The Technology, Economic Development & Veterans Committee on Feb. 18 heard testimony on House Bill 1969, which would create a grant program administered by the Washington Military Department to support local law-enforcement aviation units for maintenance, operations, search-and-rescue costs and wildfire response.

Martha Whaling, staff to the committee, told members the bill would require the military department to create the grant program and specify distribution of funds: “Half of the funds must be provided to the support units for maintenance and operation. The remaining funds must be used for search and rescue costs, which include training. And if there are any remaining funds, they are provided to the Washington State Patrol's aviation section,” Whaling said.

The bill also would make sheriff’s offices eligible for Department of Natural Resources (DNR) aerial fire-response assistance when the aviation asset is owned or leased by the sheriff’s office and would require DNR to include sheriff usage in its annual wildfire report. Whaling noted the bill’s wildland-fire suppression provisions have an expiration date of July 1, 2027.

Representative Brian Burnett, the prime sponsor and former Chelan County sheriff, described operational needs and local examples to illustrate demand. “Safety is priority number one,” Representative Burnett said, adding that rural counties run dozens of missions a year in high-elevation terrain and rely on aviation for life-saving rescues and recoveries.

James McMahon, policy director for the Association of Sheriffs & Police Chiefs, said the four counties that operate law-enforcement helicopters (King, Snohomish, Chelan and Spokane) routinely provide statewide assistance and should not be expected to subsidize missions alone. “These are life-saving measures,” McMahon said.

Local emergency-service leaders and sheriffs testified in support. King County Sheriff Patricia Cole Tindall said her office has provided helicopter support statewide without charging other jurisdictions and urged sustainable state funding. David Ellis, chief of police for Spokane Valley and undersheriff for Spokane County, described missions ranging from lost hikers to wildfire reconnaissance and urged creation of a dedicated state fund.

Wenatchee Valley Fire Department representative Brian Brett said his department operates helicopters and partners with DNR seasonally; he asked that taxpayers in small jurisdictions not bear the full cost of regional missions.

Department of Natural Resources Director for Governmental and External Affairs Pat Sullivan and State Forester George Geissler said DNR appreciates the bill’s intent but raised safety and interoperability concerns for wildfire missions. “Our concern is primarily with the safety of our firefighters, as well as the air crews that are out there flying,” Geissler said, noting some aircraft must meet federal training and maintenance standards for wildland-fire deployments.

Committee members and the sponsor acknowledged there will be appropriation decisions if the legislature funds the program. The committee closed the hearing and scheduled House Bill 1969 for executive session the following day, Feb. 19, for further action.

Votes or formal committee action on the bill were not taken at the Feb. 18 hearing; staff said the bill will be discussed during executive session.

Why it matters: Supporters said the proposal would spread costs for high-expense aviation units that perform statewide search-and-rescue and wildfire duties; state ecological and safety standards for firefighting aviation will shape any final language and eligibility.

Ending note: Committee staff noted the bill’s wildfire-suppression provisions include a July 1, 2027 expiration, and members said they will continue negotiation on safety, training and fiscal details in appropriations and the upcoming executive session.