This bill establishes a new chapter in Title 43 RCW focused on capital projects for fire protection services in rural counties. It defines key terms such as "department," "fire protection services capital project," "local governments," and "rural county." The bill mandates the Department of Commerce to create a competitive grant program to fund these capital projects, specifically targeting local governments in rural areas. A committee will be formed to develop criteria for the grant program, which will prioritize applications based on various factors, including fire ratings, funding leverage, and community health and safety impacts.

Additionally, the bill stipulates that grant funds can only be awarded if matching funds are secured, with a maximum of $2,000,000 available per jurisdiction per biennium. It includes provisions to ensure that the improvements funded serve the public interest, requiring grantees to maintain the facilities for a specified period. The Department of Commerce is also tasked with submitting an annual report detailing the grant program's activities, including the number of applications, funding requests, and disbursements.