Lawmakers consider Discover Pass changes
Emry Dinman/Columbia Basin Herald Jeff Chapman, left, representative of the Back Country Horsemen of Washington and Erin Dziedzic, representative of the Washington Trails Association, at a public hearing Monday for bills affecting park access fees.
The state House Environment Committee held a public hearing Monday on bills that could expand access to the vast majority of public lands in Washington.
A bill sponsored by Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, would end the Discover Pass requirement for parking and access for lands owned by the state departments of Fish and Wildlife or Natural Resources, which accounts for more than 97 percent of all public lands in the state. Under the proposal, the Discover Passes would only be used at state parks.
“Many of the people in my district ask, ‘why do I need a Discover Pass when I already pay for land maintenance with my taxes?’” Taylor said to representatives of the state agencies.
David Warren, representative of the Washington Department of Natural Resources, said the agency “supports the intent of this bill,” but was concerned about a funding shortfall without access pass fees. Warren said losing fee revenue could lead to the agency closing campgrounds.
Todd Tatum, representative of Washington State Parks, said the bill would significantly lower the value of a Discover Pass, which would still cost $30, leading to far fewer people purchasing the pass and less revenue for other agencies.
Outdoor recreation groups also weighed in on the bill.
“My group hates access fees to (Department of Natural Resource) lands, but many agree we can’t get rid of the fee without a funding shortfall until we find new revenue,” said Jeff Chapman, representative of Back Country Horsemen Washington.
Another bill heard Monday would allow holders of a lifetime veteran’s disability access pass to park on lands owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife or Department of Natural Resources. It would also expand the scope of Washington’s free access days, when Discover Passes aren’t required, to apply to lands owned by those agencies.
Representatives of various state agencies and recreation organizations all testified in support of the second bill.
“Many would just rather not have to have a Discover Pass, but we don’t have revenue to fill the gap,” said Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Burien, who was the primary sponsor for the bill. “This bill will broaden rights and make public lands more available.”