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Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a bill Tuesday, May 13, that will enable deeper cooperation between cities and tribal authorities when providing public services.
House Bill 1039, sponsored by state Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, was designed with the Cowlitz Tribe and the City of La Center in mind. According to a news release from the Washington House Republicans, it provides a framework for cities and federally recognized tribes to establish agreements to provide urban governmental services to tribal lands outside of a city’s urban growth boundary.
“This bill is about cooperation and common sense,” Abbarno said. “It allows cities and tribes to voluntarily come together to support development, deliver public services and plan for the future — without jumping through unnecessary legal hurdles.”
Under the new system, the agreements will be consistent with Washington’s Growth Management Act, which requires fast growing cities to adopt a comprehensive plan that meets certain criteria and manages things such as urban sprawl, economic development and public facilities and services.
“This is a practical step forward that will directly benefit local communities,” Abbarno said. “It’s the kind of collaboration that respects tribal sovereignty, honors local decision-making, and meets the needs of growing areas.”
Cities have long been restricted from providing services outside of their urban growth boundary even when working with partners such as local tribes, but the new bill will allow La Center to extend services into the Cowlitz Tribal area, which directly borders the city’s urban growth boundary. The new law allows these interlocal agreements to be created through 2028, giving La Center and the Cowlitz Tribe to negotiate an agreement.
The bill passed through both chambers of the Washington state Legislature unanimously. It was delivered to Ferguson’s desk in the last days of this year’s legislative session before being signed earlier this week. The bill will go into effect later this year.
