Business development

AN ACT Relating to promoting business development; and adding new 1
sections to chapter 43.330 RCW. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.330 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
The definitions in this section apply throughout this section and 6
sections 2 and 3 of this act unless the context clearly requires 7
otherwise. 8
(1) "Business" means any corporation, partnership, company, 9
cooperative, sole proprietorship, or other legal entity organized or 10
operating for pecuniary or nonpecuniary gain. 11
(2) "Office" means the office of entrepreneurship established in 12
section 2 of this act. 13
(3) "State agency" means a state agency, department, office, 14
board, commission, bureau, division, or institution that is part of 15
the executive branch of state government. 16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 43.330 17
RCW to read as follows: 18
(1) The office of entrepreneurship is established. The director 19
of the office must be appointed by the governor. The director's 20
H-0458.1
HOUSE BILL 1245
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Couture, Walen, Fitzgibbon, Barkis, Nance, Eslick,
Caldier, Timmons, and Pollet
Read first time 01/14/25. Referred to Committee on Technology,
Economic Development, & Veterans.
p. 1 HB 1245
primary duty is to make it easier to start and grow a business in 1
Washington. The office may employ staff necessary to carry out the 2
office's duties as prescribed by this section and section 3 of this 3
act, subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this 4
specific purpose. 5
(2) The office has the power and duty to: 6
(a) Work to promote and strengthen initiatives, policies, and 7
programs supporting the entrepreneurship of Washington-based 8
businesses with fewer than 10 employees; 9
(b) Work with stakeholders and organizations supporting 10
entrepreneurship to enhance the learning and skills of, provide 11
technical support to, and expand access to, resources for 12
entrepreneurs across the state; 13
(c) Serve as a point of contact to assist businesses that have 14
been in operation for not more than five years in their interactions 15
with state agencies and, where appropriate, refer businesses to other 16
state or local agencies that provide assistance to businesses; and17
(d) Identify government regulations and fees that hinder business 18
formation in the state. 19
(3) In carrying out its purpose, the office may collaborate with 20
the department of commerce, the department of enterprise services, 21
the office of the secretary of state, the department of veterans 22
affairs, the office of regulatory innovation and assistance, the 23
office of minority and women's business enterprises, and all other 24
relevant state agencies. Such relevant state agencies shall cooperate 25
with and assist the office in the performance of its duties and 26
functions, including by providing data collected by such agencies 27
that is necessary for the office to complete its reporting 28
obligations under section 3 of this act. 29
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 43.330 30
RCW to read as follows: 31
(1) Beginning November 1, 2026, and biennially thereafter, the 32
office shall submit to the legislative committees with jurisdiction 33
over economic development policy a report that includes, without 34
limitation: 35
(a) The number and total dollar amount of state contracts awarded 36
to businesses that have been in operation for not more than five 37
years, including a breakdown by demographic segments and geographic 38
areas throughout the state; 39
p. 2 HB 1245
(b) The percentage of the number of state contracts awarded to 1
businesses that have been in operation for not more than five years 2
compared to the total number of contracts awarded; 3
(c) The number of businesses owned by women, minorities, or 4
veterans that have been in operation for not more than five years and 5
have been awarded a state contract; 6
(d) The percentage of the total dollar amount of state contracts 7
awarded to businesses that have been in operation for not more than 8
five years compared to the total dollar amount of contracts awarded;9
(e) The types of businesses that have been in operation for not 10
more than five years and have been awarded a state contract;11
(f) Recommendations on improving access to state contracts for 12
businesses that have been in operation for not more than five years, 13
including those businesses in statistically underrepresented 14
demographic segments and geographic areas of the state;15
(g) Recommendations on improving overall entrepreneurship in the 16
state including identifying regional challenges to entrepreneurship; 17
and 18
(h) Any additional information deemed necessary by the office to 19
provide an accurate depiction of the condition of entrepreneurship in 20
the state. 21
(2) The office shall encourage five percent of the total number 22
and value of state contracts to be awarded to businesses that have 23
been in operation for not more than five years and whose principal 24
place of business is in this state. 25
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