Agency bills progress as parks officials watch tourism-assessment proposal
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Summary
Legislative affairs director Brian Considine told the commission that the agency had two bills advance (including a ski‑area inspections technical update) while other measures—snowmobile fee increases—stalled; he raised concerns about House Bill 2325, a tourism assessment mechanism that could generate an estimated $25–56 million annually and whose scope may affect parks and vendors.
Brian Considine, the agency’s legislative/public affairs director, briefed commissioners on March 4 as the 60‑day session entered its final days. He said Washington State Parks had two agency bills that moved out of their originating chambers and that House Bill 2272 (technical updates to ski-lift inspection terminology) had passed the Senate, with Rep. Hall as the prime sponsor.
Considine said two other agency bills on snowmobile registration fees (SB 5234 and HB 2139) stalled amid heavy floor and committee activity and that their fate may depend on conference outcomes tied to transportation and budget implementation. "It is necessary to implement the budget," he said of the vehicle used to house some fee language, but cautioned staff will continue work if bills do not pass this session.
He flagged House Bill 2325, a tourism bill that would create an assessment mechanism under a Washington Tourism Association sub‑entity. Considine said the Commerce Department projected potential revenues in the $25 million to $56 million per year range and that, while the mechanism could benefit recreation, it could also have a large scope with potential impacts on vendors and the agency’s partners. "We sit as an ex officio on their board," he said, noting State Parks would watch how the bill defines assessments and who pays them.
Considine also pointed to SB 6110, legislation to refine definitions around e‑bikes and to create a task force to make recommendations; he described that type of bill as setting up processes rather than immediate statutory changes. He told commissioners the House and Senate capital budgets were unusually similar this cycle but that operating and transportation proposals were at conference or negotiation stages. Staff are working with budget writers and legislators to explain the direct impacts of reductions to parks operations and visitor services.
Commissioners asked whether to distribute informational flyers to legislators; Considine recommended broad sharing and coordination with partner agencies (WDFW, DNR) to emphasize collective impacts.
He closed by reminding the commission that if bills move to the governor, staff will notify commissioners about any signing events.
