SENATE BILL REPORT

EHB 1894

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.

Committee Activity: Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks: 2/25/20, 2/28/20 [DPA-WM, w/oRec].

Ways & Means: 2/29/20.

Brief Summary of Amended Bill

Expands the scope of the Wildland Fire Advisory Committee report to include quantifying areas not contained within an established fire district and recommendations for how to protect those areas.

Majority Report: Do pass as amended and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

Signed by Senators Van De Wege, Chair; Salomon, Vice Chair; Warnick, Ranking Member; McCoy.

Background: The 2018 Supplemental Operating Budget directed the Commissioner of Public Lands to direct the Wildland Fire Advisory Committee (Committee) to review, analyze, and make recommendations on wildfire prevention, response, and suppression activities in the state. A status report on the Committee's efforts was due to the Legislature by December 31, 2018, and a report with the Committee's recommendations was due by November 15, 2019.

Summary of Amended Bill: The scope of the report prepared by the Committee pursuant to the 2018 Supplemental Operating Budget is expanded to include the following elements:

mapping areas of the state that are not within an established fire protection district, nor subject to a planned wildland fire response; and
recommendations on which methods of protection may be best suited for these areas when considering values at risk.

In addition, the Committee must make recommendations for appropriate fees to support the methods of protection, including increasing fire protection district levies and fees collected by the Department of Natural Resources. The report must be submitted to the Legislature by November 15, 2020.

EFFECT OF AGRICULTURE, WATER, NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS COMMITTEE AMENDMENT(S): Removes the requirement for the Wildland Fire Advisory Committee to review, analyze, and make recommendations on the establishment, appropriate level of training, and the personal protective equipment standards for rangeland fire protection associations. Removes the restriction that the Committee only map areas not within an established fire protection district in the eastern half of the state. Makes technical updates to timelines and removes obsolete references.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Engrossed House Bill (Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks): The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard. PRO: The Wildland Fire Advisory Committee will evaluate response to fire, especially in no man's land in Eastern Washington where there is no coverage and the land is far removed from fire suppression resources. The Committee will evaluate how to improve on the initial attack, because range land fires are so devastating and move so rapidly. By tasking the Committee with additional issues, a group of experts on fire response, it keeps the Committee vibrant.

OTHER: Shrub steppe habitat in Eastern Washington is very valuable habitat and vulnerable to wildfire risk. The Committee recently submitted a report to the Legislature in December 2019, and we need to make sure that we are tasking the Committee with a new set of questions and not issues that they have already addressed.

Persons Testifying (Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks): PRO: Representative Tom Dent, Prime Sponsor; Jason Callahan, Washington Forest Protection Association. OTHER: Justin Allegro, The Nature Conservancy.