(1) The state or any municipality or any political subdivision thereof, may sell, transfer, exchange, lease or otherwise dispose of any property, real or personal, or property rights, including but not limited to the title to real property, to the state or any municipality or any political subdivision thereof, or the federal government, or a federally recognized Indian tribe, on such terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed upon by the proper authorities of the state and/or the subdivisions concerned. In addition, the state, or any municipality or any political subdivision thereof, may sell, transfer, exchange, lease, or otherwise dispose of personal property, except weapons, to a foreign entity.

(2) This section shall be deemed to provide an alternative method for the doing of the things authorized herein, and shall not be construed as imposing any additional condition upon the exercise of any other powers vested in the state, municipalities or political subdivisions.

(3) No intergovernmental transfer, lease, or other disposition of property made pursuant to any other provision of law prior to May 23, 1972, shall be construed to be invalid solely because the parties thereto did not comply with the procedures of this section.

Effective date—2003 c 303: "This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately [May 14, 2003]." [ 2003 c 303 s 2.]

Exchange of county tax title lands with other governmental agencies: Chapter 36.35 RCW.

(1) Any state agency, municipality, or political subdivision, with authority to dispose of surplus public property, may transfer, lease, or otherwise dispose of such property for a public benefit purpose, consistent with and subject to this section. Any such transfer, lease, or other disposal may be made to a public, private, or nongovernmental body on any mutually agreeable terms and conditions, including a no cost transfer, subject to and consistent with this section. Consideration must include appraisal costs, debt service, all closing costs, and any other liabilities to the agency, municipality, or political subdivision. However, the property may not be so transferred, leased, or disposed of if such transfer, lease, or disposal would violate any bond covenant or encumber or impair any contract.

(2) A deed, lease, or other instrument transferring or conveying property pursuant to subsection (1) of this section must include:

(a) A covenant or other requirement that the property shall be used for the designated public benefit purpose; and

(b) Remedies that apply if the recipient of the property fails to use it for the designated public purpose or ceases to use it for such purpose.

(3) To implement the authority granted by this section, the governing body or legislative authority of a municipality or political subdivision must enact rules to regulate the disposition of property for public benefit purposes. Any transfer, lease, or other disposition of property authorized under this section must be consistent with existing locally adopted comprehensive plans as described in RCW 36.70A.070.

(4) This section is deemed to provide a discretionary alternative method for the doing of the things authorized herein, and shall not be construed as imposing any additional condition upon the exercise of any other powers vested in any state agency, municipality, or political subdivision.

(5) No transfer, lease, or other disposition of property for public benefit purposes made pursuant to any other provision of law prior to June 7, 2018, may be construed to be invalid solely because the parties thereto did not comply with the procedures of this section.

(6) The transfer at no cost, lease, or other disposal of surplus real property for public benefit purposes is deemed a lawful purpose of any state agency, municipality, or political subdivision, for which accounts are kept on an enterprise fund or equivalent basis, regardless of the primary purpose or function of such agency.

(7) This section does not apply to the sale or transfer of any state forestlands, any state lands or property granted to the state by the federal government for the purposes of common schools or education, or subject to a legal restriction that would be violated by compliance with this section.

(8) For purposes of this section:

(a) "Affordable housing" means:

(i) For rental housing, 30 percent of the household's monthly income for rent and utilities, other than telephone; or

(ii) For permanently affordable homeownership, 38 percent of the household's monthly income for mortgage principal, interest, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, homeowner's association fees, and land lease fees, as applicable. In addition, total household debt is no more than 45 percent of the monthly household income;

(b) "Public benefit" means affordable housing, which can be rental housing or permanently affordable homeownership for low-income and very low-income households as defined in RCW 43.63A.510, and related facilities that support the goals of affordable housing development in providing economic and social stability for low-income persons; and

(c) "Surplus public property" means excess real property that is not required for the needs of or the discharge of the responsibilities of the state agency, municipality, or political subdivision.

Before disposing of surplus property with an estimated value of more than fifty thousand dollars, the state or a political subdivision shall hold a public hearing in the county where the property or the greatest portion thereof is located. At least ten days but not more than twenty-five days prior to the hearing, there shall be published a public notice of reasonable size in display advertising form, setting forth the date, time, and place of the hearing at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the area where the property is located. A news release pertaining to the hearing shall be disseminated among printed and electronic media in the area where the property is located. If real property is involved, the public notice and news release shall identify the property using a description which can easily be understood by the public. If the surplus is real property, the public notice and news release shall also describe the proposed use of the lands involved. If there is a failure to substantially comply with the procedures set forth in this section, then the sale, transfer, exchange, lease, or other disposal shall be subject to being declared invalid by a court. Any such suit must be brought within one year from the date of the disposal agreement.

The legislative body of any municipal corporation, quasi municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington authorized to develop and operate a public mass transportation system shall have power to contract with the legislative body of any other municipal corporation, quasi municipal corporation or political subdivision of the state of Washington, or with any person, firm or corporation for public transportation services or for the use of all or any part of any publicly owned transportation facilities for such period and under such terms and conditions and upon such rentals, fees and charges as the legislative body operating such public transportation system may determine, and may pledge all or any portion of such rentals, fees and charges and all other revenue derived from the ownership or operation of publicly owned transportation facilities to pay and to secure the payment of general obligation bonds and/or revenue bonds of such municipality issued for the purpose of acquiring or constructing a public mass transportation system.

Construction—Severability—1969 ex.s. c 255: See notes following RCW 35.58.272.

Public transportation systems: RCW 35.58.272 and 35.58.2721.

Any governmental unit, as defined in RCW 36.93.020(1) as it now exists or is hereafter amended, may convey its real or personal property or any interest or right therein to, or contract for the use of such property by, the county or park and recreation district wherein such property is located for park or recreational purposes, by private negotiation and upon such terms and with such consideration as might be mutually agreed to by such governmental unit and the board of county commissioners or the park and recreation district board of commissioners.

Any school district or educational service district, after complying with the requirements of RCW 28A.335.180, and any library, as defined in RCW 27.12.010, may dispose of surplus or obsolete books, periodicals, newspapers, and other reading materials as follows:

(1) If the reading materials are estimated to have value as reading materials in excess of one thousand dollars, they shall be sold at public auction to the person submitting the highest reasonable bid following publication of notice of the auction in a newspaper with a general circulation in the library or school district.

(2) If no reasonable bids are submitted under subsection (1) of this section or if the reading materials are estimated to have value as reading materials of one thousand dollars or less, the library or school district may directly negotiate the sale of the reading materials to a public or private entity.

(3) If the reading materials are determined to have no value as reading materials or if no purchaser is found under subsection (2) of this section the reading materials may be recycled or destroyed.

These methods for disposing of surplus or obsolete reading materials shall be in addition to any other method available to libraries and school districts for disposal of the property.

Purpose—Statutory references—Severability—1990 c 33: See RCW 28A.900.100 through 28A.900.102.

This chapter does not apply to transfers of property under *sections 1 and 2 of this act.

*Reviser's note: The reference to "sections 1 and 2 of this act" appears to be erroneous. Reference to "sections 2 and 3 of this act" codified as RCW 43.99C.070 and 43.83D.120 was apparently intended. RCW 43.99C.070 and 43.83D.120 were recodified as RCW 43.83.400 and 43.83.410, respectively, by the code reviser September 2015.

Findings—2006 c 35: See note following RCW 43.83.400.