Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Passed House 16 D cosponsors

HB 2517 — Providing for enhanced municipal permitting tools for high capacity transit projects.

Last action — Referred to Rules 2 Review.

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

This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 15, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

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

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

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

Prognosis

Advancing 38% · moderate confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 16 sponsors

    1 primary, 15 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (16 D).

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

303 added · 319 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to Bill HB 2517 removed the requirement for regional transit authorities to provide proof of notice to property owners when applying for land use and construction permits before acquiring property for new facilities. This means that while transit authorities still need to apply for permits, they are no longer obligated to notify property owners at the same time. This matters because it could streamline the process for building transit projects, but it may also reduce property owners' awareness and potential input on developments that could affect them.

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H-3374.2 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2517 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By House Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Fitzgibbon, Reed, Springer, Berg, Duerr, Ryu, Zahn, Kloba, Berry, Scott, Thomas, Reeves, Doglio, Nance, Macri, and Street) READ FIRST TIME 02/04/26.
H-2863.1 HOUSE BILL 2517 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session By Representatives Fitzgibbon, Reed, Springer, Berg, Duerr, Ryu, Zahn, Kloba, Berry, Scott, Thomas, Reeves, Doglio, Nance, Macri, and Street Read first time 01/15/26.
Referred to Committee on Local Government.
amending RCW 36.70B.170, 58.17.040, 58.17.040, and 36.70B.070;
amending RCW 36.70B.170, 58.17.040, 58.17.040, and 19.27.095;
adding new sections to chapter 81.112 RCW;
adding a new section to chapter 81.112 RCW;
1 SHB 2517 otherwise applicable development regulations in order to accommodate development of the facilities of the regional transit authority.
1 HB 2517 otherwise applicable development regulations in order to accommodate development of the facilities of the regional transit authority.
(1) Apply for land use and construction permits for its facilities before acquiring the real property on which the facilities p.
p.
2 SHB 2517 will be constructed or operated, so long as the regional transit authority provides proof of notice to the subject property owner at the time of application;
2 HB 2517 (1) Apply for land use and construction permits for its facilities before acquiring the real property on which the facilities will be constructed or operated;
(2) Apply for construction and technical permits for its facilities before the local government makes a land use decision regarding those facilities, so long as the regional transit authority provides proof of notice to the subject property owner at the time of application;
(2) Apply for construction and technical permits for its facilities before the local government makes a land use decision regarding those facilities;
NEW SECTION.
A new section is added to chapter 81.112 RCW to read as follows:
A local government may not issue a land use, construction, or technical permit to a regional transit authority for development on property that is not owned by the regional transit authority unless the regional transit authority has written permission from the property owner.
Sec.
4.
p.
(3) Divisions made by testamentary provisions, or the laws of descent;
3 SHB 2517 (3) Divisions made by testamentary provisions, or the laws of descent;
(5) A division for the purpose of lease when no residential structure other than mobile homes, tiny houses or tiny houses with wheels as defined in RCW 35.21.686, or travel trailers are permitted to be placed upon the land when the city, town, or county has approved a binding site plan for the use of the land in accordance with local regulations;
(5) A division for the purpose of lease when no residential structure other than mobile homes, tiny houses or tiny houses with wheels as defined in RCW 35.21.686, or travel trailers are permitted p.
3 HB 2517 to be placed upon the land when the city, town, or county has approved a binding site plan for the use of the land in accordance with local regulations;
Upon completion, the improvements on the land shall be included in one or more condominiums or owned by an p.
Upon completion, the improvements on the land shall be included in one or more condominiums or owned by an association or other legal entity in which the owners of units therein or their owners' associations have a membership or other legal or beneficial interest.
4 SHB 2517 association or other legal entity in which the owners of units therein or their owners' associations have a membership or other legal or beneficial interest.
or (ii) in connection with the issuance of building permits or final certificates of occupancy with respect to all of such land;
or (ii) in connection with the issuance of building p.
4 HB 2517 permits or final certificates of occupancy with respect to all of such land;
New customers are defined as electric service locations not already in existence as of the date that p.
New customers are defined as electric service locations not already in existence as of the date that electric utility facilities subject to the provisions of this subsection are planned and constructed;
5 SHB 2517 electric utility facilities subject to the provisions of this subsection are planned and constructed;
(11) A division of land caused by the acquisition of a portion of an existing lot or tract by a regional transit authority as defined in chapter 81.112 RCW that is acquiring land to build facilities as defined in RCW 81.112.020.
