WashingtonWater-sewer districts can sell small unneeded items without public notices
Water-sewer districts can sell unneeded items worth less than $5,400 without sale notices and can sell unneeded real estate privately at estimated values up to $7,500.
What it does
Water-sewer districts can sell unneeded items worth less than $5,400 without publishing a sale notice. Other sales require notice in a local newspaper.
Water-sewer districts can sell unneeded real estate privately with public notice if its estimated value is no more than $7,500. Prices below 90% of value require an unsuccessful 120-day sale effort and a public auction.
Argument forAllowing sales of items worth less than $5,400 without newspaper notices could save water-sewer districts advertising costs.
Argument againstSkipping sale notices for items worth less than $5,400 could leave residents unaware of opportunities to buy district property.
More detail
Water-sewer districts may sell unneeded items worth less than $5,400 without publishing a sale notice. The exemption covers district-owned items other than real estate. Items worth exactly $5,400 do not qualify. The district board must decide that the property is not needed now and will not be needed for district purposes. For sales requiring notice, the district must publish the property description and sale terms in a local newspaper once a week for two consecutive weeks. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
Water-sewer districts may sell real estate privately when its estimated value is $7,500 or less. These rules cover district-owned land or buildings that the board decides are not needed now or in the future. Sales must bring at least 90% of the property's value unless the auction exception applies. For property worth more than $5,000, a written valuation must come from three independent licensed real estate brokers or an appraiser with a professional designation. If the property cannot be sold for at least 90% of its value after 120 days of offering it for sale, the board may pass a resolution allowing a public auction at the highest obtainable price. The district must publish sale notices, including auction notices, once a week for two consecutive weeks. The law took effect June 11, 2026. The required written valuation must be made no more than six months before the sale.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 14Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 14Chapter 40, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 14Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 9Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 4President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 3Third reading, passed; yeas, 94; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#17). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 3Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 25Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 23Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 20LG - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 20Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 8:30 AM.
- Jan 26First reading, referred to Local Government.Minor
- Jan 21Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded Final Passage (#18). Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 13Placed on third reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Jan 12By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
- 2025
- Apr 27By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
- Apr 8Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Apr 2Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Apr 1LG - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Apr 1Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 11:00 AM.
- Mar 25Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 28First reading, referred to Local Government.Minor
- Feb 26Third reading, passed; yeas, 45; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 3.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#10). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 26Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 19Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 14Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 13LGV - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 13Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 6Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 23First reading, referred to Local Government.Introduced
Government & Ethics