[{"_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",6363969,"mediaKeyId","2165561-548c8fa00573b1826858d1f66f2e5819","parentId",2165561,"title","Committee hears House Bill 1153 on state model urban-forestry ordinances; testimony sharply divided","audioSeconds",3084,"startMs",25000,"endMs",3109000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165561-548c8fa00573b1826858d1f66f2e5819&start=25&end=3109","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165561-548c8fa00573b1826858d1f66f2e5819/thumbnail_25000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6363969/Washington/Committee-hears-House-Bill-1153-on-state-model-urban-forestry-ordinances-testimony-sharply-divided","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363969-97ba4394c8e7e16d82aac3da351d28fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901609&Signature=IYnjlI6M-SJQoVPl3KOZZX5uKyYG1vQLXxscIOL-Y8O77MAR96ajWCtuo3BEpAfbYXVkUQ7542J1QzAtrn9P13kZgzgXAMH-2ZDdQpgYBL011hk0zirBcoWevOh8nB8OUASMzhEV7Ex7zyxxk5VB5iKDmfYAufuUQ7rkll9Zu0Glh0RVEHG5M36ePSe8alp1~09kxXGeSu~VwBPkvsUFUdYfKx09xI226xYJJowkeKC8E8Xgmyjpxvt0Mye7KTFu5zBWaOWoNHdnD1RUxjUydCApa0aKJ8MZduat-1NAwU8QpNQtWcNa~zbcs20ceXlK6m9F~SLrwJB2XXh0pSzhgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","House Agriculture & Natural Resources","date","2025-01-29T00:00:00Z","article","Representative Divina Duer introduced House Bill 1153 on Jan. 29 to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and described the measure as an attempt to balance tree retention and housing production. \"This bill is my attempt to find that balance between development and housing and tree retention,\" Representative Duer said.

The bill would require the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to develop model urban-forestry ordinances and provide technical assistance to jurisdictions that adopt them. Staff summarized the measure to the committee, saying it includes provisions on tree banks (planting or fee-in-lieu programs to compensate for tree removal), criteria for identifying trees critical to retain during development, a prohibition on requiring retention of special trees outside a tree\u0000\u0000\u0000s critical area if doing so would, for example, reduce allowed density, incentives for developers to retain trees and a grant program to support local implementation subject to appropriation.

Why it matters: The proposal seeks to create a single state-backed set of options for cities and counties to manage trees during housing development. Proponents argued a common model could reduce uncertainty across jurisdictions and help implement state housing laws, while opponents said some bill elements would encourage removal of mature, on-site trees and shift canopy to remote \"tree banks\" that do not provide immediate neighborhood benefits.

During the public hearing, industry and builder groups voiced support for the bill\u0000\u0000as written or with modest changes. Dylan Schluter of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish County said the association \"rises today in general support of House Bill 1153\" and praised the bipartisan, stakeholder-driven drafting. Jan Heimbach of the Building Industry Association said the measure could be a \"creative\" way to preserve canopy and advance housing if the statute clarifies how on-site requirements interact with tree banks and incentives.

Opponents argued the measure, in its current form, would accelerate removal of mature trees in neighborhoods. Sandy Schettler of Tree Action Seattle testified: \"Treebank trees planted far away simply can't help people breathe the clean air they need right now.\" Natasha Hayes (testifying for an organization identified in the record as Friends of Trees) and multiple witnesses from conservation and urban-tree coalitions urged the committee to require stronger on-site retention, insist on replacement trees of comparable mature canopy, and avoid incentives that reduce setbacks, minimum lot sizes or landscape requirements.

Committee members asked clarifying questions of staff and the prime sponsor. Committee staff noted the bill includes a \"null and void\" clause and a fiscal note is available. Representative Duer said she worked with DNR and developers for about three years to craft language that would allow tree retention without undermining middle-housing density goals.

Outcome and next steps: The committee concluded the public hearing on HB 1153 and the chair said additional work would be needed before the measure is scheduled for executive action. Committee leadership encouraged interested parties to continue negotiations with the sponsor.

