Washington House Democrats

OLYMPIA—After a late night Friday state lawmakers gathered in Olympia today to continue efforts to pass legislation before Wednesday’s legislative cutoff.

Legislative cutoff is a self-imposed deadline by both the House and Senate to pass bills out of their respective chambers. Bills that are not voted on before the deadline are considered for all intents and purposes “dead.”

Two local 26th district lawmakers, Rep. Pat Lantz (D-Gig Harbor) and Rep. Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor), passed several bills in the Saturday floor session.

House bill 2146 would change the sales and use tax deferral on the Narrows Bridge, to a sales tax exemption, saving local toll payers millions of dollars.

“Every single person in the 26th district will be paying these tolls,” Seaquist said. “Taxes are paid on the bridge’s construction and toll-payers will be paying for both the construction as well as the taxes on the project. The result is local toll-payers paying a tax twice – that’s not right.”

According to the legislation, state sales and use taxes imposed on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge project for which a deferral has been granted until 2012 would not need to be repaid. Instead states sales and use taxes collected are transferred to the tolling account of the project to reduce the cost of the project.

The measure passed the House just after midnight on Friday by a vote of 96-1 and will now await further action in the Senate.

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London in Connecticut changed the Court's latest interpretation of the Fifth Amendment's Taking Clause. The decision has caused a great deal of speculation across the country about the future use of the power of eminent domain for economic development purposes.

According to legislation (HB 2016) passed on Saturday, if an entity needs to acquire land for economic development or public good purposes, a condemnor must provide at least 30 days notice and written documentation showing that alternatives have been considered.

The legislation also removes the $750 cap on reimbursable expenses property owners might incur in legal and appraisal fees, and also gives the property owner a right of first refusal if the land were put up for sale within a seven year window.

“The burden of proof should not rely on the property owner in these decisions,” said Lantz, who was a sponsor of the bill. “We need to make sure property owners not only have their rights protected in these cases but are being fairly compensated.”

Currently, a condemnor may simply refuse to consider any alternative to condemnation. The legislation passed the House unanimously.

House bill 2220 creates a new Sea Grant program at the University of Washington to commission a series of scientific research studies on the potential effects of geoduck aquaculture on the Puget Sound.

Recently, conflict has arisen between local property owners and commercial geoduck farmers. The industry, which brings in an estimated $30 to $40 million per year, has come under fire for how they farm the large clams.

“Nobody denies that there are issues that need to be resolved in this process,” Lantz said. “Growers, citizens, environmentalists, government officials—none of us know what the long term environmental impacts will be on our beaches and I think it only wise that we take time to study these practices.”

Lantz’s legislation would provide funding for University of Washington researchers to study the impact of cultivation techniques and issue a report to the Legislature by 2013.

House Bill 2115 would create the Washington State Heritage Barn Preservation Program through the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation. The program would determine the types, qualities, conditions, and needs of Washington's heritage barns.

Currently the Wilkinson Farm is working with Gig Harbor city officials in the creation of a preservation plan. The Wilkinson Farm serves as an interpretive, living history agrarian park that was designed for people to interact with nature and participate in educational opportunities, low-impact recreation and events.

“Barns are an important part of Washington's culture, history, and commerce,” said Seaquist, a sponsor of the measure. “Growing up in rural Idaho I know first hand the living history these barns provide. The Wilkinson Farm is a great learning experience for our children and we need to make sure we preserve this community treasure.”

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Rep. Patricia Lantz (360) 786-7964

Rep. Larry Seaquist (360) 786-7802

Staff Contact: Derek Baker (360) 786-7697

House Bill 2016: ^{http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2007&bill=2220}