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SB5142 • 2026
Providing owners of real estate taken through eminent domain by school districts, or sold under threat of eminent domain, the opportunity to purchase the real estate back when it is not put to intended public use.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Eminent domain purchase back
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
0 • Civil Rights & Judiciary
Plain English: 5142-S.E AMH CRJ H2055.1 ESSB 5142 - H COMM AMD By Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary ADOPTED 04/09/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "NEW SECTION.
63 • Dhingra
Plain English: 5142-S AMS DHIN S1846.1 SSB 5142 - S AMD 63 By Senator Dhingra ADOPTED 02/25/2025 On page 1, line 20, after " (3)" strike "Before" and insert 1 "Except as provided in subsections (5) through (8) of this section, 2 before" 3 On page 2, beginning on line 1, after "site for" strike "a 4 schoolhouse" and insert "school facilities" 5 On page 2, beginning on line 2, after "grounds to" strike "an 6 existing schoolhouse site" and insert "existing school facilities"7 On page 2, line 35, after "site for" strike "a schoolhouse" and 8 insert "school facilities" 9 On page 2, beginning on line 35, after "grounds to" strike "an 10 existing schoolhouse site" and insert "existing school facilities"11 On page 2, line 38, after "site for" strike "a schoolhouse" and 12 insert "school facilities" 13 On page 2, line 39, after "grounds to" strike "an existing 14 schoolhouse site" and insert "existing school facilities"15 On page 3, after line 8, insert the following:16 "(8) Subsection (3) of this section does not apply to a property 17 owner who makes a written request that a school district acquire the 18 property through a condemnation action unless the school district 19 first sent the property owner a written notice indicating an intent 20 to pursue a condemnation action to acquire the property."21 EFFECT: Adds an exception to duties and rights regarding notice and opportunity to purchase back property.
1st substitute bill substituted.
Eminent domain purchase back
AN ACT Relating to providing owners of real estate taken through 1 eminent domain by school districts, or sold under threat of eminent 2 domain, the opportunity to purchase the real estate back when it is 3 not put to intended public use; adding a new section to chapter 8.16 4 RCW; and creating a new section. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:6 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 8.16 RCW 7 to read as follows: 8 (1) For purposes of this section, real estate is acquired under 9 threat of condemnation when a school district purchases the real 10 estate without a judgment having been entered in a condemnation 11 action brought under this chapter and the school district sends the 12 property owner a written notice indicating an intent to pursue a 13 condemnation action to acquire the real estate. 14 (2) At the time of an acquisition of real estate under threat of 15 condemnation, or within a reasonable time after, a school district 16 shall provide the previous property owner or owners a written 17 statement identifying the use for which the property is being 18 acquired. 19 (3) Before real estate acquired in a condemnation action brought 20 under this chapter, or acquired under threat of condemnation, may be 21 S-0446.1 SENATE BILL 5142 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senators Hasegawa, Chapman, Nobles, Schoesler, and Wellman Prefiled 01/07/25. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee on Law & Justice. p. 1 SB 5142 sold, transferred, or put to a use other than as a site for a 1 schoolhouse, or as additional grounds to an existing schoolhouse 2 site, the school district shall send a written offer by certified 3 mail to the previous owner or owners at their last known addresses, 4 offering to sell the acquired real estate to the previous owner or 5 owners in exchange for the amount paid by the school district to the 6 clerk of the court as compensation for the real estate taken, or, in 7 the case of property acquired under threat of condemnation, for the 8 purchase price paid by the school district. 9 (4) Once the school district puts acquired real estate to use as 10 a site for a schoolhouse, or as additional grounds to an existing 11 schoolhouse site, its obligations under subsection (3) of this 12 section terminate, even if the acquired real estate is subsequently 13 put to a use other than as a site for a schoolhouse or as additional 14 grounds to an existing schoolhouse site. 15 (5) A property owner may waive the rights to receive notice and 16 to purchase back the acquired real estate by executing a written 17 waiver. 18 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act may be known and cited as the 19 Houston eminent domain fairness act.20 --- END --- p. 2 SB 5142