KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Washington

HB2270 • 2026

Lodging tax revenue use

Providing specified flexibility for use of lodging tax revenues for small cities.

Taxes
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Bernbaum, Representative Leavitt, Representative Reed, Representative Ramel
Last action
2026-01-12
Official status
H Finance
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Lodging tax revenue use

Lodging tax revenue use

What This Bill Does

  • Lodging tax revenue use

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-12 House

    First reading, referred to Finance.

Official Summary Text

Lodging tax revenue use

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to providing specified flexibility for use of 1
lodging tax revenues for small cities; amending RCW 67.28.1815; and 2
adding a new section to chapter 67.28 RCW. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 67.28 5
RCW to read as follows: 6
(1) A municipality with a population of less than 5,000 may use 7
up to 15 percent of revenue from the prior fiscal year from the taxes 8
imposed under this chapter for infrastructure, secondary roadways, 9
recreational facilities, and tourist season law enforcement, subject 10
to the limitations of this section. 11
(2) Before adopting an ordinance authorizing the alternative use 12
of lodging tax revenues, the governing body of the municipality must:13
(a) Provide notice in a legal newspaper of general circulation of 14
the intent to adopt an ordinance; 15
(b) Hold a public hearing on the proposed use of funds. Notice of 16
the public hearing must be published in a legal newspaper of general 17
circulation within the city and posted in at least three conspicuous 18
public places located in the city as well as on the city website. 19
Notices must describe the intended use of funds; and20
H-2591.1
HOUSE BILL 2270
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Bernbaum, Leavitt, Reed, and Ramel
Prefiled 01/06/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Finance.
p. 1 HB 2270
(c) Include opportunities for substantial input from business 1
stakeholders and other members of the public. 2
Sec. 2. RCW 67.28.1815 and 2008 c 264 s 3 are each amended to 3
read as follows: 4
Except as provided in RCW 67.28.180 and section 1 of this act , 5
all revenue from taxes imposed under this chapter shall be credited 6
to a special fund in the treasury of the municipality imposing such 7
tax and used solely for the purpose of paying all or any part of the 8
cost of tourism promotion, acquisition of tourism-related facilities, 9
or operation of tourism-related facilities. Municipalities may, under 10
chapter 39.34 RCW, agree to the utilization of revenue from taxes 11
imposed under this chapter for the purposes of funding a 12
multijurisdictional tourism-related facility. 13
--- END ---
p. 2 HB 2270