The bill seeks to improve municipal permitting processes for high-capacity transit projects by amending existing laws and introducing new provisions. It allows local governments to form development agreements with regional transit authorities, enabling them to set development standards that may differ from local regulations to expedite the construction of transit facilities. Additionally, regional transit authorities are permitted to apply for land use and construction permits prior to property acquisition, provided they notify the property owner. The bill also stipulates that local governments cannot issue permits for developments on properties not owned by the transit authority without the owner's written consent.

Moreover, the legislation modifies regulations concerning land divisions, exempting certain divisions from standard permitting processes, particularly those related to regional transit authority acquisitions. It allows regional transit authorities to acquire portions of existing lots without typical subdivision approvals and clarifies the timeline for local governments to respond to project permit applications. The bill establishes that local governments must accept applications from regional transit authorities, even if they do not own the property in question, and defines the criteria for determining the completeness of applications. Additionally, it sets expiration and effective dates for specific provisions, with Section 4 expiring on January 1, 2028, and Section 5 taking effect on the same date, providing clarity on the implementation timeline of these changes.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.70B.170, 58.17.040, 19.27.095
Substitute bill: 36.70B.170, 58.17.040, 36.70B.070