WashingtonGovernment land transfers can qualify for timberland tax treatment
Land sold or transferred to a government entity may count as timberland for real estate sale taxes when the entity follows specified forest management rules.
What it does
Land sold or transferred to a governmental entity may count as timberland if the entity follows specified forest management rules. Timberland sales are taxed at 1.28 percent of the selling price.
Argument forGovernment entities could pay the 1.28 percent timberland rate on land they buy or receive if they follow the forest management rules.
Argument againstThe 1.28 percent rate could mean less tax revenue from some land sales than the regular rate schedule would collect.
More detail
Land sold or transferred to a governmental entity may count as timberland for real estate sale taxes. The definition covers the land, structures, and standing timber, including standing timber sold separately from the land. The governmental entity must manage the land like designated forestland or classified timberland. The entity must meet the requirements in RCW 84.33.140(13)(j) or RCW 84.34.108(6)(m).
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 171, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 9President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 6Speaker signed.Passed House
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#5). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 5Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Mar 2Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Mar 2Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Mar 2Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Mar 2WM - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Mar 2Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 24Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
- Feb 16First reading, referred to Ways & Means.Minor
- Feb 12Third reading, passed; yeas, 68; nays, 26; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#13). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 12Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 11Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 9Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 6Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 6FIN - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 6Executive action taken in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 12Referred to Finance.Minor
- Jan 12Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Apr 27Referred to Rules 2 Consideration.Minor
- Apr 22Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 20Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 18Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 18FIN - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 18Executive action taken in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 AM.
- Feb 17First reading, referred to Finance.Introduced
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