Official Text and Analysis.

If possible, the retroactive credit must be issued using an online process or as part of the regular motor vehicle excise tax payment process.

Removes section 5 of the bill that modified payment of an RTA offset fee to begin only after the RTA has adopted a resolution affirming the fee would not impact delivery of an RTA system plan approved in 2016.

In regard to RTA projects approved by voters after January 1, 2016, requires cities, counties, and the Department of Transportation to take all reasonable, feasible, and lawful measures necessary to facilitate preparation and processing of any required permits as soon as practicable with the goal of issuing land use permit decisions within one hundred twenty days of submittal. Requires cities, counties, and the Department of Transportation to participate early in any project preferred alternative selection process for RTA projects approved by voters after January 1, 2016. Requires an RTA to submit biennial reports to the transportation committees of the legislature on the status of permit timelines and the effectiveness of the permits changes in this amendment in expediting the permitting process for RTA projects approved by voters after January 1, 2016.

(1) Removes section 5 of the bill that modified payment of an RTA offset fee to begin only after the RTA has adopted a resolution affirming the fee would not impact delivery of an RTA system plan approved in 2016. (2) Adds language stating an RTA must make expenditure reductions equal to $518 million from expenditures to include salaries, rent, opening ceremonies, and other expenditures not directly related to the delivery of the system plan.

(1) Adjusts the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax (MVET) credit program and changes the amount of an MVET credit to be the difference between the current MVET and an assumed MVET of 0.5 percent based on base model Kelley Blue Book values or National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) values, whichever is lower. (2) Requires Department of Licensing (DOL) to only contract with an RTA for collection of a MVET if it has implemented a credit program, and any contract with an RTA must provide the Department of Licensing with full cost recovery. (3) Except for the property tax authorized in RCW 81.104.175 and project schedule adjustments, the MVAP may be funded by any resources available to the authority. (4) Requires the bill to be construed to preclude a Regional Transit Authority from defeasing bonds.

If the cost to complete a regional transit system plan approved by voters in 2016 increases beyond $54 billion, or any significant additions or subtractions of projects or scope are made, an RTA must seek approval from RTA voters to expend funds beyond $54 billion. Once an RTA has expended 80 percent of the $54 billion, an independent auditor shall determine if the cost to complete will be above $54 billion, or projects have changed, and thus trigger the need for voter approval to complete the system plan projects.

RTA property taxes may be nullified through a city or county voter-approved proposition.

Changes the board of a Regional Transit Authority (RTA) from appointed to elected. An RTA may only contract with the Department of Licensing for the collection of a motor vehicle excise tax if the RTA has a directly elected board.

Removes provision that states that county permits do not apply to voter-approved RTA projects in an unincorporated part of a county.

An RTA is prohibited from eliminating bus rapid transit or light rail projects from the system plan approved by the authority's voters in 2016.