Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 8 D · 1 R cosponsors

HB 1437 — Concerning sustainable state tourism promotion.

Last action — By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 21, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the House.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

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A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Advancing 42% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 9 sponsors

    1 primary, 8 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (8 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

49 added · 86 removed

Plain-language change summary

The latest version of HB 1437 has shifted the responsibility for appointing a tourism self-supported assessment advisory group from the chair of the board of directors to the entire board. This change means that the full board will be involved in the decision-making process regarding the group's formation, which may foster greater collaboration and diverse input. Additionally, the timeline for forming the group is no longer specified, allowing the board more flexibility in when they choose to appoint the members. This matters because it could lead to a more thorough and representative assessment of how to fund statewide tourism promotion.

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H-1167.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1437 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (originally sponsored by Representatives Walen, Ryu, Donaghy, Reed, Barkis, Paul, Nance, Bernbaum, and Cortes) READ FIRST TIME 02/05/25.
H-0594.1 HOUSE BILL 1437 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Representatives Walen, Ryu, Donaghy, Reed, Barkis, Paul, Nance, Bernbaum, and Cortes Read first time 01/21/25.
Referred to Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans.
amending RCW 43.384.030 and 43.384.050;
amending RCW 43.384.030;
1 SHB 1437 and sustainable funding mechanism for statewide tourism promotion and management.
1 HB 1437 and sustainable funding mechanism for statewide tourism promotion and management.
2 SHB 1437 geography, size of business, gender, and ethnicity.
2 HB 1437 geography, size of business, gender, and ethnicity.
(1) The chair of the board of directors of the tourism marketing authority must appoint a tourism self-supported assessment advisory group no later than two weeks following the p.
(1) The board of directors of the tourism marketing authority must appoint a tourism self-supported assessment advisory group.
3 SHB 1437 effective date of this section.
The advisory group must evaluate the viability of an p.
The advisory group must evaluate the viability of an industry self-supported assessment to fund statewide tourism promotion and recommend procedures to establish the self- supported assessment.
3 HB 1437 industry self-supported assessment to fund statewide tourism promotion and recommend procedures to establish the self-supported assessment.
Sec.
4.
RCW 43.384.050 and 2019 c 291 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) From amounts appropriated to the department for the authority and from other moneys available to it, the authority may incur p.
4 SHB 1437 expenditures for any purpose specifically authorized by this chapter including:
(a) Entering into a contract for a multiple year statewide tourism marketing plan with a statewide nonprofit organization ((existing on June 7, 2018,)) whose sole purpose is marketing Washington to tourists.
The marketing plan must include, but is not limited to, focuses on rural tourism-dependent counties, natural wonders and outdoor recreation opportunities of the state, including sustainable whale watching, attraction of international tourists, identification of local offerings for tourists, and assistance for tourism areas adversely impacted by natural disasters ((.
In the event that no such organization exists on June 7, 2018, or the initial contractor ceases to exist, the authority may determine criteria for a contractor to carry out a statewide marketing program));
(b) Contracting for the evaluation of the impact of the statewide tourism marketing program;
and (c) Paying for administrative expenses of the authority, which may not exceed two percent of the state portion of funds collected in any fiscal year.
(2) All nonstate moneys received by the authority under RCW 43.384.060 or otherwise provided to the authority for purposes of matching funding must be deposited in the authority's private local account created under RCW 43.384.020(4) and are held in trust for uses authorized solely by this chapter.
(3) "Sustainable whale watching" means an experience that includes whale watching from land or aboard a vessel that reduces the impact on whales, provides a recreational and educational experience, and motivates participants to care about marine mammals, the sea, and marine conservation.
(4) The authority may incur expenditures for the purposes of section 3 of this act until June 30, 2026.
5 SHB 1437
4 HB 1437
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Action History

  1. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  2. Referred to Appropriations.

  3. TEDV - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  4. Executive action taken in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM.

  5. Public hearing in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM.

  6. First reading, referred to Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 8 co-sponsors · 142 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (8)

Not signed on (142)

142 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 142 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 1437?
HB 1437 is sponsored by Adam Bernbaum (Democrat), Greg Nance (Democrat), Dave Paul (Democrat), Andrew Barkis (Republican), Julia Reed (Democrat), Brandy Donaghy (Democrat), Cindy Ryu (Democrat), Amy Walen (Democrat), and Julio Cortes (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 1437?
This bill is in committee in the House. Introduced January 21, 2025. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
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