H-3028.1
HOUSE BILL 2620
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Dent, Springer, Dufault, Schmick, Scott, and Lekanoff
Read first time 01/22/26. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.
AN ACT Relating to restoring collaboration in the forest practices rule-making process for the benefit of long-term protection of natural resources and the forest products industry; amending RCW 76.09.040 and 76.09.370 ; adding a new section to chapter 76.09 RCW; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) When the legislature enacted the forests and fish law in 1999, it established a balanced, science-based approach to forest management. The adaptive management process was central to that design, ensuring that new forest practice rules would be guided by data, peer review, and collaboration among landowners, agencies, tribes, and environmental interests. That process was meant to protect both salmon habitat and the economic stability of working forests. In good faith, landowners and small forest operators have invested billions of dollars to meet those obligations, under the promise that any further changes would follow the same lawful process.
(2) The legislature finds that the adoption of the western Washington type nonfish bearing stream water buffer rule by the forest practices board on November 12, 2025, has demonstrated a serious substantive and procedural deviation from the policies and intent of the adaptive management process and the state administrative procedure act, chapter 34.05 RCW.