Governor signs two Dent bills into law, supporting wildfire response, improving timber sale efficiency
CONTACT: Kurt Hammond, Senior Public Information Officer | 360-786-7794
Governor signs two Dent bills into law, supporting wildfire response, improving timber sale efficiency
Two bills sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, have been signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, strengthening Washington’s wildfire response capabilities and improving the efficiency of state timber sales.
House Bill 2104 makes the state’s Aviation Assurance Funding Program permanent by removing the sunset clause, ensuring critical aerial firefighting resources remain available to support rapid wildfire response. House Bill 2348 updates and streamlines processes for certain state land and timber sales managed by the Department of Natural Resources.
Dent said making the Aviation Assurance Funding Program permanent is a major step forward in protecting communities, natural resources, and the state’s economy from devastating wildfires.
“Wildfires don’t wait, and neither can our response,” said Dent. “This program ensures we have the aircraft and resources ready for rapid initial attack — when a fire is small and manageable. That early response is the difference between a fire that’s quickly contained and one that turns into a catastrophic, landscape-level disaster.”
Dent emphasized that investing in early response also saves taxpayer dollars in the long run.
“When fires grow out of control, the state often has to rely on full mobilization, which is incredibly expensive and strains local resources,” Dent said. “By strengthening our ability to respond immediately from the air, we can reduce the need for large-scale mobilization and better protect lives, property, and our natural resources.”
In addition to wildfire response improvements, Dent’s HB 2348 makes updates to modernize and improve efficiency in the state’s timber sale processes.
“This bill brings more clarity and consistency to how we manage and sell state lands,” Dent said. “It helps ensure our natural resources are managed responsibly while supporting the industries and communities that depend on them.”
Both measures received strong bipartisan support during the legislative session, passing the House and Senate unanimously.
“Public safety and responsible land management shouldn’t be partisan issues,” Dent added. “These bills reflect a shared commitment to protecting Washington’s communities and making sure our state resources are managed effectively for the future.”
Both bills go into effect on June 11.
