Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research	BILL ANALYSIS
Agriculture & Ecology Committee

SSB 5497

Brief Description:  Excluding farm and agricultural land from forest land under the forest practices act.

Sponsors:  By Senate Committee on Agriculture & International Trade (originally sponsored by Senators Rasmussen, Swecker and Haugen).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

$Specifies that agricultural land that is or was enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is not included in the definition of "forest land" as that term is used in the Forest Practices Act.

Hearing Date:  3/30/01

Staff:  Jason Callahan (786‑7117).

Background:

Summary of Bill: 

Agricultural land that is or was enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program is not included in the definition of "forest land" as that term is used in the Forest Practices Act, provided that a parcel of land was historically used for agricultural purposes and the landowner intends to continue to use the land for agricultural purposes in the future.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not Requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.