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 of the transit-using members must primarily rely on public transportation, while the other must represent a community-based organization and occasionally use 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 for these members regarding public meeting laws and ethics.

Furthermore, the bill adjusts the maximum number of voting members on the governing body, increasing it from nine to eleven for single-county areas and from fifteen to seventeen for multi-county areas. It also updates compensation limits for members attending official meetings and introduces provisions for adjusting these limits 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