Bill > HB1726

This bill requires state, school district, and municipal public works projects that receive over $500,000 in state funding and where the state funds more than half the project to prioritize lumber procurement from specific geographic areas. The lumber must be sourced first from Washington state, then Oregon, and then the United States. However, project leaders like the director of financial management, school district superintendents, or municipal executives can request a waiver if they determine that meeting the requirement would: be inconsistent with public interest, result in insufficient or unsatisfactory lumber availability, or increase wood product costs by 10% or more. Before granting a waiver, the responsible official must publish a public notice on their agency website, allow 30 days for public comment, and then publish a detailed justification addressing those comments. The bill applies only to public works projects advertised for bids after the bill's effective date, and defines "municipality" broadly to include cities, counties, towns, port districts, and other public agencies authorized to execute public work. Additionally, the bill includes a provision ensuring that if any part of the act conflicts with federal funding requirements, only the conflicting portion will be considered inoperative.

Budget and Finance

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1726&Year=2025&Initiative=false