The bill establishes a tourism self-supported assessment program in Washington aimed at enhancing the state's tourism promotion and competitiveness. It creates a governance structure through a ratepayer oversight board, which will include representatives from various tourism sectors to develop an annual budget, monitor program effectiveness, and ensure financial transparency. Assessments will be levied on tourism businesses based on their gross revenue, with provisions allowing federally recognized Indian tribes to opt-out unless they choose to participate. The bill also introduces a ratification mechanism requiring a weighted vote from affected businesses and establishes a reimbursement account for managing collected funds.

Additionally, the bill expands the Washington tourism marketing authority's board of directors from nine to thirteen members, ensuring representation from businesses paying tourism assessments and emphasizing diversity in appointments. It mandates the authority to promote tourism inclusively, particularly focusing on tribal nations and rural areas, and allows for contracts related to a statewide tourism marketing plan. The bill also introduces new protections for sensitive information related to the tourism assessment program and consolidates existing confidentiality measures for various state authorities. Overall, it aims to create a comprehensive framework for promoting tourism while safeguarding sensitive data.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 43.384.010, 43.384.040, 43.384.030
Substitute bill: 43.384.010, 43.384.040, 43.384.030
Second substitute: 43.384.010, 43.384.040, 43.384.030
Engrossed second substitute: 43.384.010, 43.384.040, 43.384.030, 43.384.050
Bill as passed Legislature: 43.384.010, 43.384.040, 43.384.030, 43.384.050
Session law: 43.384.010, 43.384.040, 43.384.030, 43.384.050