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WashingtonSB 51422025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Providing owners of real estate taken through eminent domain by school districts, or sold under threat of eminent domain, the opportunity to purchase the real estate back when it is not put to intended public use.

Sponsored By: Bob Hasegawa (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Former owners can buy back unused land

The law gives former owners the first chance to buy back land a school district took or bought under threat, before any non-school sale or use. The district must send a certified offer at the price it paid, and you have 60 days after you get it to accept in writing. You get this offer if the school plan is canceled, no real progress happens within 10 years, or the land is no longer needed. You also get it when all are true: no voter or state funding has been requested, no permits filed, no extra parcels needed, the site is not in the six-year capital plan, and the district bought it over a year ago. For threat purchases, the district must give you a written statement of the intended use, and “under threat” means it sent a written intent to condemn before buying without a court judgment.

Limits on school land buy-back rights

Your buy-back right ends once the district uses the land for school facilities or as additional school grounds, even if it later changes the use. All notice and buy-back rights expire 15 years after the district acquired the property. You can sign a written waiver to give up these rights. The district meets its notice duty if it made a good-faith, diligent search and sent certified mail to last known addresses; later sales are not undone for lack of actual notice. If you asked in writing for condemnation, you generally do not get the offer unless the district had already sent you a written intent to condemn.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Bob Hasegawa

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Lisa Wellman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mark Schoesler

    Republican • Senate

  • Mike Chapman

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 195 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/17/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 49 • No: 0

House vote • 4/9/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the House

Yes: 97 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 2/25/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 49 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/12/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 224, 2025 Laws.

    5/12/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    5/12/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/23/2025legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    4/22/2025legislature

  6. President signed.

    4/19/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/17/2025Senate

  8. Senate concurred in House amendments.

    4/17/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/9/2025Senate

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/9/2025Senate

  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

    4/9/2025Senate

  12. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    4/8/2025Senate

  13. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    3/28/2025Senate

  14. CRJ - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

    3/26/2025Senate

  15. CRJ - Executive action taken by committee.

    3/26/2025Senate

  16. First reading, referred to Civil Rights & Judiciary.

    2/28/2025Senate

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    2/25/2025Senate

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/25/2025Senate

  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/25/2025Senate

  20. 1st substitute bill substituted.

    2/25/2025Senate

  21. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/12/2025Senate

  22. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/3/2025Senate

  23. LAW - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    1/30/2025Senate

  24. First reading, referred to Law & Justice.

    1/13/2025Senate

  25. Prefiled for introduction.

    1/7/2025Senate

Bill Text

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