SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1544
As Passed Senate, March 31, 2023
Title: An act relating to shoreline master program review schedules.
Brief Description: Concerning shoreline master program review schedules.
Sponsors: Representatives Alvarado, Tharinger, Pollet and Duerr.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/9/23, 97-0.
Committee Activity: Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs: 3/09/23 [DP].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 3/31/23, 48-0.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Changes the master program review and revision cycle in the Shoreline Management Act from eight years to ten years.
  • Extends by one year the date by which the next round of master program reviews and revisions are due.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, LAND USE & TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Lovelett, Chair; Torres, Ranking Member; Kauffman and Short.
Staff: Karen Epps (786-7424)
Background:

The Shoreline Management Act governs uses of state shorelines. All counties and cities with shorelines of the state are required to adopt master programs that regulate land use activities in shoreline areas of the state. Master programs apply to both public and private uses of lake, stream, wetland, and marine shorelines.

 

Local governments must conduct a review of their master programs at least once every eight years to assure the master program is consistent with legal requirements, their comprehensive plan and development regulations adopted under the Growth Management Act, if applicable, and with other local requirements.

 

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:

The master program review and revision cycle is changed from eight years to ten 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.
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:

No public hearing was held.
Persons Testifying: N/A
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: N/A