoid forcing children to retell violent events in front of their alleged abusers and described the long trauma her daughter experienced after prosecution proceeded without the child's interview being admitted.

Questions from members and staff

Committee members asked about the mechanics of CCTV testimony, who may sit with the child during such testimony, and constitutional issues. Ryan Giannini, committee staff counsel, said CCTV testimony typically has the child in a separate room; whether a parent is present for the CCTV testimony can depend on the setting and the practitioners involved. Sarah Park said the child may have a support person who is not a witness.

Ending

The committee closed the public hearing on SB 5169 after receiving testimony from prosecutors, a public defender, and a parent. No final committee vote was recorded in the hearing segment. The bill will advance according to the committee’s scheduling.","Sen. Tawana Nobles on Jan. 23 proposed SB 5169 to permit out‑of‑court statements from all minors under 18 describing violent acts to be admitted in criminal, dependency and juvenile proceedings.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373372,"Law & Justice Committee advances two dozen bills, sends several to rules and Ways & Means",2473,1203000,3676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145935-6905a1cca398846e7909bb9a1bb0b8e4&start=1203&end=3676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145935-6905a1cca398846e7909bb9a1bb0b8e4/thumbnail_1203000.jpg","/articles/6373372/Washington/Law-Justice-Committee-advances-two-dozen-bills-sends-several-to-rules-and-Ways-Means","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373372-99cb6dc767506bb7bd198130d538abec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771188289&Signature=BxrkYdfDe7GfMtU34t4OlQ-WVgTo6udpm-8kFwGRmSpspPbkowCMwK60yC-s9T6PTsiBB1TkALOi1WQ~HZY1xIOTf5aRmg9Gh7TH79ii7KhM7jtRdjGuf3tBcFgDNLn~EpNS~IYizDBu4fHNAz8y0r8ahDkU1jA6q851mMcbbMMxb0RlX0fw8oWJXU5z5BC0FunNRGS3UUckzxzHWE1Z3wCP94JgT3dWonnPVAgG3kARxKJFjnfVeq~d~a8~NMed3BNzrk6sR-K6jBOfiTWmO~AqRajooqIMUp1Ddv2unh1cTYj9NAOD9EjxL5lDMG9gTe6XuWx~AL7dC0Pv~5ob~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Law & Justice Committee on Jan. 23 moved a string of bills — covering topics from sentencing mitigation to firearm dealer regulation — out of committee with due-pass recommendations or referrals to other committees.

The committee adopted amendments on several measures during an extended executive session and issued due-pass recommendations for bills that will now move to the Rules Committee or, for fiscal items, the Ways and Means Committee.

Committee Chair Dhingra opened the executive session and asked for motions on each bill. For example, Chair Dhingra moved adoption of Amendment Alpha to Senate Bill 5133 and later moved that the amended bill \"receive a due pass recommendation and be sent to the rules committee.\" The committee likewise moved proposed substitutes and final passage recommendations for bills including Senate Bill 5105, Senate Bill 5071 (proposed substitute Charlie), Senate Bill 5122, Senate Bill 5093, and others.

Nut graf: The package of actions sends a set of criminal-justice and regulatory bills to the next stages of the legislative process. The committee’s due-pass recommendations do not enact policy; they forward measures for further floor consideration or for fiscal review by Ways and Means.

What the committee did

- Senate Bill 5133 (sent to Rules, subject to signatures): The committee adopted Amendment Alpha, then rolled the amendment into a proposed substitute and gave a due-pass recommendation to send the bill to the Rules Committee (transcript: \"I move adoption of Amendment Alpha.\"; later \"Proposed substitute Senate Bill 5133 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the rules committee subject to signatures.\").

- Senate Bill 5105 (sent to Rules): The committee adopted a proposed substitute (Bravo) and recommended the proposed substitute receive a due-pass recommendation to be sent to the Rules Committee (transcript: \"I move that the proposed substitute, bravo, receive a due pass recommendation and be sent to the rules committee.\").

