Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee
HB 1430
Brief Description: Concerning the duration of state upland leases for lands managed by the department of natural resources.
Sponsors: Representatives Kloba and Klicker; by request of Department of Natural Resources.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Changes, from 55 years to 99 years, the maximum length of a lease of land managed by the Department of Natural Resources, where the purpose of the lease is for commercial, industrial, business, or recreational purposes.
Hearing Date: 2/5/21
Staff: Robert Hatfield (786-7117).
Background:

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages a number of different categories of land, each for a specific purpose and under different management requirements.  This includes approximately 3 million acres of federally granted lands and state forestlands, which the DNR manages to support common schools, counties, and other public institutions.
 
The DNR has the authority to lease state lands for various purposes, including commercial, industrial, residential, agricultural, and recreational uses, in order to obtain a fair-market rental return to the state or appropriate trust. 


The DNR generally may not lease state lands for longer than 10 years, although longer leases are specifically authorized in multiple instances.  Leases for general agricultural purposes may not exceed 25 years, and leases for tree fruit or grape production may be for up to 55 years.  Leases for commercial, industrial, business, or recreational purposes may also be for up to 55 years.
Summary of Bill:

The maximum length of a lease of land managed by the Department of Natural Resources, where the purpose of the lease is for commercial, industrial, business, or recreational purposes, is changed from 55 years to 99 years.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.