To allow residents access to their property during a forest fire to conduct fire prevention or suppression activities, or to protect or retrieve their property.   Official Text and Analysis.

To remove the language of the underlying bill. The Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs must convene a model policy work group to develop a model policy regarding residents, landowners, and others in lawful possession and control of land in the state during a forest fire or wildfire. The model policy must be designed, first and foremost, to protect life and safety. The model policy must also include guidance on allowing access to lands, when safe and appropriate, during a forest fire or wildfire. This requirement is null and void if the Legislature does not provide specific funding for development of the model policy. Each county sheriff may, until the model policy is developed and implemented in the county, establish and maintain a registry of persons authorized to access their land during a forest fire or wildfire. Upon request, the sheriff must include in the registry persons who demonstrate ownership of agriculture or forest land and who possess equipment that may be used for fire prevention or suppression activities. Persons included in the registry must be allowed to access their property to conduct fire prevention or suppression activities despite a road closure. Federal, state, and local agencies are provided immunity when facilitating access under these provisions. Private landowners are provided immunity for injuries or loss suffered by persons entering upon, or passing through, their land under these provisions.

To require each county sheriff to establish and maintain a registry of persons authorized to access their land during a forest fire or wildfire. Removes the null and void clause, allowing for the implementation of the bill without appropriated funding.

To allow, instead of requires, each county sheriff to establish and maintain a registry of persons authorized to access their land during a forest fire or wildfire.