HB 1925

SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1925

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of March 19, 2007

Title: An act relating to removing a termination date affecting industrial land banks.

Brief Description: Removing a termination date affecting industrial land banks.

Sponsors: Representatives Curtis, Fromhold, Orcutt, Moeller, Wallace, Dunn and Hinkle.

Brief History: Passed House: 3/07/07, 97-0.

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 3/20/07.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Staff: Mac Nicholson (786-7445)

Background: Under current law, planning counties meeting specific population, unemployment, and geographic requirements may, in consultation with cities, establish a process for designating an industrial land bank outside urban growth areas (UGA). An "industrial land bank" is one or two master-planned locations, each consisting of a parcel or parcels of contiguous land sufficiently large so as to not be available within the UGA, that is designated by the county through the comprehensive planning process specifically for major industrial use.

Counties eligible to use the industrial land bank authority are categorized into two groups that are differentiated according to the expiration date of their authority. One group's authority expired December 31, 2002. The other group's authority expires on December 31, 2007.

To be included in the group that expires in 2007, the county must meet one of the following sets of criteria:

have a population greater than 250,000 and be a part of a metropolitan area that includes a city in another state with a population greater than 250,000;
have a population greater than 140,000 and be adjacent to another country;
have a population greater than 40,000 but less than 75,000 and have an average level of unemployment that exceeds the average state unemployment by 20 percent and meet one of three geographic requirements;
be located east of the Cascade divide and border another state to the south or be located south of I-90 and border the Columbia river; or
have an average population density of less than 100 persons per square mile and border the Pacific Ocean and Hood Canal.

Summary of Bill: The December 31, 2007, termination date for the authority of eligible counties to include or exclude master-planned locations in industrial land banks is removed.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

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