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WashingtonHB 13722025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Modifying provisions on joint legislative audit and review committee studies.

Sponsored By: Ed Orcutt (Republican)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

Independent check on forest harvest math

Before DNR sets the 2025–2034 sustainable harvest level, it must increase forest inventory sampling across all DNR‑managed lands over the next two biennia with help from a third‑party contractor. The law defines what the forest inventory includes and requires DNR’s advisory committee to propose updates every 10 years. DNR must also hire a third party to review its forest growth and yield models. JLARC must run an independent review of the data and methods and send a report to the Board of Natural Resources and the legislature before the decision. After getting JLARC’s report, the board must decide if the harvest calculation needs changes before approval. These extra checks add review steps and can change the final harvest level up or down.

Regular wildfire spending and progress reports

The Department of Natural Resources must report every two years by December 1 of even‑numbered years. The report lists yearly spending from the Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account and related general fund amounts, unspent balances with recommendations, and progress on the 10‑year wildland fire plan and the 20‑year forest health plan. It also tracks work to build markets for forest residuals and biomass. The report must include recommendations to adjust the 2021 funding mechanism for these wildfire and forest health efforts.

Stronger state audits and program reviews

The law keeps the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee in place through June 30, 2045. It requires a performance audit work plan every two years, sent to the legislature by July 1 after each odd‑year session, with costs limited to funds appropriated. JLARC must review any program set to end and issue a preliminary report in the year before the end date. The Office of Financial Management and the affected entity get 60 days to respond, and JLARC must send the final report to the legislature, governor, affected entity, and the state library. The legislative auditor must set rules so staff time and costs match a program’s size and complexity, and JLARC must consider clear risk and usefulness factors when choosing audits.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ed Orcutt

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Gerry Pollet

    Democratic • House

  • John Ley

    Republican • House

  • Mark Klicker

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 241 • No: 0

House vote • 4/17/2025

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 4/5/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/20/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 97 • No: 0 • Other: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    5/2/2025House

  2. Chapter 198, 2025 Laws.

    5/2/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    5/2/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/22/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/19/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/18/2025legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    4/17/2025House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    4/17/2025House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    4/5/2025House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/5/2025House

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

    4/5/2025House

  12. Placed on second reading consent calendar.

    4/2/2025House

  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/25/2025House

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

    3/21/2025House

  15. First reading, referred to State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections.

    2/21/2025House

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

    2/20/2025House

  17. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/20/2025House

  18. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/18/2025House

  19. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/6/2025House

  20. SGOV - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/4/2025House

  21. SGOV - Majority; do pass.

    2/4/2025House

  22. First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations.

    1/17/2025House

  23. Introduced

    1/17/2025House

Bill Text

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