p.
5 HB 2517 (11) A division of land caused by the acquisition of a portion of an existing lot or tract by an agency with condemnation authority that is acquiring land to build an essential public facility as described in RCW 36.70A.200.
5.
4.
p.
(5) A division for the purpose of lease when no residential structure other than mobile homes, tiny houses or tiny houses with wheels as defined in RCW 35.21.686, or travel trailers are permitted to be placed upon the land when the city, town, or county has approved a binding site plan for the use of the land in accordance with local regulations;
6 SHB 2517 (5) A division for the purpose of lease when no residential structure other than mobile homes, tiny houses or tiny houses with wheels as defined in RCW 35.21.686, or travel trailers are permitted to be placed upon the land when the city, town, or county has approved a binding site plan for the use of the land in accordance with local regulations;
(6) A division made for the purpose of alteration by adjusting boundary lines, between platted or unplatted lots or both, which does not create any additional lot, tract, parcel, site, or division nor create any lot, tract, parcel, site, or division ((which)) that p.
(6) A division made for the purpose of alteration by adjusting boundary lines, between platted or unplatted lots or both, which does not create any additional lot, tract, parcel, site, or division nor create any lot, tract, parcel, site, or division ((which)) that contains insufficient area and dimension to meet minimum requirements for width and area for a building site;
6 HB 2517 contains insufficient area and dimension to meet minimum requirements for width and area for a building site;
A site plan shall be deemed to have been approved if the site plan was approved p.
A site plan shall be deemed to have been approved if the site plan was approved by a city, town, or county:
7 SHB 2517 by a city, town, or county:
"Personal wireless services" means any federally licensed personal wireless service.
p.
7 HB 2517 "Personal wireless services" means any federally licensed personal wireless service.
and (10) A division of land into lots or tracts of less than two acres that is recorded in accordance with chapter 58.09 RCW and is used or to be used for the purpose of establishing a site for construction and operation of a rural fire district station, provided the proposed lots or tracts contain sufficient area and dimensions to meet minimum building site width and area requirements, and p.
and (10) A division of land into lots or tracts of less than two acres that is recorded in accordance with chapter 58.09 RCW and is used or to be used for the purpose of establishing a site for construction and operation of a rural fire district station, provided the proposed lots or tracts contain sufficient area and dimensions to meet minimum building site width and area requirements, and appropriate provisions are made for potable water supplies and sanitary wastes.
8 SHB 2517 appropriate provisions are made for potable water supplies and sanitary wastes.
(11) A division of land caused by the acquisition of a portion of an existing lot or tract by an agency with condemnation authority that is acquiring land to build an essential public facility as described in RCW 36.70A.200.
(11) A division of land caused by the acquisition of a portion of an existing lot or tract by a regional transit authority as defined in chapter 81.112 RCW that is acquiring land to build facilities as defined in RCW 81.112.020.
6.
5.
RCW 36.70B.070 and 2023 c 338 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
RCW 19.27.095 and 1991 c 281 s 27 are each amended to read as follows:
(1)(a) Within 28 days after receiving a project permit application, a local government planning pursuant to RCW 36.70A.040 shall provide a written determination to the applicant.
p.
(b) The written determination must state either:
8 HB 2517 (1) A valid and fully complete building permit application for a structure, that is permitted under the zoning or other land use control ordinances in effect on the date of the application shall be considered under the building permit ordinance in effect at the time of application, and the zoning or other land use control ordinances in effect on the date of application.
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(i) That the application is complete;
(2) The requirements for a fully completed application shall be defined by local ordinance but for any construction project costing more than ((five thousand dollars)) $5,000 the application shall include, at a minimum:
or (ii) That the application is incomplete and that the procedural submission requirements of the local government have not been met.
(a) The legal description, or the tax parcel number assigned pursuant to RCW 84.40.160, and the street address if available, and may include any other identification of the construction site by the prime contractor;
The determination shall outline what is necessary to make the application procedurally complete.
(b) The property owner's name, address, and phone number;
(c) The number of days shall be calculated by counting every calendar day.
(c) The prime contractor's business name, address, phone number, current state contractor registration number;
(d) To the extent known by the local government, the local government shall identify other agencies of local, state, or federal governments that may have jurisdiction over some aspect of the application.
and (d) Either:
(2) A project permit application is complete for purposes of this section when it meets the procedural submission requirements of the local government, as outlined on the project permit application, provided that a local government shall accept applications from a regional transit authority created under chapter 81.112 RCW regardless of whether the regional transit authority owns or has possession and use of the property subject to the application, so long as the application is otherwise complete.
