The bill amends RCW 36.57A.050 to enhance the governance of public transportation benefit areas by adding two voting members who are transit users to the governing body. This change aims to ensure that the perspectives of those who rely on public transportation are represented in decision-making processes. The bill specifies that one transit-using member must primarily rely on public transportation, while the other must represent a community-based organization that occasionally uses public transportation. Additionally, it mandates that meetings of the governing body be held at accessible times and locations for transit users and provides for comprehensive training on relevant laws for these new members.

Other amendments include adjustments to the maximum number of voting members on the governing body, increasing the limit from nine to eleven for single-county areas and from fifteen to seventeen for multi-county areas. The bill also updates compensation rates for members attending official meetings and establishes a process for adjusting these rates for inflation every five years. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 36.57A.050
Substitute Bill: 36.57A.050
Bill as Passed Legislature: 36.57A.050
Session Law: 36.57A.050