Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.
SB5719 • 2026
Concerning local government hearing examiners.
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.
Local gov.
These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.
0 • Local Government
Plain English: 5719-S.E AMH LG H2058.2 ESSB 5719 - H COMM AMD By Committee on Local Government NOT CONSIDERED 04/27/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "Sec.
171 • Salomon
Plain English: 5719-S AMS SALO S2247.1 SSB 5719 - S AMD 171 By Senator Salomon WITHDRAWN 03/11/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "Sec.
191 • Torres
Plain English: 5719-S AMS TORR S2253.1 SSB 5719 - S AMD TO S AMD (S-2247.1/25) 191 By Senator Torres OUT OF ORDER 03/11/2025 On page 1, beginning on line 9, after " that" strike all material 1 through " 36.70A.040" on line 10 and insert " is a rural county as 2 defined in RCW 82.14.370" 3 On page 2, beginning on line 23, after "a county" strike all 4 material through " chapter 36.70A RCW" on line 24 and insert "that 5 does not meet the definition of a rural county as defined in RCW 6 82.14.370" 7 On page 3, line 27, after "county" strike "planning director" and 8 insert "legislative authority" 9 On page 3, beginning on line 29, after "county" strike all 10 material through "county" on line 30 and insert "legislative 11 authority" 12 On page 3, beginning on line 34, after "county" strike all 13 material through "county" on line 35 and insert "legislative 14 authority" 15 On page 4, line 13, after "of" strike "2,000" and insert "5,000"16 On page 4, line 14, after " that" strike " does not plan under RCW 17 36.70A.040" and insert " is a rural county as defined in RCW 18 82.14.370" 19 On page 5, at the beginning of line 19, strike "2,000" and insert 20 "5,000" 21 On page 5, line 19, after "county" strike "fully planning under 22 chapter 36.70A RCW" and insert "that does not meet the definition of 23 a rural county as defined in RCW 82.14.370" 24 On page 6, beginning on line 24, strike all material through 25 "examiner." on line 31 and insert the following: 26 Code Rev/MFW:jlb 1 S-2253.1/25 "(a) In a city, the city planning director or other qualified 1 planning official of the city may assume the duties and 2 responsibilities designated to the hearing examiner under this 3 chapter until such time that a hearing examiner is appointed and 4 available to perform those duties.
203 • Salomon
Plain English: 5719-S AMS SALO S2247.2 SSB 5719 - S AMD 203 By Senator Salomon ADOPTED 03/11/2025 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "Sec.
206 • Torres
Plain English: 5719-S AMS TORR S2253.2 SSB 5719 - S AMD TO S AMD (S-2247.2/25) 206 By Senator Torres NOT ADOPTED 03/11/2025 On page 1, beginning on line 9, after " that" strike all material 1 through " 36.70A.040" on line 10 and insert " is a rural county as 2 defined in RCW 82.14.370" 3 On page 2, beginning on line 23, after "a county" strike all 4 material through " chapter 36.70A RCW" on line 24 and insert "that 5 does not meet the definition of a rural county as defined in RCW 6 82.14.370" 7 On page 3, line 27, after "county" strike "planning director" and 8 insert "legislative authority" 9 On page 3, beginning on line 29, after "county" strike all 10 material through "county" on line 30 and insert "legislative 11 authority" 12 On page 3, beginning on line 34, after "county" strike all 13 material through "county" on line 35 and insert "legislative 14 authority" 15 On page 4, line 13, after "of" strike "2,000" and insert "5,000"16 On page 4, line 14, after " that" strike " does not plan under RCW 17 36.70A.040" and insert " is a rural county as defined in RCW 18 82.14.370" 19 On page 5, at the beginning of line 19, strike "2,000" and insert 20 "5,000" 21 On page 5, line 19, after "county" strike "fully planning under 22 chapter 36.70A RCW" and insert "that does not meet the definition of 23 a rural county as defined in RCW 82.14.370" 24 On page 6, beginning on line 24, strike all material through 25 "examiner." on line 31 and insert the following: 26 Code Rev/MFW:eab 1 S-2253.2/25 2nd draft "(a) In a city, the city planning director or other qualified 1 planning official of the city may assume the duties and 2 responsibilities designated to the hearing examiner under this 3 chapter until such time that a hearing examiner is appointed and 4 available to perform those duties.
1st substitute bill substituted.
