Senate committee adopts amendment, advances bill restoring ADU approvals in resource zones

Senator Derek Golden, chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire, presided over a work session April 3 that advanced Senate Bill 75, legislation intended to restore earlier allowances for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and replacement dwellings on land zoned for resource uses.

The committee adopted the bill's dash‑3 amendment, which removes references to the statewide wildfire hazard map and eliminates certain provisions tied specifically to the map. The amendment also authorizes counties to approve ADUs in resource zones if counties adopt land‑use regulations that ensure proper setbacks from resource lands and adequate access for firefighting, evacuation and staged evacuation areas.

"Senate bill 75 defines high wildfire hazard area for the purpose of developing accessory dwelling units or replacement dwellings on land zone for resource uses," a staff summary read during the session. After the summary, Senators voted to adopt the amendment; Senators Dirac, Mazowski, Taylor, Vice Chair Nash and Chair Golden recorded affirmative responses during the roll call, and the chair announced, "The amendment passes."

After the amendment vote, Vice Chair Nash moved to send SB 75, as amended, to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The roll call for that motion included Senators Graf, Kosinski and Taylor, Vice Chair Nash and Chair Golden recording "aye," and the chair announced, "Measure passes."

Committee discussion placed the bill in context: the sponsors said SB 75 restores earlier law allowing ADUs in rural areas and strips a later condition that tied ADU approvals to progress on the statewide wildfire hazard map. Chair Golden said it is the committee's "firm intention next Tuesday to vote to repeal that map," framing the amendment as part of a plan to decouple ADU approvals from the map's status.

No public testimony was taken during the work session. Senators offered no recorded dissent to the amendment or to the committee motion to advance the bill.

SB 75 will appear next on the Senate floor; a committee member volunteered to carry the measure forward.

Votes at a glance - Adoption of dash‑3 amendment to Senate Bill 75: recorded affirmative votes during the roll call included Senators Dirac, Mazowski, Taylor, Vice Chair Nash and Chair Golden. Chair declared the amendment passed. - Motion to advance Senate Bill 75 as amended to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation: recorded affirmative votes included Senators Graf, Kosinski and Taylor, Vice Chair Nash and Chair Golden. Chair declared the measure passed and designated a senator to carry the bill to the floor.

Background and next steps SB 75 was described to the committee as restoring prior policy that allowed ADUs on lands zoned for resource uses, with new language removing reliance on the statewide wildfire hazard map and shifting authority to counties that adopt specified safeguards. The committee advanced the bill to the floor with the expectation of further action there.

Committee members noted the compressed session calendar: the chair opened the meeting by listing several bills carried over to a Tuesday, April 8 work session because "the paperwork is not ready" for them to be heard on April 3. SB 75's advancement was the primary formal action taken at this meeting.