SB 5719 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning local government hearing examiners.

Senate Bill 5719 mandates that local governments, including counties and cities, establish a hearing examiner system. Under this system, hearing examiners will make final decisions on land use matters such as plat approvals and specific development permit applications, rather than just issuing recommendations. Local legislative bodies must adopt procedures to ensure these decisions align with comprehensive plans and comply with clear development regulations. This aims to standardize and clarify the process for local land use approvals for both applicants and local jurisdictions.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Jan 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Jan 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 6 edits · Mar 11, 2025

MODERATE

This bill updates Washington State's hearing examiner laws to create mandatory hearing examiner systems for larger cities and counties that fully plan under the Growth Management Act, while expanding optional systems for smaller jurisdictions. The changes standardize decision-making processes, introduce new cost-recovery and interlocal agreement options, and establish specific timelines for implementing these requirements.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of mandatory hearing examiner systems, requiring them for cities with populations over 2,000 and counties fully planning under RCW 36.70A, whereas previously these were optional for most jurisdictions.

REQUIREMENT

Mandatory hearing examiner systems are now required for cities with populations greater than 2,000 and counties fully planning under chapter 36.70A RCW.

New provisions allow jurisdictions to charge reasonable fees to applicants to cover hearing examiner costs and to enter into interlocal agreements or contract with shared examiners.

New procedures are established for handling vacancies, allowing planning directors to assume duties if no qualified examiner is available.

New option allows applicants to elect either legislative review or hearing examiner review for land use applications.

ELIGIBILITY

Optional hearing examiner systems are now available to counties that do not fully plan under RCW 36.70A.040, expanding eligibility beyond just small jurisdictions.

TIMELINE

Jurisdictions with comprehensive plan updates due in 2027 must implement requirements by then, while others have a two-year implementation period.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 11, 2025

How they voted

31–19

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Mar 11, 2025

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. On motion, referred to Local Government.

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

Mar 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

LG - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

lower

Mar 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 8:00 AM.

lower

Mar 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 8:00 AM.

lower

Mar 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.

upper

1 primary · 1 co-sponsor