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SCR 8402

Renaming the Natural Resources Building as the Jennifer Belcher Building.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Conway and 8 co-sponsors

Renames the Natural Resources Building at 1111 Washington St. SE to the Jennifer Belcher Building; DES must update signage, reflecting Belcher's public service.

Senate Rules "X" file.
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Bill Summary · SCR 8402

Summary — SCR 8402: Rename Natural Resources Building as the Jennifer Belcher Building

Purpose

SCR 8402 is a concurrent resolution that names (renames) the state office building at 1111 Washington Street SE — currently known as the Natural Resources Building — as the "Jennifer Belcher Building." The resolution recognizes Jennifer Belcher’s public service and directs appropriate notification and signage actions.

Key provisions

  • Renames the state office building at 1111 Washington Street SE from the "Natural Resources Building" to the "Jennifer Belcher Building."
  • Directs the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) to properly sign the building as "The Jennifer Belcher Building" (added in the substitute version).
  • Requests that copies of the resolution be forwarded to:
    • The family of Jennifer Belcher
    • The Governor of Washington
    • Tara Smith, Director of the Department of Enterprise Services

Background and rationale (as stated in the resolution)

The text memorializes Jennifer Belcher’s public career and accomplishments, including:
- Service as state Representative for the 22nd Legislative District (1983–1992)
- Chair of the Natural Resources Committee (1989–1992) and State Government Committee (1985–86)
- Legislative achievements such as establishing subsidized childcare for state workers and contributing to the Growth Management Act as one of the group known as the "Steel Magnolias"
- Election as Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands (first woman elected to that office) and leading a 50‑year habitat conservation plan for state forestlands
- Her role in advancing women’s leadership in state government

Who is affected

  • Department of Enterprise Services: responsible for updating building signage and related campus identification.
  • Building occupants, state employees, and the public: facility name changes will be reflected in signage, directories, maps, and communications.
  • No change to property use, address, or ownership is made.

Legal and fiscal effect

  • SCR 8402 is a concurrent resolution (legislative naming action), not a statute; it does not appropriate funds or change substantive law.
  • Fiscal impact is expected to be minimal and limited to costs of new signage and any administrative updates; no funding is specified.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Introduced in the 2023 session; a substitute added the DES-signage direction.
  • Placed on the Senate Rules "X" file (noncontroversial/retained status) and ultimately adopted in January 2025.
  • Final procedural actions: adopted by the Legislature, signed by the presiding officers, and filed with the Secretary of State on January 22, 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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