Senate Bill Report, SB 6149 — Definition of Rural County for Public Facilities Funding (January 28, 2026)
Summary
Senate Bill Report on SB 6149, as of January 28, 2026, for the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development, with committee activity listed as 1/28/26. The brief summary says the bill defines a county with a population density of 100 persons per square mile or greater, with no city with a population greater than 75,000 persons, as a rural county. The background describes the current definition as a county with a population density less than 100 persons per square mile or a county smaller than 225 square miles. The PRO testimony says Cowlitz County has lost its rural county classification, and Senator Jeff Wilson is listed as Prime Sponsor. The effective date is ninety days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Senate Bill Report, SB 6149 — Definition of Rural County for Public Facilities Funding (January 28, 2026).”
Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2026-02-04-a33831-d295389-6149-sbr-bte-ta-26-b7ae65b649/
, SHA-256 94696c4f717f5e1f5e118082680163bb24fc185e236c964ae0c00c0ed3cd4512.Full text
SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6149
As of January 28, 2026
Title: An act relating to the definition of "rural county" for purposes of public facilities funding.
Brief Description: Concerning the definition of "rural county" for purposes of public facilities
funding.
Sponsors: Senators Wilson, J., Dozier, Short and Chapman.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Business, Trade & Economic Development: 1/28/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
• Defines a county with a population density of 100 persons per square
mile or greater, with no city with a population greater than 75,000
persons, as a rural county.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Staff: William Bridges (786-7312)
Background: A rural county is defined as a county with a population density less than 100
persons per square mile or a county smaller than 225 square miles, as determined by the
Office of Financial Management. Several statutes use this definition for tax and other
assistance programs, including but not limited to statutes referencing public facilities loans
and grants, the coordination of community and economic development services, and excise
taxes. As of 2025, there are 27 rural counties.
Summary of Bill: The definition of rural county is changed. In addition to the current
definition of rural county, a county with a population density of 100 persons per square mile
or greater, with no city with a population greater than 75,000 persons, is also defined as a
rural county.
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.
Senate Bill Report -1- SB 6149
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 14, 2026.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Cowlitz County is a rural county and its
growth is occurring in one urban center. This has caused Cowlitz County to lose its rural
county classification, which means it is no longer eligible for many economic development
programs.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Jeff Wilson, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.
Senate Bill Report -2- SB 6149
File and source
- File
- 2026-02-04_a33831_d295389_6149-sbr-bte-ta-26.pdf
- Size
- 36,925 bytes
- SHA-256
- 94696c4f717f5e1f5e118082680163bb24fc185e236c964ae0c00c0ed3cd4512
- Original
- No public link identified.