The bill amends several sections of Washington state law regarding the transfer and abandonment of state highway routes. It introduces a new requirement that the Department of Transportation must enter into an agreement with a city or county before abandoning any state highway that exceeds two miles in length or includes a bridge. If an agreement cannot be reached, the proposed abandonment will be forwarded to the legislature for review. Additionally, the bill establishes an independent multijurisdictional body to evaluate requests for jurisdictional transfers and abandonments, ensuring that these processes are conducted transparently and with input from relevant stakeholders.

Key amendments include the clarification of criteria for designating rural and urban highway routes as part of the state highway system, emphasizing connectivity and continuity. The bill also specifies that the legislature will make final determinations regarding the status of existing state highway segments that are being decommissioned if no agreement can be reached between the Department and local authorities. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.75.090, 47.17.001, 47.24.010, 47.28.010
Substitute bill: 36.75.090, 47.01.425, 47.17.001, 47.24.010, 47.28.010
Engrossed substitute: 36.75.090, 47.01.425, 47.17.001, 47.24.010, 47.28.010