The bill grants counties in Washington the authority to enter into shared stewardship agreements with federal agencies, specifically the United States Forest Service, for the management of federally owned lands. This includes the maintenance and management of fuel breaks along roads, which can extend up to one mile on either side of any road, including interstate and intrastate highways. The legislation emphasizes the importance of these agreements in aiding counties to manage forestlands for wildfire prevention and risk management, while also addressing the financial impact of lost timber sales and revenue for rural schools.

To facilitate this, the bill amends RCW 36.75.040 by adding a new provision that allows counties to enter into these agreements, ensuring that they include a revenue sharing component where counties retain proceeds from timber sales. This addition aims to empower counties to engage more effectively in land management efforts and to benefit financially from their involvement in federal land stewardship initiatives.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.75.040