This bill amends the Growth Management Act in Washington State, focusing on comprehensive planning requirements for counties and cities. It introduces new provisions that require the land use element to prioritize environmental justice, mitigate wildfire risks, and consider the impacts of housing policies on racial disparities. Additionally, housing elements must address the needs of all economic segments, including low-income households, and implement antidisplacement policies. The bill also allows for limited areas of more intensive rural development under specific conditions and mandates counties to adopt subarea plans for unincorporated areas previously characterized as towns or villages, ensuring adequate public facilities and services are in place.

Moreover, the bill establishes a climate change and resiliency element aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing community resilience to climate impacts, with mandatory subelements for emissions reduction and resiliency actions benefiting overburdened communities. It outlines the process for determining urban growth areas (UGAs) with an emphasis on consultation between local governments and criteria prioritizing areas with existing public facilities. The bill restricts UGA expansions into floodplains, particularly west of the Cascade Mountains, while allowing exceptions, and ensures meaningful consultation with federally recognized Indian tribes regarding UGA revisions. Overall, the amendments aim to integrate transportation planning with climate resilience and urban growth management to foster sustainable development.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 36.70A.070, 36.70A.130