Economic development plan

AN ACT Relating to a five-year statewide economic development 1
plan; adding a new section to chapter 43.330 RCW; providing an 2
effective date; and declaring an emergency. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 43.330 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) An advisory committee for a five-year statewide economic 7
development plan is established with 15 members, who must reflect the 8
geographic, racial, and ethnic diversity of the state and be 9
inclusive of historically marginalized communities. The advisory 10
committee must include: 11
(a) One representative from the department's office of economic 12
development and competitiveness, who shall be appointed by the 13
director and serve as chair; 14
(b) Two representatives and two senators, representing each of 15
the four caucuses; 16
(c) One representative of the governor's office;17
(d) The director of the workforce training and education 18
coordinating board, as provided in RCW 28C.18.020, or the director's 19
designee; 20
H-0783.1
HOUSE BILL 1595
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Ryu, Volz, Eslick, Reeves, Shavers, Zahn, Pollet,
Reed, Nance, Kloba, and Barnard
Read first time 01/24/25. Referred to Committee on Technology,
Economic Development, & Veterans.
p. 1 HB 1595
(e) The director of the department of ecology, as provided in RCW 1
43.21A.050, or the director's designee; and 2
(f) Seven representatives appointed by the director, representing 3
an associate development organization, port, labor council, industry 4
association, research institution, the department's office of tribal 5
relations, and the department's small business resiliency network.6
(2) The members of the advisory committee may be reimbursed for 7
travel expenses as provided in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.8
(3) The members of the advisory committee shall serve two-year 9
terms and may be reappointed. 10
(4) The department must convene an advisory committee every five 11
years, beginning in 2025, to: 12
(a) Provide guidance to the department identifying priorities and 13
recommendations for a five-year statewide economic development plan;14
(b) Meet at least three times during the first plan development 15
year, and quarterly in the first plan development year for updated 16
plans; 17
(c) Hold at least four public meetings in different regions of 18
the state to solicit input on the priorities and recommendations 19
during the plan development year; 20
(d) Advise the department on policy recommendations to implement 21
the five-year economic development plan; 22
(e) Review and provide guidance on recommended legislation to 23
implement the five-year economic development plan priorities within 24
one year after the proposal under subsection (7) of this section is 25
provided; and 26
(f) Organize an economic development summit to include, at a 27
minimum: 28
(i) Major economic development initiatives; 29
(ii) Updates from regional workforce development boards; and30
(iii) Industry-specific policy concerns. 31
(5) The advisory committee must be staffed by the department.32
(6) The department must consult with the following for feedback 33
on the criteria and content of the five-year statewide economic 34
development plan prior to the third meeting of the advisory 35
committee: 36
(a) The state commission on Hispanic affairs, created in chapter 37
43.115 RCW; 38
(b) The commission on African American affairs, created in 39
chapter 43.113 RCW; 40
p. 2 HB 1595
(c) The state commission on Asian Pacific American affairs, 1
created in chapter 43.117 RCW; 2
(d) The women's commission, created in chapter 43.119 RCW;3
(e) The office of minority and women's business enterprises, 4
created in chapter 39.19 RCW; and 5
(f) The employment security department, created in Title 50 RCW.6
(7) The department must use the advisory committee's guidance and 7
recommendations, public input, and commission and agency 8
consultations to develop a final proposal for a five-year statewide 9
economic development plan. The proposal must include long-term goals 10
and measurable benchmarks. The department must provide the first 11
proposal with recommended legislation to the appropriate committees 12
of the legislature and the governor by November 30, 2025. The 13
department must provide updated proposals every five years 14
thereafter. 15
(8) The department must provide recommended legislation, if any, 16
to implement the five-year statewide economic development plan by 17
June 30, 2026, and every five years thereafter. 18
(9) The department must provide a progress report on 19
implementation of the five-year statewide economic development plan 20
to the appropriate committees of the legislature and the governor two 21
years after providing the proposal under subsection (7) of this 22
section. 23
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate 24
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 25
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 26
effect May 5, 2025.27
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