[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,76,87],{"_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",6373390,"mediaKeyId","2145929-279ed47faecc54945bbf8d67aaf1ee69","parentId",2145929,"title","Senate panel hears testimony to make habitat permitting pilot permanent, Skagit officials seek carve-outs","audioSeconds",4636,"startMs",151000,"endMs",4787000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145929-279ed47faecc54945bbf8d67aaf1ee69&start=151&end=4787","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145929-279ed47faecc54945bbf8d67aaf1ee69/thumbnail_151000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6373390/Washington/Senate-panel-hears-testimony-to-make-habitat-permitting-pilot-permanent-Skagit-officials-seek-carve-outs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373390-89b6ba41232997b76a9ca8cd8787b126/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940955&Signature=Luf1PyjEdMi0NE2-sCY6-LwT6EXtJ41wxrshewdLVqnpkafj99iPPCzU83P2ZapBihh21ctvsu5UfYtE~8eqbUklMKwT5aqVmYw02TRO4lcFADQBdshefA~4h9afhI4GBhq~tBv707Bypb1IDV8cY8NuL7wR6StozVoaAP-x~2qiUYWbUBuIitbhgeiLvh9rf77jsFIudIjBuiGwmBaABcajhZQxT9Lct9-SJtCmyhTB-D-uATS4I-sGclrphQ2XIZee3N-VhyrhNsCMp9-zBt0Ei1mvTwR8Bqesq4OARpTrmk19dxy-JcbDSpNO2U4dC6mq3D~5jGPQD8vIcAhZfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Local Government","date","2025-01-23T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Solomon, chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, introduced legislation to rename the Habitat Recovery Pilot Program as the Habitat Restoration Permit Pathway and make it permanent after a work session that featured state agency staff, tribes and regional restoration partners.

The bill would continue a multi‑agency, streamlined permitting pathway used by salmon restoration projects. \"The pilot was a success in achieving the legislative intent,\" Don Gourley, legislative policy director for the Puget Sound Partnership, told the committee, citing reduced delays and reported savings for project sponsors.

Why it matters: Sponsors and project proponents said HRPP cuts months or more from permitting timelines that otherwise can push in‑water construction out of narrow seasonal work windows, raising costs and risking redesigns. Matt Curtis, protection division manager in the habitat program at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the multi‑agency permitting (MAP) team is the mechanism that lets the program consider a broader range of restoration project types than existing streamlined pathways.

Proponents provided program results and examples. Curtis told senators the pilot had permitted about 45 projects across 16 counties and that 26 projects had completed construction, with more than half finishing the same year their permit was issued. Project sponsors surveyed by Fish and Wildlife reported time savings of roughly three to 12 months and cost savings ranging from about $1,000 to $80,000 per project. Paul Cole (Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership) and Morgan Morris (Lower Columbia Fish Enhancement Group) said the pathway reduced staff time and local fees and helped keep large projects on track to reach construction in 2025.

Tribal and local restoration leaders described on‑the‑ground benefits and urgent need for timely work. Lindsay Thomas, restoration project manager for the Nooksack Indian Tribe, described engineered log jams and other actions that create holding pools and side channels; she said permitting delays have in some cases added years to project timelines and that in 2021 more than 2,400 Chinook died in the South Fork Nooksack before they could spawn. Devin Smith, representing the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, said HRPP \"conserves public dollars, increases the pace of salmon recovery, and does not diminish the needed engineering review for habitat restoration projects.\" He added that projects remain subject to floodplain and other local reviews and to land‑use permissions.

Local governments in the Skagit basin urged exceptions for their watershed. Peter Browning, Skagit County commissioner, and other Skagit elected officials and tribal representatives said much of the Skagit Delta work involves major infrastructure and privately owned farmland; they asked that the bill exclude the upper and lower Skagit watersheds (wire 3 and 4 in testimony) so local and tribal governments can coordinate land acquisition, engineering and long‑term infrastructure outcomes in advance. Will O'Honey (representing Skagit interests) said the county learned of some HRPP projects after work began and warned the program could leave local governments and infrastructure managers with outcomes they must remediate.

