SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5885
As Passed Senate, February 8, 2024
Title: An act relating to procedures for certificates of annexation submitted to the office of financial management.
Brief Description: Concerning procedures for certificates of annexation submitted to the office of financial management.
Sponsors: Senator Torres; by request of Office of Financial Management.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs: 1/16/24, 1/25/24 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 2/8/24, 47-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Amends certain procedures relating to the certificates of annexation submitted to the Office of Financial Management.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LAND USE & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Lovelett, Chair; Salomon, Vice Chair; Torres, Ranking Member; Kauffman and Short.
Staff: Maggie Douglas (786-7279)
Background:

Certificates of Annexation. Whenever any territory is annexed to a city, town, or code city, the jurisdiction must submit three copies of a certificate containing information as prescribed by the Office of Financial Management (OFM) within 30 days of the effective date of the annexation. After OFM has received, approved, and retained the certificate for its files, OFM must submit the remaining two copies to the Department of Transportation (WSDOT) and the city, town, or code city. The certificate must be signed by the mayor and attested to by the city clerk. OFM must attach a copy of the complete ordinance containing a legal description and a map showing specifically the boundaries of the annexed territory to each of the three copies of the certificate. Upon request, OFM must furnish certification forms to any city, town, or code city.
Summary of Bill:

Whenever any territory is annexed to a city, town, or code city, the jurisdiction must submit a certificate containing information as prescribed by the OFM within 30 days of the effective date of the action.

 

After OFM has received and approved the certificate, OFM must retain a copy and post a copy to the agency's public website. OFM must notify WSDOT and the city, town, or code city the certificate has been approved and posted and include a link to the website.

 

OFM must include a copy of the complete ordinance containing a legal description and a map showing specifically the boundaries of the annexed territory with the certificate.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: This is a cleanup bill that streamlines the process for submitting certificates of annexation. Jurisdictions are required to submit three paper copies of the certificate of annexation. In 2024, there's really not a need for three physical copies and it's easiest and quickest to post the one copy on the agency's website. This is modernizing the existing process. 
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Nikki Torres, Prime Sponsor; K.D. Chapman-See, Office of Financial Management; Carl Schroeder, Association of Washington Cities.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.