- Senate Bill 5037 (sent to Rules): The bill enacting the Uniform Custodial Trust Act received a due-pass recommendation (transcript: \"Senate Bill 5037 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the rules committee subject to signature.\").

- Senate Bill 5071 (proposed substitute Charlie; sent to Rules): The committee recommended the proposed substitute Charlie for a due pass (transcript: \"proposed substitute Charlie has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the rules committee subject to signatures\").

- Senate Bill 5122 (sent to Rules): The committee considered and rejected an amendment (Delta) and then recommended the bill receive a due-pass recommendation (transcript: \"Senate Bill 5122 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the rules committee subject to signature.\").

- Senate Bill 5093 (proposed substitute Echo; sent to Rules): Proposed substitute Echo received a due-pass recommendation and will be sent to the Rules Committee (transcript: \"Proposed Senate Bill 5093 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the rules committee subject to signature.\").

- Senate Bill 5202 (proposed substitute Foxtrot; sent to Rules): The committee moved the proposed substitute Foxtrot and, after consideration of several amendments, recommended it for a due pass to Rules (transcript: \"Proposed substitute Senate Bill 5202 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the rules committee subject to signatures.\").

- Senate Joint Memorial 8006 (sent to Ways and Means): The committee voted to forward the joint memorial to Ways and Means (transcript: \"Senate Joint Memorial 8006 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the Ways and Means Committee subject to signatures.\").

- Senate Bill 5147 (task force on insanity/competency; sent to Ways and Means): The proposed substitute was recommended to Ways and Means (transcript: \"Proposed substitute Senate Bill 5147 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the Ways and Means Committee subject to signature.\").

- Senate Bill 5060 (law enforcement hiring grant program; proposed substitute Hotel; sent to Ways and Means): Proposed substitute Hotel received a due-pass recommendation to Ways and Means (transcript: \"Proposed substitute Senate Bill 5060 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the Ways and Means Committee, subject to signature.\").

- Senate Bill 5068, 5209, 5224 (criminal justice training, L&I listing, and officer certification changes) — each received a due-pass recommendation and were sent to the Rules Committee (transcript entries noted during the executive session).

- Senate Bill 5099 (firearm dealer regulation; sent to Ways and Means): The proposed substitute and a set of amendments were adopted in committee; the bill received a due-pass recommendation and was referred to Ways and Means for fiscal review (transcript: \"Senate Bill 5099 has received a due pass recommendation and is sent to the Ways and Means Committee subject to signature.\").

Details and amendments

Committee members debated multiple amendments during the executive session. Notable amendment topics included limiting considerations of caregiver status in sentencing (SB 5133 Amendment Alpha), definitions and immunity for fabricated depictions involving minors (SB 5105 substitute Bravo), changes to premerger notification (SB 5122 Amendment Delta, which failed), and a sequence of seven amendments to the firearm dealer bill (SB 5099) that addressed checklists, cure periods, materials and security requirements, and training-notice timing. Several amendments were adopted, some were rejected after recorded discussion and voice votes.

What this does not mean

A due-pass recommendation is a committee-level vote that advances a bill to the next legislative step. It does not become law. Bills forwarded to Ways and Means will require fiscal consideration; bills sent to Rules can be scheduled for floor debate.

Ending

The committee concluded the executive session after moving the package of recommendations. The measures will proceed through the Legislature according to committee referrals and scheduling by Rules and Ways and Means.","At its Jan. 23 executive session, the Washington Senate Law & Justice Committee recommended that multiple bills receive \"due pass\" or be sent to other committees. Several amendments were adopted during debate; proposed substitutes for many bills were rolled into final recommendation votes that sent bills to the rules committee or Ways and Means.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would require school districts to offer to sell condemned property back to prior owners before changing its use

Witness statements by child witnesses debated: prosecutors back broader hearsay exception, defenders and advocates raise constitutional concerns

Law & Justice Committee advances two dozen bills, sends several to rules and Ways & Means