The bill aims to enhance tourism in Washington state by modifying the statewide tourism marketing account and adjusting the matching fund requirements. It amends RCW 43.384.040 to change the required match for expenditures from a two-to-one ratio to a one-to-one ratio, allowing for more flexibility in funding. The bill specifies that the match can include cash contributions, advertising equivalency contributions, or in-kind contributions, with the board responsible for determining the criteria for in-kind contributions.

Additionally, the bill amends RCW 82.08.225 to increase the amount of tax revenue that can be deposited into the statewide tourism marketing account from a previous limit of three million dollars to a new cap of $26,000,000 per biennium. It also removes the specific provisions for fiscal year 2019, establishing a more streamlined approach for future revenue collections, which will only occur if authorized by the legislature in the biennial omnibus appropriations act.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 43.384.040, 82.08.225