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WashingtonSB 58202025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Concerning the responsibility of certain counties to include freight rail dependent use overlay as part of the transportation element of their comprehensive plan.

Sponsored By: Adrian Cortes (Democratic)

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Small border counties gain freight-rail option

The law lets small counties west of the Cascade crest that border another state and have fewer than 50,000 people, and their cities, adopt rules to allow freight‑rail‑dependent businesses. The permission applies to farm, forest, or mineral lands next to short line railroads. This gives local landowners and small businesses another path to develop these sites.

Large border counties lose freight-rail option

The law removes a past state permission for certain large counties west of the Cascade crest that border another state (population 400,000 or more), and their cities. They can no longer rely on that state rule to plan for freight‑rail‑dependent uses on land next to short line railroads in their transportation plans. The law also removes the permission to change rural zoning to allow freight uses that do not need urban services. Local governments in those counties must now plan without that specific state authorization.

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Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Adrian Cortes

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Sharon Shewmake

    Democratic • Senate

  • T'wina Nobles

    Democratic • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 84 • No: 58

House vote • 3/3/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 54 • No: 39 • Other: 5

Senate vote • 2/10/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 30 • No: 19

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/30/2026Senate

  2. Chapter 247, 2026 Laws.

    3/30/2026Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    3/30/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/9/2026legislature

  5. Speaker signed.

    3/5/2026legislature

  6. President signed.

    3/4/2026legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 54; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 5.

    3/3/2026Senate

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/3/2026Senate

  9. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    2/25/2026Senate

  10. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/23/2026Senate

  11. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/20/2026Senate

  12. Minority; do not pass.

    2/20/2026Senate

  13. LG - Majority; do pass.

    2/20/2026Senate

  14. LG - Executive action taken by committee.

    2/20/2026Senate

  15. First reading, referred to Local Government.

    2/12/2026Senate

  16. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    2/10/2026Senate

  17. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/10/2026Senate

  18. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    2/4/2026Senate

  19. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    1/30/2026Senate

  20. Minority; do not pass.

    1/29/2026Senate

  21. LGV - Majority; do pass.

    1/29/2026Senate

  22. First reading, referred to Local Government.

    1/12/2026Senate

  23. Prefiled for introduction.

    12/1/2025Senate

Bill Text

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