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HB 2620

Restoring collaboration in the forest practices rule-making process for the benefit of long-term protection of natural resources and the forest products industry.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Tom Dent and 5 co-sponsors

Washington bill modifying forest practice rule-making to increase industry and stakeholder collaboration in environmental and timber harvest regulations.

Public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM.
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Bill Summary · HB 2620

Legislative bill overview

HB 2620 seeks to modify Washington's forest practices rule-making process by restoring collaborative elements in how forestry regulations are developed. The bill aims to balance environmental protection with the interests of the forest products industry through enhanced stakeholder participation in regulatory decisions.

Why is this important

Forest practices rules directly affect timber harvest operations, environmental conservation, and rural economies across Washington. How these rules are made—whether through traditional regulatory processes or collaborative stakeholder engagement—determines who has influence over policies affecting millions of acres and thousands of jobs in forest-dependent communities.

Potential points of contention

  • Industry vs. environmental interests: The phrase "benefit to...the forest products industry" may signal prioritization of commercial logging over strict environmental protections, raising concerns among conservation groups about regulatory rollbacks.
  • "Restoring" collaboration: The language suggests previous collaborative processes were removed; critics may argue those changes were necessary for stronger environmental standards, while supporters view them as excluding industry voices.
  • Regulatory process legitimacy: Debate over whether expanded industry collaboration improves outcomes or creates appearance of regulatory capture, where regulated industries influence their own oversight.

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

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