TNCs/large-scale events

AN ACT Relating to regulation of transportation network companies 1
during large-scale events; and amending RCW 46.72B.050 and 2
46.72B.190. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 46.72B.050 and 2022 c 281 s 19 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) Before a passenger enters a transportation network company 7
vehicle, the transportation network company must provide, on behalf 8
of the driver, either the fare for the prearranged ride or the option 9
to receive an estimated fare for the prearranged ride.10
(2) During the first seven days of a state of emergency, as 11
declared by the governor or the president of the United States, a 12
transportation network company may not charge a fare for 13
transportation network company services provided to any passenger 14
that exceeds two and one-half times the fare that would otherwise be 15
applicable for the prearranged ride. 16
(3) During a large-scale event, a transportation network company 17
may not charge a fare for a prearranged ride provided to any 18
passenger that exceeds 120 percent of the driver's pay for the 19
prearranged ride.20
H-1194.1
HOUSE BILL 1951
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Thomas, Reed, Street, Obras, Scott, Taylor,
Morgan, Entenman, Fosse, Parshley, Hill, Bronoske, Cortes, Peterson,
Bernbaum, Ramel, Simmons, Pollet, and Macri
Prefiled 02/11/25. Read first time 02/12/25. Referred to Committee
on Labor & Workplace Standards.
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(4) A violation of this section affects the public interest and 1
constitutes an unlawful and unfair practice under chapter 19.86 RCW.2
(5) For the purposes of this section, the following definitions 3
apply:4
(a)(i) "Large-scale event" means:5
(A) A ticketed or preregistered assembly of 10,000 or more 6
individuals at an outdoor venue that has defined entrances and exits; 7
or8
(B) A ticketed or preregistered assembly of 1,000 or more 9
individuals at an indoor venue that has defined entrances or exits.10
(ii) Event staff and volunteers are not included in the attendee 11
count.12
(iii) A "large-scale event" does not include any assembly 13
operated, managed, conducted, controlled, or supervised by a public 14
or private charter K–12 educational organization or a religious or 15
faith-based organization.16
(b) "Driver's pay" means the compensation a transportation 17
network company pays a driver for a prearranged ride. Driver's pay 18
excludes pass-through charges such as driver-paid tolls and tips paid 19
by passengers.20
Sec. 2. RCW 46.72B.190 and 2022 c 281 s 32 are each amended to 21
read as follows: 22
(1) Except as provided in subsections (2) ((and)), (3), and (6) 23
of this section, as of June 9, 2022, the state preempts the field of 24
regulating transportation network companies and drivers. No county, 25
city, town, or other municipal corporation may regulate 26
transportation network companies or drivers, or impose any tax, fee, 27
or other charge, on a transportation network company or driver.28
(2)(a) Except as provided in (b) and (c) of this subsection, a 29
local ordinance or regulation, in a city with a population of more 30
than 600,000 or a county with a population of more than 2,000,000, 31
existing on or before January 1, 2022, that imposes a tax, fee, or 32
other charge on a transportation network company or driver, remains 33
in effect at the rate that exists on or before January 1, 2022. The 34
city or county may continue to collect that tax, fee, or other 35
charge, but may not increase the amount of that tax, fee, or other 36
charge, and may not impose any higher or new taxes, fees, or other 37
charges. This subsection (2)(a) applies retroactively and preempts 38
any increase in the amount of an existing tax, fee, or other charge, 39
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or the imposition of any higher or new taxes, fees, or other charges, 1
which occurs between January 2, 2022, and June 9, 2022.2
(b) Beginning on January 1, 2023, any local ordinance or 3
regulation, in a city or county described in (a) of this subsection, 4
existing on or before June 9, 2022, that imposed a per trip tax, fee, 5
or other charge for which, at the time the ordinance became 6
effective, the proceeds were to be used in part to fund a driver 7
conflict resolution center, shall be reduced by $0.15. The city or 8
county may continue to collect that tax, fee, or other charge, but 9