Local gov. hearing examiners
AN ACT Relating to local government hearing examiners; and 1 amending RCW 36.70.970, 35.63.130, 35A.63.170, and 58.17.330.2 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3 Sec. 1. RCW 36.70.970 and 1995 c 347 s 425 are each amended to 4 read as follows: 5 (1) As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter 6 relating to powers or duties of the planning commission to hear and 7 issue recommendations on applications for plat approval and 8 applications for amendments to the zoning ordinance, the county 9 legislative authority ((may)) shall adopt a hearing examiner system 10 under which a hearing examiner or hearing examiners ((may)) hear and 11 issue decisions on proposals for plat approval and for ((amendments)) 12 quasi-judicial development permit applications subject to the zoning 13 ordinance ((when the amendment which is applied for is not of general 14 applicability. In addition, the legislative authority may vest in a 15 hearing examiner the power to hear and decide those issues it 16 believes should be reviewed and decided by a hearing examiner, 17 including but not limited to:18 (a) Applications for conditional uses, variances, shoreline 19 permits, or any other class of applications for or pertaining to 20 development of land or land use;21 S-1291.1 SENATE BILL 5719 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Senators Salomon and Cortes Read first time 02/10/25. Referred to Committee on Local Government. p. 1 SB 5719 (b) Appeals of administrative decisions or determinations; and1 (c) Appeals of administrative decisions or determinations 2 pursuant to chapter 43.21C RCW.3 The legislative authority shall prescribe procedures to be 4 followed by a hearing examiner)). 5 (2) The decision of the hearing examiner constitutes the final 6 decision, subject to appeal under chapter 36.70C RCW.7 (3) The legislative body shall adopt procedures to be followed by 8 a hearing examiner ensuring all decisions are consistent with the 9 future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and comply with 10 clear and objective development regulations.11 (4) Any county which vests in a hearing examiner the authority to 12 hear and decide conditional uses and variances shall not be required 13 to have a zoning adjuster or board of adjustment. 14 (((2) Each county legislative authority electing to use a hearing 15 examiner pursuant to this section shall by ordinance specify the 16 legal effect of the decisions made by the examiner. Such legal effect 17 may vary for the different classes of applications decided by the 18 examiner but shall include one of the following:19 (a) The decision may be given the effect of a recommendation to 20 the legislative authority;21 (b) The decision may be given the effect of an administrative 22 decision appealable within a specified time limit to the legislative 23 authority; or24 (c) Except in the case of a rezone, the decision may be given the 25 effect of a final decision of the legislative authority.26 (3))) (5) Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in 27 writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the 28 record, to support the decision. Such findings and conclusions shall 29 also set forth the manner in which the decision ((would carry out and 30 conform to the county's comprehensive plan and the county's )) is 31 consistent with the future land use map of adopted comprehensive 32 plans and complies with clear and objective development regulations. 33 Each final decision of a hearing examiner, unless a longer period is 34 mutually agreed to in writing by the applicant and the hearing 35 examiner, shall be rendered within ten working days following 36 conclusion of all testimony and hearings. 37 Sec. 2. RCW 35.63.130 and 1995 c 347 s 423 are each amended to 38 read as follows: 39 p. 2 SB 5719 (1) As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter 1 relating to powers or duties of the planning commission to hear and 2 report on any proposal to amend a zoning ordinance, the legislative 3 body of a city or county ((may)) shall adopt a hearing examiner 4 system under which a hearing examiner or hearing examiners ((may)) 5 hear and decide applications for ((amending the zoning ordinance when 6 the amendment which is applied for is not of general applicability. 7 In addition, the legislative body may vest in a hearing examiner the 8 power to hear and decide those issues it believes should be reviewed 9 and decided by a hearing examiner, including but not limited to:10 (a) Applications for conditional uses, variances, subdivisions, 11 shoreline permits, or any other class of applications for or 12 pertaining to development of land or land use;13 (b) Appeals of administrative decisions or determinations; and14 (c) Appeals of administrative decisions or determinations 15 pursuant to chapter 43.21C RCW)) plat approval and for quasi-judicial 16 development permit applications subject to the zoning ordinance.17 (2) The decision of the hearing examiner constitutes the final 18 decision, subject to appeal under chapter 36.70C RCW.19 (3) The legislative body shall adopt procedures to be followed by 20 a hearing examiner ensuring all decisions are consistent with the 21 future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and comply with 22 clear and objective development regulations. 23 (4) The legislative body shall prescribe procedures to be 24 followed by the hearing examiner. 