Finds that: (1) Local governments are the appropriate place for land use changes to be considered and for ordinances to be implemented that relate to the clearing and grading of land, local services, and critical areas;

(2) The department of natural resources implements the forest practices act and the forest practices rules;

(3) The department of ecology is responsible for protection of water quality;

(4) It is in the best interests of the state that forest landowners keep their land in forestry;

(5) Working forests are vital to the economic and environmental health of the state;

(6) Processes are in place which allow a landowner to convert forest land to another use or maintain the option to convert forest land at a later date;

(7) Laws governing conversion of forest land to other uses and regulatory jurisdiction over such forest practices have been in place for more than eight years; and

(8) It is clear that at times in some places in the state these laws, and associated administrative processes, have unnecessarily complicated landowners' ability to carry out forest practices.

Requires the department of natural resources to provide a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by October 31, 2006, including recommendations for changes to laws and administrative processes.