only at the reduced rate and may not increase the amount of that tax, 10
fee, or other charge, and may not impose any higher or new taxes, 11
fees, or other charges. 12
(c) Any per ride fee imposed by a local ordinance or regulation 13
described in (a) of this subsection, the proceeds of which are used 14
to offset expenses of enforcing the ordinance or regulation, may be 15
adjusted under the following provisions: 16
(i) The city or county demonstrates to the satisfaction of the 17
department that the revenues from the existing per ride fee amount 18
are insufficient to offset the city's or county's cost from 19
enforcement and regulation; 20
(ii) The total amount expected to be collected under the 21
increased amount will not exceed the city or county's total expected 22
costs; and 23
(iii) The department has not authorized an increase in the per 24
ride fee in the last two fiscal years. 25
(3)(a) A local ordinance or regulation in a city with a 26
population of more than six hundred thousand or a county with a 27
population of more than two million, and that existed on or before 28
January 1, 2022, that defined and regulated licensing for 29
transportation network companies and permits for drivers, or the 30
requirements for and processing of applications, certifications, 31
examinations, and background checks for drivers and personal 32
vehicles, remains in effect as the requirements exist on June 9, 33
2022. The county or city may continue to enforce the ordinance or 34
regulation but may not alter, amend, or implement changes to the 35
ordinance or regulation, or requirements under it, after January 1, 36
2022, except if such alteration, amendment, or implementation 37
conforms with the requirements of this chapter. This subsection shall 38
apply retroactively to any alteration, amendment, or implementation 39
which occurs between March 10, 2022, and June 9, 2022.40
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(b) Notwithstanding subsection (1) of this section, a local 1
ordinance or regulation in a city with a population of more than six 2
hundred thousand or a county with a population of more than two 3
million, and that existed before January 1, 2022, that is related to 4
requirements covered by RCW 49.46.300, 49.46.350, 51.16.250, and 5
51.04.190, and sections 6, 8 through 10, and 12, chapter 281, Laws of 6
2022 are preempted as of January 1, 2023. The city may continue to 7
enforce the local ordinance or regulation between June 9, 2022, and 8
January 1, 2023, but may not alter, amend, or implement changes to 9
the ordinance or regulation, or requirements under it, after January 10
1, 2022, except if such alteration, or amendment, or implementation 11
conforms with the requirements of chapter 281, Laws of 2022. This 12
subsection shall apply retroactively to any alteration, amendment, or 13
implementation which occurs between March 10, 2022, and June 9, 2022.14
(4) Nothing in this chapter shall be interpreted to prevent an 15
airport operator, as defined in RCW 14.08.015, from requiring a 16
transportation network company to enter into a contract or agreement, 17
consistent with the provisions of RCW 14.08.120, governing 18
requirements of the transportation network company on airport 19
property including but not limited to the fees and operational 20
requirements. An airport operator may not impose any requirements 21
through a contract authorized by this section that relate to 22
requirements covered by RCW 49.46.300, 49.46.350, 51.16.250, 23
51.04.190, 49.46.210(5), 51.08.070, 51.08.180, 51.12.020, and 24
51.16.060. 25
(5) Other than taxes, fees, or other charges imposed explicitly 26
or exclusively on a transportation network company or driver, this 27
section does not preempt any generally applicable taxes, fees, or 28
other charges, such as: 29
(a) Business tax; 30
(b) Sales and use tax; 31
(c) Excise tax; or 32
(d) Property tax. 33
(6) During a large special event, a county, city, town, and/or 34
municipal corporation where the large special event will be located 35
may regulate transportation network companies using geofencing to 36
create designated drop-off and pick-up zones.37
(7) For purposes of this section, "large special event" means a 38
special event occurring in Washington state which the United States 39
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department of homeland security has assessed at rating levels one 1
through five. 2
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