Staff summary and bill details: Committee staff summarized the bill as renaming the pilot, removing the pilot expiration, and expanding eligible project lists to include work funded by specific grant programs. The staff briefing noted applicants would be required to provide project descriptions and areas of potential effect to the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and affected federally recognized tribes; for projects needing Department of Natural Resources land‑use authorization, applicants may submit a completed permit to Fish and Wildlife either 30 days after providing a copy to DNR or upon receipt of DNR approval, whichever comes first. The staff summary said a fiscal note had been requested but was not yet available.

Dissent and next steps: Senators heard broad support from restoration groups, ports and tribes but also heard repeated requests from Skagit County, Upper Skagit and related local organizations for a carve‑out. Chair Solomon asked Skagit representatives to submit specific language; several witnesses urged retaining local floodplain and public‑safety review rights in statute. No formal vote was held; the committee closed the public hearing after noting 36 pro and 3 con individuals had registered to testify.

Proponents and opponents asked lawmakers to weigh statewide streamlining gains against locally specific infrastructure and land‑use coordination needs as the committee considers amendments and next steps.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Local Government - 1/23/2025 1:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Solomon, chair of the Senate Local Government Committee, introduced legislation to rename the Habitat Recovery Pilot Program as the Habitat Restoration Permit Pathway and make it permanent after a work session that featured state agency staff, tribes and regional restoration partners.","taxTitle","Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20509,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373381,"Bill to streamline mobile‑home distraint and refund timelines wins broad support from treasurers",0,6265000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145929-279ed47faecc54945bbf8d67aaf1ee69&start=6265&end=6265","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145929-279ed47faecc54945bbf8d67aaf1ee69/thumbnail_6265000.jpg","/articles/6373381/Washington/Bill-to-streamline-mobilehome-distraint-and-refund-timelines-wins-broad-support-from-treasurers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373381-bf3c0f64cdbd38164e8f03408b5a364b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940955&Signature=CPdvRrI9Ky2nivtvE1wilLPoukWltYgtXyvE9uz2QFSZeF2Vs4cbhRmq5kRrI9Rceq3IO0AWSCNDU7Qi9FWfMiGsw3SEFpJBUHFFtBFNM5yVlTmZWXGIv7wibYEWgmk0XA7in~zpqd4PvlDzkMNoClMLHZYKCOB2ck6hK5JOEQL~AncziVd2nbeaRhuglxGUjvB2HcbmJcE2KuzQwQv49014yBdddS0ZdZa1QmrFjFj3nnNvS1mH84ZfzUN1AudFowgJAtUuoQRxDZRLJCZSU5m547TAYljww2GdbvBfxqaj3AsZRU0yLM7~xjvOeWRRB5VbBbxKwSbjrW7GUlQvwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Bateman introduced Senate Bill 5221, proposing changes to personal property distraint procedures for titled mobile and manufactured homes and other personal property, and to the distribution and timing of surplus funds after distraint sales.

Why it matters: Testimony from county treasurers and the Washington Association of County Officials described the measure as a practical update to reduce administrative costs and to allow purchasers at distraint sales to obtain title sooner. Jeff Gadman, president of the Washington Association of County Treasurers, said the bill gives treasurers discretion to cancel collection when distraint costs would exceed the tax owed and shortens the pathway to ownership after an auctioned mobile home.

Treasurers provided practical examples. Gadman said distraint in Thurston County can cost \"typically $300 to $500\" and that it may be inefficient to pursue distraint for a small unpaid amount. He said buyers at distraint sales currently receive a treasurer's deed but cannot apply for title for three years under existing law, which prevents them from obtaining insurance and renting the property. The bill would allow a purchaser to obtain a new certificate of title when no existing title can be found, removing that three‑year barrier.

Fiscal note and support: Committee staff summarized the bill and noted a partial fiscal estimate by the Department of Revenue that showed an indeterminate fiscal impact of less than $50,000 per year related to changes in tax collection and training materials. Jennifer Wallace, executive director of the Washington Association of County Officials, said the statutory timelines for personal property distraint are outdated and that the bill brings similar common‑sense changes already made for real property in recent years.