(i) The name, address, and phone number of the office of the lender administering the interim construction financing, if any;
Additional information or studies may be required or project modifications may be undertaken subsequent to the procedural review of the application by the local government.
or (ii) The name and address of the firm that has issued a payment bond, if any, on behalf of the prime contractor for the protection of the owner, if the bond is for an amount not less than ((fifty)) 50 percent of the total amount of the construction project.
The determination of completeness shall not preclude the local government from requesting additional information or studies either at the time of the notice of completeness or subsequently if new information is required or substantial changes in the proposed action occur.
(3) The information required on the building permit application by subsection (2)(a) through (d) of this section shall be set forth on the building permit document ((which)) that is issued to the owner, and on the inspection record card which shall be posted at the construction site.
However, if the procedural submission requirements, as outlined on the project permit application have been provided, the p.
(4) The information required by subsection (2) of this section and information supplied by the applicant after the permit is issued under subsection (5) of this section shall be kept on record in the office where building permits are issued and made available to any person on request.
9 SHB 2517 need for additional information or studies may not preclude a completeness determination.
If a copy is requested, a reasonable charge may be made.
(3) The determination of completeness may include or be combined with the following:
(5) If any of the information required by subsection (2)(d) of this section is not available at the time the application is submitted, the applicant shall so state and the application shall be processed forthwith and the permit issued as if the information had been supplied, and the lack of the information shall not cause the p.
(a) A preliminary determination of those development regulations that will be used for project mitigation;
9 HB 2517 application to be deemed incomplete for the purposes of vesting under subsection (1) of this section.
(b) A preliminary determination of consistency, as provided under RCW 36.70B.040;
However, the applicant shall provide the remaining information as soon as the applicant can reasonably obtain such information.
(c) Other information the local government chooses to include;
(6) The limitations imposed by this section shall not restrict conditions imposed under chapter 43.21C RCW.
or (d) The notice of application pursuant to the requirements in RCW 36.70B.110.
(7) Applications submitted by a regional transit authority created under chapter 81.112 RCW for permits issued by cities and counties under the state building code shall be considered under the ordinances in effect pursuant to RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.040 at the time the board of the regional transit authority chooses the route alignment and station locations of a rail fixed guideway system.
(4)(a) An application shall be deemed procedurally complete on the 29th day after receiving a project permit application under this section if the local government does not provide a written determination to the applicant that the application is procedurally incomplete as provided in subsection (1)(b)(ii) of this section.
When the local government does not provide a written determination, they may still seek additional information or studies as provided for in subsection (2) of this section.
(b) Within 14 days after an applicant has submitted to a local government additional information identified by the local government as being necessary for a complete application, the local government shall notify the applicant whether the application is complete or what additional information is necessary.
(c) The notice of application shall be provided within 14 days after the determination of completeness pursuant to RCW 36.70B.110.
7.
6.
Section 4 of this act expires January 1, 2028.
Section 3 of this act expires January 1, 2028.
8.
7.
Section 5 of this act takes effect January 1, 2028.
Section 4 of this act takes effect January 1, 2028.
10 SHB 2517
10 HB 2517
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Action History

  1. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  2. Minority; without recommendation.

  3. Minority; do not pass.

  4. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  5. Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

  6. Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.

  7. Referred to Appropriations.

  8. Minority; without recommendation.

  9. LG - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  10. Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.

  11. Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.

  12. First reading, referred to Local Government.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 15 co-sponsors · 135 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (15)

Not signed on (135)

135 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"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

transportation
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 2517?
HB 2517 is sponsored by Chipalo Street (Democrat), Nicole Macri (Democrat), Greg Nance (Democrat), Beth Doglio (Democrat), Kristine Reeves (Democrat), Brianna Thomas (Democrat), Shaun Scott (Democrat), Liz Berry (Democrat), Shelley Kloba (Democrat), Janice Zahn (Democrat), Cindy Ryu (Democrat), Davina Duerr (Democrat), April Berg (Democrat), Larry Springer (Democrat), Julia Reed (Democrat), and Joe Fitzgibbon (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 2517?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced January 15, 2026. It now moves to the second chamber.
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