Bill to align GMA and SMA planning gets amended in committee

A bill that extends planning deadlines under the Growth Management Act (GMA) and the Shoreline Management Act (SMA) was amended.

As we reported earlier, HB 2342 still proposes to extend the deadline for completing updates to GMA comprehensive plans and Shoreline Master Programs (SMPs) from every eight years to every ten years. In addition, the amendment retained the requirement that cities review and, if necessary, revise the housing element and critical areas ordinances to reflect best available science every five years.

The amendment made the following changes:

• The bill provides certain small and slow-growing cities and counties an extension of 24 months to complete the required five-year review and possible revision of their comprehensive plans; and
• The bill extends the effective date related to periodic review of SMPs by three years, to take effect July 1, 2025.