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County lobbyist updates commissioners on bills, February committee cutoff
Summary
Spokane County lobbyist Mike Burgess briefed commissioners on several bills of county interest — urban growth regulations, aquifer recharge, waste‑to‑energy, residential development in commercial areas, and TIF changes — and reminded the board of a Feb. 4 policy committee cutoff for amendment votes.
Mike Burgess, Spokane County’s lobbyist, told the Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 20 that the short legislative session was in its early days and flagged key deadlines and bill activity. “We are on day 9 of the session,” Burgess said, and he reminded commissioners the next major committee cutoff is Feb. 4.
Burgess reviewed bills the county has tracked. He described bill 2201 (urban growth area development regulations) as having been heard with mixed testimony but not yet scheduled for committee vote. He noted 2358 (an aquifer recharge bill) had a hearing and a senate companion (6016) was scheduled for executive committee consideration. Burgess corrected earlier information about bill 2416 (waste‑to‑energy), saying the house and senate versions are identical and that the measure includes a compliance ramp rather than an exemption from CCA rules.
On housing and local fiscal tools, Burgess drew attention to a multifaceted local‑government fiscal bill (number referred to in the briefing) that contains sections on REIT flexibility and a local option tax for housing; he encouraged commissioners to read the bill report and noted it would likely remain in play throughout the session. He also said he would reach out to the prime sponsor of a tax‑increment financing bill (2451) to explore whether the county’s preferred statutory citation could be added.
Commissioners asked for updates on other topics — superior court judge position requests, public‑defender caseload standards, and amendments to residential‑development bills — and Burgess said he would follow up and report back.
What happens next: Burgess will check on scheduling and amendments and provide the board with weekly follow‑ups leading into the Feb. 4 policy committee cutoff.
