SENATE BILL REPORT
SHB 1271
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Ways & Means, April 3, 2025
Title: An act relating to early deployment of state fire service resources.
Brief Description: Permitting early deployment of state fire service resources.
Sponsors: House Committee on Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Nance, Dent, Marshall, Bronoske, Leavitt, Salahuddin, Ryu, Davis, Mena, Ramel, Dye, Barkis, Klicker, Reed, Ormsby, Scott, Eslick, Parshley, Taylor, Kloba, Timmons, Peterson, Richards, Simmons, Hunt and Hill).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/11/25, 96-0.
Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 3/18/25, 4/03/25 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Amended Bill
  • Allows the chief of the Washington State Patrol to mobilize jurisdictions and request resources to prepare for an emergency or disaster situation or when an emergency or disaster is predicted to exceed local resource capabilities.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS
Majority Report: Do pass as amended.
Signed by Senators Robinson, Chair; Stanford, Vice Chair, Operating; Trudeau, Vice Chair, Capital; Frame, Vice Chair, Finance; Gildon, Ranking Member, Operating; Torres, Assistant Ranking Member, Operating; Schoesler, Ranking Member, Capital; Dozier, Assistant Ranking Member, Capital; Boehnke, Braun, Cleveland, Conway, Dhingra, Hansen, Hasegawa, Kauffman, Muzzall, Pedersen, Riccelli, Saldaña, Wagoner, Warnick, Wellman and Wilson, C..
Staff: Kimmy Eide (786-7471)
Background:

During an emergency, when a local jurisdiction needs assistance beyond the capabilities of local resources and mutual aid agreements, a request may be made for a state mobilization. The chief of the Washington State Patrol (WSP) has the authority to mobilize jurisdictions under the Washington State Fire Services Mobilization Plan (Mobilization Plan). 

 

During a mobilization, fire departments, fire districts, and regional fire protection service authorities provide resources to respond to natural or man-made incidents. When available local resource capabilities are exceeded, the resources from other fire departments, fire districts, and regional fire protection service authorities must be requested. If those resources are available, the resources are required to be sent to an emergency or disaster situation.

 

The purpose of the Mobilization Plan is to provide a mechanism and process to quickly notify, assemble, and deploy fire service personnel and equipment to any local fire jurisdiction in Washington that has expended or will expend all available local and mutual aid resources in attempting to manage fires, disasters, or other events that jeopardize the ability of a jurisdiction to provide for the protection of life and property. The state Fire Marshal in the WSP serves as the state fire resources coordinator when the Mobilization Plan is mobilized.
Summary of Amended Bill:

The chief of the WSP may mobilize jurisdictions under the Mobilization Plan to prepare for an emergency or disaster situation or when an emergency or disaster situation is predicted to exceed the local resource capabilities.
EFFECT OF WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE AMENDMENT(S):
  • Removes the null and void clause.
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 on Substitute House Bill:

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  PRO: This bill is essential for emergency management and mitigation.  Coordinating mobilization before local resources have been exhausted allows for a more prepared, strategic, and efficient response. When propositioned resources are available, it minimizes the damage of emergencies. 
Persons Testifying: PRO: Leonard Johnson, McLane Black Lake FD / Washington Fire Chiefs.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.