SB 6309 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Providing for enhanced municipal permitting tools for high capacity transit projects.

SB 6309 streamlines permitting for regional transit authorities (like Sound Transit) to build high-capacity rail projects. It allows transit agencies to apply for land use and construction permits before acquiring property, and to exceed local height/setback rules for rail facilities if practicable. The bill also requires local governments to accept complete permit applications from transit authorities regardless of property ownership status, and sets specific application requirements for projects over $5,000. This directly affects transit projects and local permitting processes by accelerating project timelines and reducing bureaucratic hurdles for rail infrastructure.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 26, 2026 Signed Mar 23, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and passed by both chambers of the Washington State Legislature. The text includes new certification pages confirming the bill's passage and adds a new section to the law allowing regional transit authorities to apply for permits before buying land, provided they notify property owners. The bill also clarifies that transit projects can exceed local height and setback limits if feasible, and exempts transit land acquisitions from certain subdivision laws.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded by adding a new section (Section 3) that grants regional transit authorities the ability to seek land use and construction permits prior to acquiring the necessary real property, streamlining the development process for high-capacity transit projects.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a new provision allowing regional transit authorities to apply for land use and construction permits before purchasing the land on which facilities will be built, as long as they provide proof of notice to property owners.

REQUIREMENT

Modified the requirements for development agreements with regional transit authorities to exclude compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act from the ability to vary development standards.

Updated the rules for rail fixed guideway systems to allow construction that exceeds local height and setback limits, provided the authority complies with regulations to the extent practicable.

TIMELINE

Adjusted the effective and expiration dates of the act, changing the expiration date to January 1, 2028, and the effective date to January 1, 2028.

EXEMPTIONS

Added a new exemption for land divisions caused by regional transit authorities acquiring land to build facilities, removing them from certain subdivision laws.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026

How they voted

32–19

Passed

Total votes 51

Mar 10, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

1 Yea 19 Nay

95% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 23, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments.

upper

Mar 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.

lower

Mar 4, 2026

House · Passed

House Vote: pass (57-39-4)

house

Feb 25, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

LG - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 9, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.

upper

Jan 29, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors