Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government & Tribal Relations Committee

HB 2593

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Promoting economic development through enhancing state agency permitting.

Sponsors: Representatives Boehnke, DeBolt, Goehner, Steele, Gildon and Tharinger.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Extends the requirement that certain state agencies must submit reports with data regarding timelines for permit application completion and decision making through 2028.

  • Extends the requirement that the Office of Regulatory Innovation and Assistance must publish comprehensive reports of agency permit timelines in each even-numbered year through 2028.

Hearing Date: 1/31/20

Staff: Carrington Skinner (786-7192).

Background:

Certain state agencies that issue permits, including the Department of Transportation and the Department of Labor and Industries, are required to track and record the time it takes to make permitting decisions. At a minimum, the following performance data must be tracked and recorded:

Beginning March 1, 2016, and in each even-numbered year thereafter through the year 2020, each agency must provide a report to the Office of Regulatory Assistance (known as the Office of Regulatory Innovation and Assistance or ORIA) with information on its performance data, including times tracked and calculated for application completion and decision issuance. An updated inventory of permits must be provided by the agency in each report.

Beginning September 30, 2016, and in each even-numbered year thereafter through the year 2020, the ORIA must publish a comprehensive progress report on the performance of agencies in tracking permit timelines and other efforts to improve regulatory permitting. The report must:

Summary of Bill:

The following requirements are extended through the year 2028:

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.