H-0071.2
HOUSE BILL 1517
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Gregerson, Ryu, Doglio, Peterson, Reed, Ormsby, Parshley, Macri, and Hill
Read first time 01/22/25. Referred to Committee on Finance.
AN ACT Relating to providing a revenue stream to fund digital equity programs; amending RCW 82.32.145 ; adding a new section to chapter 82.08 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28A.650 RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 82 RCW; creating a new section; prescribing penalties; providing an effective date; providing an expiration date; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. INTENT. The legislature finds that the Washington state digital equity plan documents the findings in this section.
The legislature finds that many Washingtonians do not have access to adequate and affordable internet or internet-connected devices, making them unable to participate fully online. The legislature finds that connectivity to the internet enables residents to access school, work, job training, elder care and connections, faith programs, health care, farming resources, civic participation, and much more. The legislature finds that this digital inequity affects communities all over the state, including frontier, rural, urban, and suburban areas, and tribal lands.