25 (((2) Each city or county legislative body electing to use a 26 hearing examiner pursuant to this section shall by ordinance specify 27 the legal effect of the decisions made by the examiner. The legal 28 effect of such decisions may vary for the different classes of 29 applications decided by the examiner but shall include one of the 30 following:31 (a) The decision may be given the effect of a recommendation to 32 the legislative body;33 (b) The decision may be given the effect of an administrative 34 decision appealable within a specified time limit to the legislative 35 body; or36 (c) Except in the case of a rezone, the decision may be given the 37 effect of a final decision of the legislative body.38 (3))) (5) Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in 39 writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the 40 p. 3 SB 5719 record, to support the decision. Such findings and conclusions shall 1 also set forth the manner in which the decision would ((carry out and 2 conform to the city's or county's comprehensive plan and the city's 3 or county's )) be consistent with the future land use map of adopted 4 comprehensive plans and complies with clear and objective development 5 regulations. Each final decision of a hearing examiner, unless a 6 longer period is mutually agreed to in writing by the applicant and 7 the hearing examiner, shall be rendered within ten working days 8 following conclusion of all testimony and hearings.9 Sec. 3. RCW 35A.63.170 and 1995 c 347 s 424 are each amended to 10 read as follows: 11 (1) As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter 12 relating to powers or duties of the planning commission to hear and 13 report on any proposal to amend a zoning ordinance, the legislative 14 body of a city ((may)) shall adopt a hearing examiner system under 15 which a hearing examiner or hearing examiners ((may)) hear and decide 16 applications for ((amending)) plat approval and for quasi-judicial 17 development permit applications subject to the zoning ordinance 18 ((when the amendment which is applied for is not of general 19 applicability. In addition, the legislative body may vest in a 20 hearing examiner the power to hear and decide those issues it 21 believes should be reviewed and decided by a hearing examiner, 22 including but not limited to:23 (a) Applications for conditional uses, variances, subdivisions, 24 shoreline permits, or any other class of applications for or 25 pertaining to development of land or land use;26 (b) Appeals of administrative decisions or determinations; and27 (c) Appeals of administrative decisions or determinations 28 pursuant to chapter 43.21C RCW)). 29 (2) The decision of the hearing examiner constitutes the final 30 decision, subject to appeal under chapter 36.70C RCW.31 (3) The legislative body shall adopt procedures to be followed by 32 a hearing examiner ensuring all decisions are consistent with the 33 future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and comply with 34 clear and objective development regulations.35 (4) The legislative body shall prescribe procedures to be 36 followed by a hearing examiner. If the legislative authority vests in 37 a hearing examiner the authority to hear and decide variances, then 38 the provisions of RCW 35A.63.110 shall not apply to the city.39 p. 4 SB 5719 (((2) Each city legislative body electing to use a hearing 1 examiner pursuant to this section shall by ordinance specify the 2 legal effect of the decisions made by the examiner. The legal effect 3 of such decisions may vary for the different classes of applications 4 decided by the examiner but shall include one of the following:5 (a) The decision may be given the effect of a recommendation to 6 the legislative body;7 (b) The decision may be given the effect of an administrative 8 decision appealable within a specified time limit to the legislative 9 body; or10 (c) Except in the case of a rezone, the decision may be given the 11 effect of a final decision of the legislative body.12 (3))) (5) Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in 13 writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the 14 record, to support the decision. Such findings and conclusions shall 15 also set forth the manner in which the decision would ((carry out and 16 conform to)) be consistent with the future land use map of the city's 17 comprehensive plan and the city's clear and objective development 18 regulations. Each final decision of a hearing examiner, unless a 19 longer period is mutually agreed to in writing by the applicant and 20 the hearing examiner, shall be rendered within ten working days 21 following conclusion of all testimony and hearings.22 Sec. 4. RCW 58.17.330 and 1995 c 347 s 429 are each amended to 23 read as follows: 24 (1) As an alternative to those provisions of this chapter 25 requiring a planning commission to hear and issue recommendations for 26 plat approval, the county or city legislative body ((may)) shall 27 adopt a hearing examiner system ((and shall specify by ordinance the 28 legal effect of the decisions made by the examiner. The legal effect 29 of such decisions shall include one of the following:30 (a) The decision may be given the effect of a recommendation to 31 the legislative body;32 (b) The decision may be given the effect of an administrative 33 decision appealable within a specified time limit to the legislative 34 body; or35 (c) The decision may be given the effect of a final decision of 36 the legislative body. )) for all quasi-judicial land use decisions 37 including, but not limited to, preliminary plats, planned unit 38 developments, variances, and conditional use approvals.39 p. 5 SB 5719 (2) The decision of the hearing examiner constitutes the final 1 decision on all quasi-judicial permit applications including, but not 2 limited to, preliminary plat, planned unit development, variance, and 3 conditional use applications, subject to appeal under chapter 36.70C 4 RCW.5 (3) The legislative body shall adopt procedures to be followed by 6 a hearing examiner ensuring all decisions are consistent with the 7 future land use map of adopted comprehensive plans and comply with 8 clear and objective development regulations.9 (4) The legislative authority shall prescribe procedures to be 10 followed by a hearing examiner. 11 (((2))) (5) Each final decision of a hearing examiner shall be in 12 writing and shall include findings and conclusions, based on the 13 record, to support the decision. Each final decision of a hearing 14 examiner, unless a longer period is mutually agreed to by the 15 applicant and the hearing examiner, shall be rendered within ten 16 working days following conclusion of all testimony and hearings.17 --- END --- p. 6 SB 5719