Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Environment & Energy Committee
HB 1544
Brief Description: Concerning shoreline master program review schedules.
Sponsors: Representatives Alvarado, Tharinger, Pollet and Duerr.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases the review and revision cycle for Shoreline Master Programs from eight to 10 years.
  • Extends by one year the date by which the next round of Shoreline Master Program reviews and revisions are due.
Hearing Date: 1/30/23
Staff: Robert Hatfield (786-7117).
Background:

The Shoreline Management Act requires all counties, as well as most towns and cities, to develop and implement Shoreline Master Programs.  These programs are designed to help regulate and protect the shorelines of the state.  The Department of Ecology has adopted Shoreline Master Program Guidelines to provide standards for adopting and implementing shoreline programs. 
 
Counties and cities must review and revise their master programs every eight years.  The next round of revisions and reviews are due in the following years for the following groups of counties and the cities within them:

  • June 30, 2028 for King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties;
  • June 30, 2029 for Clallam, Clark, Island, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, San Juan, Skagit, Thurston, and Whatcom counties;
  • June 30, 2030 for Benton, Chelan, Cowlitz, Douglas, Franklin, Kittitas, Skamania, Spokane, Walla Walla, and Yakima counties; and
  • June 30, 2031 for Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Whitman counties. 
Summary of Bill:

Shoreline Master Programs must be reviewed and revised every 10 years, rather than every eight years.  In addition, the next year by which Shoreline Master Programs must be reviewed and revised is moved back by one year, so that the next round of reviews and revisions are due in the following years for the following groups of counties and the cities within them:

  • June 30, 2029 for King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties;
  • June 30, 2030 for Clallam, Clark, Island, Jefferson, Lewis, Mason, San Juan, Skagit, Thurston, and Whatcom counties;
  • June 30, 2031 for Benton, Chelan, Cowlitz, Douglas, Franklin, Kittitas, Skamania, Spokane, Walla Walla, and Yakima counties; and
  • June 30, 2032 for Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Grant, Grays Harbor, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pacific, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Wahkiakum, and Whitman counties. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.