SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6488

As Passed Senate, February 10, 2004

Title: An act relating to a study of the designation of agricultural lands.

Brief Description: Ordering a study of the designation of agricultural lands in three counties.

Sponsors: Senators Mulliken and Parlette.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Land Use & Planning: 1/26/04, 1/29/04 [DP].

Passed Senate: 2/10/04, 49-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE & PLANNING

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Mulliken, Chair; Kline, Morton, Murray and T. Sheldon.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: Information on the results of designation of agricultural resource land will help the Legislature to evaluate the designation requirements of the state's Growth Management Act.

Summary of Bill: By December 1, 2004, the Department of Community, Trade, and Economic Development must report to the Senate Committee on Land Use and Planning regarding designation of agricultural resource land in King, Chelan, and Yakima counties. The report must cover how much land is designated, how much is in production, changes in these amounts since 1990, comparison with other land uses, and effect on tax revenue.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

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

Testimony For: More jurisdictions should be included. The information obtained from these three counties will be useful to the state and other local jurisdictions.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: Leonard Bauer, CTED (pro); Genesee Adkins, 1000 Friends of WA (pro w/concerns).

House Amendment(s): The House Local Government Committee is added as a recipient of the report. Lewis County is added. Threats to maintaining the agricultural land base are added to the scope of the report, as are measures by local governments to better maintain the base and to enhance agricultural industry.