HB 1488 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning conservation district revenue limitations.

House Bill 1488 updates the rules for how conservation districts in Washington State can collect revenue from landowners. It increases the maximum annual charge per parcel that counties can approve for conservation districts to $25, replacing previous tiered limits based on county population. The bill also establishes a process for the Department of Revenue to adjust this maximum per-parcel rate every three years, starting in 2029, based on inflation. Additionally, it clarifies that state-owned lands are subject to these charges and adjusts how forestlands are charged, including a cap on acreage and a per-owner charge instead of a per-parcel charge for forestland owners.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 21, 2025 Signed May 13, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill added a formal certification of enrollment to confirm its passage by both legislative chambers. It modified the rate structure for conservation districts by capping per-parcel fees at $25 and introducing a mandatory, automatic adjustment mechanism for these fees every three years starting in 2029, based on the Seattle metropolitan area's inflation rate. Additionally, the bill renumbered existing subsections regarding forestland rates to maintain logical order after the new provisions were inserted.

Scope change

The scope of the bill's applicability to conservation districts was expanded regarding fee adjustments, as the new rules now automatically apply to all counties in the state starting in 2029.

TIMELINE

Established a new requirement for the Department of Revenue to automatically adjust maximum annual per-parcel rates every three years starting March 1, 2029, based on the consumer price index for the Seattle metropolitan area.

FISCAL

Increased the maximum annual per-parcel rate cap from the previous tiered limits to a flat maximum of $25.

TECHNICAL

Added a formal Certificate of Enrollment at the beginning of the document to officially certify the bill's passage by the House and Senate.

REQUIREMENT

Renumbered subsections related to forestland rates from (c) to (d) to accommodate the insertion of the new inflation adjustment provision.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 26, 2025 · House Apr 18, 2025

How they voted

31–20

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 26, 2025

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1 Nay

96% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 13, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 53; nays, 43; absent, 0; excused, 2.

lower

Apr 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Amended

Committee amendment not adopted.

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

WM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Mar 13, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.

upper

Feb 13, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Finance at 1:30 PM.

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors