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Bill Analysis — HB 1982, Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee (1/9/24)

Summary

House Bill Analysis of HB 1982 by the Washington State House of Representatives Office of Program Research for the Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee, with a hearing date of 1/9/24. The sponsors listed are Representatives Waters, Shavers, Ryu, Couture, Ramos and McClintock, and the brief summary is that the bill codifies the Community Economic Revitalization Board Rural Broadband Program. The background states that since 2018 the board has operated the program, which provides grants and loans to local governments and federally recognized tribes for open-access broadband infrastructure. It lists the appropriation as None and a fiscal note requested on January 3, 2024.

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“Bill Analysis — HB 1982, Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee (1/9/24).” Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2024-01-09-a31577-d263507-bill-analysis-5366ae4ef0/, SHA-256 977f41eb43100b96110b81ccf194413ff609ed069b0d055e8b42294418488b9e.

Full text

Washington State                  BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research   ANALYSIS
Innovation, Community & Economic
Development, & Veterans Committee
                                          HB 1982
Brief Description: Concerning the authority of the community economic revitalization board
     with respect to loans and grants to political subdivisions and federally recognized Indian
     tribes for broadband.

Sponsors: Representatives Waters, Shavers, Ryu, Couture, Ramos and McClintock.


                                      Brief Summary of Bill
          • Codifies the Community Economic Revitalization Board Rural
            Broadband Program.


Hearing Date: 1/9/24

Staff: Emily Poole (786-7106).

Background:

Community Economic Revitalization Board.

The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) provides financial assistance to local
governments and federally recognized tribes for public infrastructure that encourages new
business development and economic growth. The Department of Commerce provides
administrative support for the CERB. The CERB is authorized to make direct loans and grants
to political subdivisions of the state and to federally recognized tribes to finance public facilities.
Loans and grants are available for eligible broadband infrastructure projects.

Community Economic Revitalization Board Rural Broadband Program.




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

House Bill Analysis                              -1-                                           HB 1982
Since 2018, the CERB has operated a Rural Broadband Program (Program), which provides
grants and loans to local governments and federally recognized tribes for the purposes of
financing the cost to build infrastructure to provide high-speed, open-access broadband service to
rural and underserved communities for the purposes of economic development or community
development. The Program was first authorized in the 2018 Supplemental Capital Budget and
most recently received additional funding in the 2021-2023 Capital Budget.

No more than 50 percent of the funds may be awarded as grants in any biennium. Local
governments and federally recognized tribes located in rural counties or a rural community, as
defined by the CERB, may apply for the Program.

When evaluating and prioritizing projects, the CERB must consider:
  • the project's value to the community, feasibility, and readiness to proceed;
  • the commitment of local matching resources and local participation;
  • if the project uses a technology-neutral approach in order to expand access at the lowest
    cost; and
  • if the project is included in a capital facilities plan, comprehensive plan, or local economic
    development plan consistent with applicable state planning requirements.

Before any financial assistance application is approved, the local government or the federally
recognized tribe seeking the assistance must demonstrate to the CERB that no other timely
source of funding is available to it at costs reasonably similar to financing available from the
CERB.

Summary of Bill:

The CERB Rural Broadband Program is codified.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 3, 2024.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.




House Bill Analysis                             -2-                                         HB 1982

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