This bill amends Washington state law to enhance housing assistance and preserve historical structures while promoting environmental sustainability. It establishes the down payment assistance account, funded by the real estate excise tax on condominium and townhouse sales through state assistance programs, with expenditures authorized solely by the Department of Commerce. Additionally, the bill creates the Fern Lodge maintenance account for the Snohomish County civil commitment facility, allowing rent collections to be used for maintenance costs. The heritage barn preservation program is also modified to emphasize historic character maintenance and public access, while a clean fuels credit account is introduced to support investments aimed at reducing transportation-related emissions.

Furthermore, the bill revises the distribution of earnings from the investment income and treasury income accounts, ensuring that the state treasurer distributes earnings to the state general fund and other accounts based on their average daily balances. The Fern Lodge maintenance account and clean fuels credit account are included as recipients of these earnings, while the brownfield redevelopment trust fund account is deleted from the list. The bill also outlines provisions for the Washington sexual assault kit account, mandating the transfer of remaining funds to the fingerprint identification account by June 1, 2024. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline fund management and ensure fair allocation of earnings across various state accounts.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 82.45.240, 27.34.400