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WashingtonHB 23252025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Establishing a tourism self-supported assessment program to fund statewide tourism promotion.

Sponsored By: Dave Paul (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

New tourism business fees require approval

Beginning June 11, 2026, the law creates annual business fees based on gross revenue; rates are not specified. Covered sectors include lodging, travel services, attractions, recreation, beverage producers, and full-service restaurants and retail locations with annual revenue above $5 million. Each sector must approve its fee by a majority vote, weighted by each business’s projected payment. The authority must hold a referendum within three years; failed proposals can be resubmitted after that period. A due assessment becomes a personal debt; unpaid fees can bring a civil lawsuit and an added collection charge of up to 10%, which is not automatic.

Businesses gain more tourism budget oversight

A business oversight board develops annual budgets and spending plans, reports results, and checks program performance. Its initial board has at least 10 members, including at least two per tourism business sector; initial service lasts six months or until the first referendum finishes. The tourism authority can approve or reject the board’s budget, but cannot rewrite it or adopt policies the board did not submit. The authority’s appointed tourism-business seats grow from nine to 13: eight assessment payers, two other covered business representatives, two destination-marketing representatives, and one trade-association representative. The oversight board nominates the eight payer representatives, except that initial nominees come from the advisory group and are appointed by the authority. Appointments must reflect geographic, business-size, gender, and ethnic diversity, with no more than four from one county.

Tourism businesses get financial data privacy

Financial and commercial information businesses submit to the tourism authority or oversight board under the program is confidential. Covered information is exempt from public inspection, copying, and Washington’s public-records disclosure rules. General statistics that do not identify individual businesses remain outside the exemption. Information not covered by the confidentiality rule stays subject to normal disclosure rules.

Tourism promotion reaches more Washington communities

The authority’s multi-year marketing contract must fairly include diverse communities, especially tribal nations, rural areas, and places historically left out. Its statewide nonprofit contractor must have Washington tourism marketing as its sole purpose. Plans must include culturally unique communities and rural counties that depend on tourism. Allowed promotion includes ads, research, industry education, event and destination investment, trade shows, travel-client hosting, rotating conferences, and statewide marketing content. Campaigns can reach audiences in Washington, across the country, and abroad; activities must support Washington travel or its visitor economy and follow authority policies.

Tribal businesses exempt unless they join

Federally recognized tribes and businesses they own or operate are exempt from tourism assessments and program rules. The exemption also covers businesses on land owned outright or held in trust by a tribe or tribal member. A tribe or tribal member can officially opt into the program, ending the exemption.

Tourism fees fund promotion and administration

Assessment money supports tourism promotion and pays program costs, including administration, enforcement, audits, and reimbursement of referendum costs. The authority deposits assessment money matching specified state funding into a separate reimbursement account. The Commerce director or a designee must approve spending from that account. Remaining receipts go into a tourism-only account, are not state money, and can be spent without legislative approval of a spending amount. The authority pays Commerce’s related costs even when businesses reject the assessment.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Dave Paul

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Adam Bernbaum

    Democratic • House

  • Andrew Barkis

    Republican • House

  • Beth Doglio

    Democratic • House

  • Clyde Shavers

    Democratic • House

  • Janice Zahn

    Democratic • House

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

  • Mike Steele

    Republican • House

  • Monica Jurado Stonier

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 218 • No: 15

House vote • 3/11/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 91 • No: 5 • Other: 2

Senate vote • 3/10/2026

Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Yes: 43 • No: 5 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/23/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 84 • No: 5 • Other: 9

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/26/2026House

  2. Chapter 229, 2026 Laws.

    3/26/2026House

  3. Governor signed.

    3/26/2026legislature

  4. President signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 91; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    3/11/2026House

  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.

    3/11/2026House

  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 43; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    3/10/2026House

  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/10/2026House

  11. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    3/10/2026House

  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/3/2026House

  13. Minority; without recommendation.

    3/2/2026House

  14. WM - Majority; do pass.

    3/2/2026House

  15. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/2/2026House

  16. First reading, referred to Ways & Means.

    2/24/2026House

  17. Third reading, passed; yeas, 84; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 9.

    2/23/2026House

  18. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/23/2026House

  19. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

    2/23/2026House

  20. 2nd substitute bill substituted.

    2/23/2026House

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

    2/13/2026House

  22. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/9/2026House

  23. Minority; without recommendation.

    2/9/2026House

  24. Minority; do not pass.

    2/9/2026House

  25. FIN - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

    2/9/2026House

Bill Text

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