The bill amends the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) to enhance funding mechanisms for county hospitals, particularly for the care of indigent individuals. It grants county legislative authorities the power to establish and maintain hospitals, finance them through various means, and notably allows for an additional regular property tax levy specifically for hospital operations, maintenance, and capital expenses, capped at 20 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. This new tax levy is exempt from certain limitations typically imposed on property tax levies, enabling counties with populations over 2,000,000 to impose this additional tax without the usual constraints.

In addition to the new tax provisions, the bill modifies existing tax levy limits to include allowances for county hospital purposes, ensuring that the limitations set by RCW 84.52.043 do not apply to the new hospital tax levy. It also addresses scenarios where the combined rate of regular property tax levies exceeds one percent of property value, outlining a process for reducing or eliminating various levies to maintain compliance. The bill establishes expiration and effective dates for certain provisions, with specific sections set to expire on January 1, 2027, while others will take effect on the same date, providing a structured timeline for implementation.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 36.62.010, 36.62.090, 84.52.043, 84.52.010
Substitute Bill: 36.62.010, 36.62.090, 84.52.043, 84.52.010
Bill as Passed Legislature: 36.62.010, 36.62.090, 84.52.043, 84.52.010
Session Law: 36.62.010, 36.62.090, 84.52.043, 84.52.010