Jesse Salomon — Invited additional information by email and closed the hearing on the bill.
Jesse Salomon — Referenced as having already made points on the bill.
Jesse Salomon — The chair is addressed and acknowledged in the discussion.
Jesse Salomon — The chair responds and transitions toward questions.
Jesse Salomon — Likely the chair being addressed in the exchange.
Jesse Salomon — The chair asks a question about when property ownership would need to occur in the permit process.
Jesse Salomon — Chair manages the transition to the next witness.
Jesse Salomon — Proposed substitute is attributed to Senator Solomon.
Jesse Salomon — A proposed substitute on the prior bill was attributed to Senator Solomon in the earlier discussion, though no action occurred in this section.
Jesse Salomon — The chair references Senate Bill 6016 and critical aquifer recharge areas as the committee returns from caucus.
Jesse Salomon — A member praises the prime sponsor and notes support for the work while choosing to be without recommendation.
Scott — Referenced as having already covered the topic comprehensively.
Nikki Torres — Referenced in connection with a question about who would make the decision and whether a hearing examiner could be used.
Nikki Torres — A question is raised about whether public hearings can impact already vested projects and whether subsequent code changes would apply to those projects; the discussion continues on the same issue without a topic change.
Nikki Torres — Addressed as Ranking Member Torres in the committee proceedings.
Nikki Torres — Addressed by the witness in the committee exchange.
Nikki Torres — Ranking member addressed by name.
Nikki Torres — The speaker twice acknowledged Ranking Member Nikki Torres, first by recognizing her by name and then by noting that she represents portions of Benton County within the area served by the speaker’s office.
Andrew Smiley — Testified on behalf of the Building Industry Association of Washington in support of Senate Bill 5633.
Mark Villawak — Testified on behalf of D.R. Horton about permitting delays and housing supply.
Ian Faults — Ian Faults of Core Design explained that the bill would strengthen early noticing in the land use process and move any required neighborhood meetings earlier, while also allowing subdivision review to overlap more with the land use permit process to shorten overall project timelines significantly. He argued that saving or eliminating the public hearing mainly saves time because, by that stage, projects are typically already vested and reviewed to code. He further noted that public hearing comments usually focus on broader comprehensive plan or neighborhood-opposition concerns rather than issues that would materially change a code-compliant subdivision project.
Carl Schrader — Carl Schrader of the Association of Washington Cities testified in support of the bill’s process changes. He explained that when a subdivision application meets local codes and state law, cities must approve it, so public comments often do not change the outcome. He added that administrative approval can be helpful from a risk-management perspective because it moves elected officials out of quasi-judicial hearings, while still preserving the role of hearing examiners to make these assessments.
Bill Clark — Bill Clark was introduced as an in-person witness and then testified for Washington Realtors in support of the bill, saying it would update obsolete subdivision statutes. He followed up by asking whether the measure related to a prior bill that would transfer quasi-judicial functions to administrative decision-making, and then explained that such administrative handling could apply to subdivision applications and potentially speed up approvals.
Jeff Pack — Jeff Pack testified about how GMA-related rezoning and subdivision rules affected his property and development plans. He said he was unsure whether he supported or opposed the bill, then explained that his property had been rezoned without notice, limiting his development options and affecting value, while also expressing concern about the bill’s impact on public engagement.
Blake Lyon — Blake Lyon, director of planning and community development for the City of Bellingham, testified on Senate Bill 5633. After introducing himself, he focused on sections 17 and 18 of the bill, which address plat alterations and vacations, and sought clarification on related language, including public hearing requirements.
Blake Lyon — Listed as a remote witness on deck.
Blake Lyon — Blake Lyon, director of planning and community development for the City of Bellingham, explained that when parking minimums are removed and car use is deemphasized, frontage improvements become more important. He noted that long, narrow, or deep lots may require additional access features such as alleys, lanes, and other improvements, especially to satisfy fire code requirements and provide access to rear portions of lots. He also clarified that the bill as written does not include fire restrictions, and that local governments need flexibility in determining access points and related site improvements.