Ending: The testimony revealed stark differences about whether a statewide model should prioritize flexible compliance tools such as tree banks and incentives or instead require stronger on-site protections. The committee did not take a vote on HB 1153 during the Jan. 29 meeting; the chair indicated further drafting and outreach would continue before any executive session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Agriculture & Natural Resources - 1/29/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Representative Divina Duer introduced House Bill 1153 on Jan. 29 to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee and described the measure as an attempt to balance tree retention and housing production.","taxTitle","Agriculture and Natural Resources, House of Representatives, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20253,"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},6363959,"Committee hears bill to extend timber-purchase reporting requirement; industry and DNR back extension",404,3075000,3479000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165561-548c8fa00573b1826858d1f66f2e5819&start=3075&end=3479","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165561-548c8fa00573b1826858d1f66f2e5819/thumbnail_3075000.jpg","/articles/6363959/Washington/Committee-hears-bill-to-extend-timber-purchase-reporting-requirement-industry-and-DNR-back-extension","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363959-5284da809b1c01044f1df6d194e5cec6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901609&Signature=Iq6PQstun4xg60qX0UcvNUfpX29uFicfbCqgK3viJf6kpm-GHrA4sCJSQWrsSD4vs4erbELeTvBOZeapDEeGoeezaafW9t9NBv3RlI4HmJdOSKqJvzcNM5hJIRofidoIEGTzNppQg3w~jJrAfDAOMYPkovAbCQO1l97mIMJhMwKmkoJFmeLAe~Pl9bEIg4of4sUWDumbC8RXFMN2QWQW2t5aYB~caxzns2jA2PrfRQvhOvydUJIDPO-dDv9LHuDjUjbKR2nysiY6TERQlee10zLFxqM7zFjWV54wRBE8z6QIuWMEQ~nsY7k5k4hWWEQxa17PpZvEaIduDSvVxN4TKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 1389, which would extend timber-purchase reporting requirements for an additional four years, received a staff briefing and public testimony before the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on Jan. 29.

Committee staff summarized the bill and the background: purchasers of timber are required to report larger timber sales to the Department of Revenue; that information (total price, acreage, volume by species and log grade) is used to produce stumpage-value tables, which in turn help determine the tax base for the timber excise tax. The current reporting requirement is scheduled to expire Sept. 30, 2025; HB 1389 would extend the expiration by four years.

Representative Adam Birnbaum, the bill\u0000\u0000\u0000s prime sponsor, said the extension was short and technical: the measure \"allows the timber industry to continue to provide some data to DNR, which DNR uses to more accurately assess the value of timberland,\" and he described the bill as jointly supported by the timber industry and DNR.

Tom Davis of the Washington Forest Protection Association, representing private timberland owners, said the data benefits both the Department of Revenue and timber purchasers. Davis urged passage and explained the recurring-sunset structure: the reporting is subject to a multi-year sunset because the information reported is commercially sensitive and periodic legislative review allows future businesses to reassess their willingness to share proprietary data.

Why it matters: The reporting feeds the stumpage-value tables used to calculate the excise tax on timber harvests. Without updated reporting, Davis told the committee, the Department of Revenue would have less accurate market information for setting tax values.

Outcome and next steps: The committee held a public hearing and received testimony in support; no executive action or votes were taken on HB 1389 during the meeting. Committee staff noted testimony on record both pro and con; members were invited to follow up with the sponsor ahead of anticipated scheduling.

Ending: Representative Birnbaum and an industry witness asked the committee to pass the extension to avoid a reporting lapse on Sept. 30, 2025. No votes were recorded at the Jan. 29 hearing.","House Bill 1389 would extend a timber-purchase reporting requirement that supports Department of Revenue stumpage-value tables. DNR staff and industry witnesses said the reporting produces data used to calculate the timber excise tax base; supporters asked the committee to extend the sunset four years.",{"_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},6363964,"DNR briefs committee on forest-practices rules, riparian buffers, small-landowner incentives and resilience programs",2341,535000,2876000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2165561-548c8fa00573b1826858d1f66f2e5819&start=535&end=2876","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2165561-548c8fa00573b1826858d1f66f2e5819/thumbnail_535000.jpg","/articles/6363964/Washington/DNR-briefs-committee-on-forest-practices-rules-riparian-buffers-small-landowner-incentives-and-resilience-programs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6363964-333528bdbd2c2966b72803c8585e0890/orig.mp4?Expires=1770901609&Signature=LlPBRzbSqnXTeFfNxWmDqs9SWIlZSLpSbK0rS7QZRzLC8N1y2mNxgXuiZouCRRTfVcn0ay9tAsPd8LgyWpozg5Uy0YPFKMjy6ggG1XKnS6NEYPIMH8Gn69OlZiIPXYxXgBmbTB23DQuen4oE5Wmd4JWdpUyzYC2uNabBf6wxHVmyPdo5FlCnEAA9IzQL127sxDLZIgAmFuldn-xsXnmLKZjTRtmCkYSABlbH-vpW3z7d6Iw7Kr9gG42X6QnLpYErDN0V7Wu51a6HCmPgSgvcm3-JZWOVNUKvh3aQrSXcUt703uH-GQv3SnAgSBz9NNva4dsWlN-lU4CwUDvbWy8hgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Department of Natural Resources gave a detailed briefing on Jan. 29 to the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee on forest practices, permitting, small-landowner programs and forest resilience.

