Concerning fire protection districts.

SB 6037 allows cities and towns in Washington to form fire protection districts with boundaries matching their city limits, replacing their municipal fire departments for fire prevention, suppression, and emergency medical services. Cities must submit a detailed financing plan showing property tax impacts and voter approval (simple majority or 60% for benefit charges) before creating such districts. For districts formed before July 1, 2026, cities must reduce their own property tax levies by the district’s proposed tax amount; for districts formed on or after that date, city tax rates are capped based on existing state law. This bill directly affects cities/towns seeking to transfer fire services to a dedicated district, requiring transparency about tax changes and voter consent.