Jeff Remack — Listed as an upcoming remote witness.
HB1110 — Referenced as another law local jurisdictions are trying to implement while dealing with plat alterations.
Jeffrey Mack — Introduces himself as planning and public works director for the city of Lakewood and begins testimony on Senate Bill 5633.
SB6279 — The committee hears a staff briefing on Senate Bill 6279, which would require incorporation of the WUI Code into the state building code and related wildfire-risk development standards for counties. Witnesses discuss concerns from counties about the proposal, note that the bill would require counties to integrate wildfire-related standards into land use and permitting frameworks, and explain that the bill may expand WUI requirements before wildfire risk maps are completed. The witness ultimately supports the bill but requests several amendments so it aligns with the companion bill, including changes to code adoption timing, amendment windows, and map transition timelines. The chair then suspends the hearing on SB 6279.
Karen Epps — Committee staff presents the background and purpose of Senate Bill 6279.
Alex Hurr — Alex Hurr was called to testify and then presented testimony on behalf of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish counties, expressing concerns and opposition to Senate Bill 6279.
Charlotte Parsons — Named as a forthcoming witness/testifier.
Charlotte Parsons — Listed as part of the next in-person panel.
Curtis Diner — Introduces himself as representing the Washington State Association of County Planning Directors and states concerns about Senate Bill 6279.
Randy Collins — Randy Collins is introduced as part of the upcoming in-person panel and then testifies as Fire Marshal for Mason County, speaking on behalf of the Washington State Fire Marshals Association and Mason County in support of Senate Bill 6279.
Lynn Fitzhue — Listed as on deck for in-person testimony.
Lynn Fitzhue — Executive Director of Restoring Earth Connection; testified that tree groups raised concerns in 2004 about the mismatch between the proposed WUI code and DNR's population-based map.
Charlotte Persons — Charlotte Persons was introduced as being listed twice, then testified as a resident of Olympia speaking on behalf of South Sound Bird Alliance, formerly Black Hills Audubon Society.
Luke Esser — Listed as on deck for in-person testimony.
Luke Esser — Luke Esser testified on behalf of Washington Community Wildfire Solutions during wildfire resilience funding lobby day, continuing the same witness appearance and presenting opposition to SB 6279 along with three recommendations.
HB1254 — Substitute House Bill 1254 is discussed as the House companion bill to the measure under consideration, with the speaker noting that the two bills should be made congruent with Senate Bill 6279.
SB6309 — Senate Bill 6309, High-Capacity Transit Permits, is introduced in staff report and explained as a streamlined permitting measure for regional transit authorities, especially Sound Transit, to help deliver light rail projects more efficiently. The bill would allow permit applications to proceed before property acquisition is complete and before certain local land use decisions are finalized, while still requiring compliance with local regulations to the extent practicable. It also addresses rail fixed guideway facilities, development agreements, and subdivision issues arising from condemnation-related land divisions. The committee then waives the five-day notice rule and proceeds to consider the bill, with the sponsor emphasizing that the measure was developed with impacted cities to speed timelines and move projects forward in an orderly, mutually beneficial way.
SB6309 — Senate Bill 6309 is discussed in a single public hearing segment, with speakers expressing support for the bill as providing flexibility, certainty, and more efficient delivery of regional transportation and transit projects. The hearing then concludes and the committee moves into executive session.
Karen Upps — Committee staff begins the staff report on SB 6309.
Karen Upps — Committee staff member presenting the staff report on SB 6274.
Javier Valdez — The transcript says 'Senator Liias,' but the actual speaker is Marko Liias; no expected member ID applies to Liias.
Marko Liias — Marko Liias introduces himself as a state senator from the 21st District and chair of the transportation committee, noting he learned of the hearing the day before and expressing support for moving the bill forward quickly, including support for light rail expansion.
SB6309 — The chair closed the hearing on Senate Bill 6309 and moved to the next bill.