Modifying provisions on joint legislative audit and review committee studies.

SB 5598 modifies Washington's joint legislative audit and review committee procedures by extending the sunset date for audit provisions from 2025 to 2045 and adding flexibility to extend study timelines. It specifically removes barriers to continuing the sustainable harvest study by requiring the committee to conduct an independent review of the Department of Natural Resources' forest inventory, growth modeling, and harvest calculation methodologies before the 2025-2034 sustainable harvest determination. The bill mandates that the committee hire independent contractors for technical reviews and requires the Department of Natural Resources to involve its sustainable harvest advisory committee in forest inventory updates. These changes directly affect the Department of Natural Resources, the joint legislative audit committee, and forest management decision-making processes.