SSB 5300
In CommitteeSenate
St. Edward state park
Concerning the leasing authority of the state parks and recreation commission at St. Edward State Park.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill allows the State Parks and Recreation Commission to lease specific buildings and land at St. Edward State Park for up to 62 years — longer than the usual 20-year limit — but only if a state study finds no viable public or nonprofit use for the property. It tightens oversight by requiring a five-member commission vote for any lease over 20 years and ensures public access to scenic areas is preserved.
- Allows the State Parks and Recreation Commission to lease specific parts of St. Edward State Park (including the main seminary building, pool building, gymnasium, and adjacent parking lots) for up to 62 years — longer than the usual 20-year limit — but only if a state commerce department study finds no economically viable public or nonprofit use.
- Requires a majority of five commission members to approve any lease exceeding 20 years, including the special 62-year lease for St. Edward State Park.
- Limits the 62-year lease to only the listed buildings and adjacent land, and prohibits leases that block public access to scenic attractions.
- Reaffirms that all leases over 20 years (including amendments) must follow the same five-member approval process as the St. Edward lease, not just for this park.
- Requires lease rates to be renegotiated every five years, and prohibits leases that would eliminate public access to scenic areas.
Who is affected
- Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission — The state parks agency (Parks and Recreation Commission) gains new authority to lease specific buildings and land at St. Edward State Park for up to 62 years under strict conditions.
- Private businesses or nonprofit organizations seeking to lease park property — Potential private or nonprofit lessees could gain long-term access to use historic buildings and land at St. Edward State Park, if approved by the commission and if no viable public use is found.
- General public and park visitors — The public may lose access to certain areas of St. Edward State Park if the leased property is converted to private or commercial use, though public access to scenic areas must be preserved.
- Local governments and community stakeholders — Local governments and community groups may be impacted if plans to lease parts of the park affect regional planning, tourism, or historic preservation efforts.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The requirement for a Commerce Department study to confirm no viable public or nonprofit use before permitting a long-term lease helps ensure that the state exhausts public-interest options before privatization, preserving opportunities for community stewardship.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1, RCW 79A.05.025(2)(b)Explicit prohibition against leases that eliminate public access to scenic attractions, combined with a five-member commission vote requirement for leases over 20 years, strengthens transparency and public accountability in long-term decisions.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2, RCW 79A.05.030(5)(d)Mandating five-year lease renegotiation allows lease rates to adjust to market conditions, potentially preventing windfalls for lessees and ensuring the state receives fair value over time—especially valuable if inflation or land value rises.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2, RCW 79A.05.030(5)(d)The bill could enable long-term preservation and adaptive reuse of historic buildings (e.g., the seminary) by allowing stable, multi-decade tenancy for qualified nonprofits or public agencies—if no better public use is found—potentially supporting jobs and heritage tourism.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 1, RCW 79A.05.025(2)(b)Requiring a majority of five commission members to approve any lease over 20 years raises the threshold for major decisions, reducing the risk of politically expedient or poorly vetted leases and promoting deliberate, consensus-based governance.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2, RCW 79A.05.030(5)(d)
Potential Concerns (5)
Long-term leases (up to 62 years) of historic park infrastructure—including buildings and parking lots—could reduce long-term public access to scenic or recreational areas if lessees restrict or monetize access, despite the requirement to preserve scenic access; enforcement and monitoring of access provisions may be difficult over decades.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1, RCW 79A.05.025(2)(b)Local governments and community stakeholders may lose influence over long-term use of a prominent regional park if the state leases key infrastructure to private entities without requiring local input or environmental review beyond the Commerce Department study, potentially undermining community planning goals.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 1, RCW 79A.05.025(2)(b)While lease renegotiation every five years could protect against excessive rent hikes, it also introduces uncertainty for lessees—especially small nonprofits or community groups—making long-term investment in the site (e.g., preservation, programming) riskier and potentially deterring qualified applicants.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 2, RCW 79A.05.030(5)(d)The bill does not require environmental review or climate resilience assessments for proposed long-term leases, potentially allowing development or use patterns that degrade park ecosystems or increase flood/fire risk—especially given the park’s coastal location and aging infrastructure.
EnvironmentRef: Sec. 1, RCW 79A.05.025(2)(b)Leasing the main seminary building and other structures to private or nonprofit entities may shift liability and maintenance responsibilities away from the state, potentially leading to deferred maintenance or safety hazards if lessees lack resources or oversight.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 1, RCW 79A.05.025(2)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
May benefit from long-term lease revenue and reduced maintenance burden, but must balance fiscal gain against public trust and long-term park integrity.
Large for-profit developers are unlikely to qualify (due to the “no viable public or nonprofit use” standard), but well-resourced nonprofits or cooperatives with capacity for long-term stewardship could benefit—though they face competitive and regulatory hurdles.
The public retains access to scenic areas, but may lose informal or free access to historic buildings or parking areas if leased to entities that restrict or charge for use—especially if lessees prioritize revenue over public access.
Local governments (e.g., King County, City of Kirkland) may lose local control over land-use decisions at a high-profile site, and community groups may be excluded from negotiations despite strong historical or cultural ties to the site.