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Committee hears bill to require hearing examiners for certain land‑use decisions
Summary
A bill that would require many GMA‑planning counties and cities to adopt hearing examiner systems drew support from builders and planners for speeding land‑use permits and concern from counties about examiner availability and small‑jurisdiction costs.
The Local Government Committee on March 19 heard testimony on engrossed substitute Senate Bill 5,719, which would require counties planning under the Growth Management Act and cities in those counties with populations over 2,000 to adopt hearing examiner systems for quasi‑judicial land‑use decisions.
Supporters said the bill would speed permitting, reduce political pressure on elected officials and produce more predictable, legally grounded decisions. Opponents and county representatives warned of a shortage of qualified hearing examiners and potential costs and practical difficulties for small or rural jurisdictions.
Kellen Wright, staff to the committee, summarized the bill’s mechanics: jurisdictions required to adopt hearing examiner systems would have to do so by mid‑2027 (June or July depending on each jurisdiction’s comprehensive plan schedule). Under the proposal, examiners would hear and decide quasi‑judicial matters such as preliminary plats,…
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