Next steps: Supporters urged the committee to advance the bill as a targeted governance fix to reduce unnecessary collection costs and to make auctioned mobile homes more usable housing stock. No committee vote was recorded during the hearing.","Senate Bill 5221 would let county treasurers cancel distraint collections when collection costs exceed tax due for titled manufactured or mobile homes, align surplus funds procedures with real property sales, and allow new title certificates after distraint sales; county treasurers and county officials testified in favor.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6373385,"Committee hears competing views on bill to clarify county auditor duties and internal audit authority",1482,4782000,6264000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145929-279ed47faecc54945bbf8d67aaf1ee69&start=4782&end=6264","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145929-279ed47faecc54945bbf8d67aaf1ee69/thumbnail_4782000.jpg","/articles/6373385/Washington/Committee-hears-competing-views-on-bill-to-clarify-county-auditor-duties-and-internal-audit-authority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373385-b6d6fbd8ddb832c0f1d0a13164957a80/orig.mp4?Expires=1770940955&Signature=eUQwvelMbWZfc~LQMnTpiHkMCi10uabZEVPx2xufUNESOmHiKzQ2J-u8IqXjZ2BmZSh8ActaIW3IOArODZIJ85K5bHKNDoNchuvkEnKGgHoF5wL3iMQorPLO1noDNNfuc0XNRqP-zLVtnRxp-8frtkyUPmNiD19PS14StoNruA7-050q-Tuwpdku-siybSsRDuVIZT2~minwXECJAGG~Zd76Mf7wlOrD7W0mu6JQR8~v03iPDXs4B-tc9DMkRxCJdL1Engwa~EpBdwX1~qlTKUCj17f44PsTyZfYHpFvakq84zUX60uYkfGXKOdYC~8iymrkU83Fn~ahZ~8cyDcapA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Gaynor introduced Senate Bill 5154, which sponsors said consolidates disparate statutory references to county auditor responsibilities and clarifies the auditor's role for budgeting, recording instruments and financial services.

Why it matters: Supporters said the bill brings clarity to a scattered body of law and updates long‑standing practice. \"This bill is an effort to bring clarity and transparency by collecting the scattered references to auditor duties and placing them in the proper section of law,\" Heidi Hunt, Adams County auditor and co‑chair of the Washington Association of County Auditors' finance committee, told the committee.

Auditors and the Washington Association of County Officials supported the bill. Skip Moore, Chelan County auditor, and Steve Dunkel, Mason County auditor, said the measure authorizes internal auditing tasks and aligns statutory language with current operations. Dunkel said internal audits \"are valuable information for risk management and internal control development\" and urged the committee to advance the bill.

County elected officials raised separation‑of‑powers and budget‑authority concerns. Paul Jewell, testifying for the Washington State Association of Counties, asked for edits so the bill would not be read to give auditors unilateral authority outside existing law; Jewell recommended adding the word \"preliminary\" to clarify the auditor's role in budget preparation and removing a proposed subsection that could be construed as expanding auditor authority over county staffing.

Wayne Fournier, Thurston County commissioner, said the draft language could be interpreted to \"grant the auditor sole authority to draft a budget without input or oversight from the commission\" and asked committee members to pause and work through amendments with auditors and counties. Commissioners and some county representatives asked that current flexibility for small counties be retained so an auditor can serve as clerk of the board if a county chooses.

Citizen testimony reflected both sides. Barry Halverson, a volunteer with experience reviewing county budgets, urged clarity and named instances where Thurston County's budget practice had prompted adverse audit findings; John Pettit, also a citizen witness, said clearer state direction would reduce inconsistent local interpretations.

Next steps: No committee vote was recorded. Staff and stakeholders said they will continue to negotiate language to preserve the preliminary budget role of auditors while addressing counties' concerns about separation of powers and clerk‑of‑the‑board duties.","Senate bill to consolidate and clarify county auditor duties drew support from county auditors and watchdog volunteers for clearer law and internal audit authority; county commissioners urged changes to preserve local budget authority and to avoid shifting fiscal control away from elected boards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate panel hears testimony to make habitat permitting pilot permanent, Skagit officials seek carve-outs

Bill to streamline mobile‑home distraint and refund timelines wins broad support from treasurers

Committee hears competing views on bill to clarify county auditor duties and internal audit authority