Saboor Jawad, forest regulation division manager, told the committee that the 1974 Forest Practices Act (chapter 76.09 RCW) directs the Forest Practices Board to adopt forest-practices rules and that DNR implements and enforces those rules. He summarized elements in the rules, including riparian management zones (RMZs) with three subzones and buffers that can extend up to 200 feet from a stream edge in some conditions. Jawad said, \"Most applications must be approved within 30 days, and if not approved within 30 days, they automatically get approved.\" He also provided agency enforcement figures for the most recent fiscal year: DNR processed about 3,555 forest-practices applications statewide and issued 36 notices to comply, 21 stop-work orders and three civil penalties in fiscal year 2024.

Jawad described a long-term, programmatic Habitat Conservation Plan established with federal agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Fisheries and the Environmental Protection Agency) that provides incidental-take permits for landowners using forest-practices rules; that agreement dates to 2006 and is structured to provide assurances when the rules are implemented.

He also described DNR\u0000\u0000\u0000s small-forest-landowner assistance and incentive programs: a riparian easement purchase program (FRE/T program in the transcript), a family-forest fish-passage cost share program, and a rivers-and-habitat open-space easement program. Jawad said the state planned to purchase 76 riparian easements in the biennium, clear a historical backlog by June and had received 44 new applications; the family-forest fish-passage program is targeting 35 barrier corrections this biennium and has corrected 471 barriers to open roughly 300 miles of fish habitat since inception.

Jen Watkins, forest resilience division manager, followed with a presentation of the agency\u0000\u0000\u0000s strategic planning, science and implementation work on forest health. Watkins described Washington\u0000\u0000\u0000s 22 million acres of forest, a 20-year forest-health strategic plan for Eastern Washington, and the use of landscape-level science to prioritize treatments for wildfire risk reduction, drought mitigation and resilience. She outlined treatments supported by DNR: commercial and noncommercial thinning, prescribed fire, reforestation, aquatic restoration and road maintenance on federal lands. Watkins highlighted a Good Neighbor Authority project in Chelan County where the state implemented 4,000 acres of risk-reduction thinning and said those areas will be followed by prescribed fire this biennium.

Watkins also described workforce development for prescribed fire and restoration work, including certified-burner training, prescribed-burn associations, and programs that partner with tribes, federal land managers and local contractors to scale implementation. She noted the agency tracks treatments in a publicly available forest-health tracker and produces monitoring reports to evaluate whether treatments reduce risk and increase resilience.

Committee members asked technical questions about RMZ width and site-class factors (Representative Schmidt), easement purchases and whether easements confer public access (Representative Morgan), planting and harvest restrictions within buffers (Representative Springer), workforce programs including use of incarcerated crews and reentry crews (Representative Morgan and Representative McClintock), and federal-state cooperation on federal-lands implementation (Representative Springer and Representative Engel). Watkins and Jawad answered or offered to follow up with additional details.

Ending: DNR offered to provide deeper briefings on specific topics and to follow up on outstanding questions about workforce programs and particular local concerns. The briefing provided lawmakers with program numbers and technical context they said they would use as the Legislature considers bills touching forest regulation, wildfire response and landowner assistance.","Department of Natural Resources staff presented an overview of forest-practices rules, permitting, enforcement, small-landowner incentive programs, the programmatic Habitat Conservation Plan, and forest-resilience work including prescribed fire, Good Neighbor Authority projects and workforce development.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears House Bill 1153 on state model urban-forestry ordinances; testimony sharply divided

Committee hears bill to extend timber-purchase reporting requirement; industry and DNR back extension

DNR briefs committee on forest-practices rules, riparian buffers, small-landowner incentives and resilience programs