Bill > HB2327

This bill directs the joint legislative audit and review committee to conduct an audit of county forest board lands, which are lands originally deeded to the state by counties in 1935 under a trust structure designed to generate revenue from timber for the counties. The audit will examine the original trust structure, the performance of the Department of Natural Resources as the trust manager, and how other comparable trusts ensure transparency and protect beneficiary rights. The goal is to analyze the current management of these lands, considering that timber harvests have been increasingly restricted, leading to lower revenue for the counties, and to develop recommendations for any necessary adjustments to the trust structure or parameters to ensure adherence to the original conditions and fundamental trust principles. This audit and review process is set to conclude with recommendations submitted to the legislature by December 31, 2027, and both the audit directive and the reporting requirement will expire on June 30, 2028.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2327&Year=2025&Initiative=false