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WashingtonHB 14882025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning conservation district revenue limitations.

Sponsored By: April Berg (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Lower, limited charges for forestlands

If your timber land is served by the district, its per‑acre fee cannot be more than one‑tenth of the weighted average per‑acre fee on other lands. No more than 10,000 acres per owner in the same district can be charged in a year. Districts cannot add a per‑parcel fee to forestland parcels. Instead, if your forestland pays a per‑acre fee, the district may charge up to $3 per owner.

Conservation district charges on tax bills

Counties can approve rates and charges to fund their conservation district instead of a special assessment. These charges appear as a separate line on your property tax bill and are collected by the county treasurer. Unpaid amounts become a lien like delinquent property taxes, with the same interest and penalties. The county may keep up to its actual costs for billing and collection before sending the rest to the district.

Caps on per-parcel and per-acre fees

If a district charges by the parcel, the fee is capped at $25 per parcel per year. If it charges by the acre, the fee is capped at $0.10 per acre per year. Beginning March 1, 2029, and every three years after, the Department of Revenue adjusts the per‑parcel cap using Seattle’s CPI. The new cap is rounded to the nearest $1 and never goes down. The department posts the adjusted cap by March 31.

Owners can block charges with petition

Public land, including state land, is subject to the same conservation district charges as private land. When state land is charged, the state follows RCW 79.44 procedures. After rates are approved, owners can stop them for the next year by filing a petition signed by at least 20% of affected owners before December 15. If that threshold is met, the charges are not spread on the next year’s tax rolls.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • April Berg

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Davina Duerr

    Democratic • House

  • Strom Peterson

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 139 • No: 102

House vote • 4/18/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 53 • No: 43 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/26/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 29 • No: 20

House vote • 3/3/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 57 • No: 39 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/13/2025House

  2. Chapter 262, 2025 Laws.

    5/13/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    5/13/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/22/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/19/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 53; nays, 43; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    4/18/2025House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    4/18/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 29; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    3/26/2025House

  10. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/26/2025House

  11. Committee amendment not adopted.

    3/26/2025House

  12. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/26/2025House

  13. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/21/2025House

  14. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/17/2025House

  15. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/13/2025House

  16. Minority; do not pass.

    3/13/2025House

  17. WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/13/2025House

  18. First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

    3/5/2025House

  19. Third reading, passed; yeas, 57; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/3/2025House

  20. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/3/2025House

  21. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    3/3/2025House

  22. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/18/2025House

  23. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/13/2025House

  24. FIN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/11/2025House

  25. Minority; do not pass.

    2/11/2025House

Bill Text

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