Bill would shift digital‑equity leadership to Office of Equity; advocates urge coordination with broadband buildout

The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee heard House Bill 1503, a proposal to shift responsibilities for digital equity from the Department of Commerce and the Washington State Broadband Office to the governor’s Office of Equity and to codify a statewide digital equity plan and related duties.

Committee staff summarized the measure: digital equity — defined in statute as the condition in which individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in society, democracy and the economy — would become an explicit purpose of the State Broadband Office. The Office of Equity would take the lead on outreach, development and oversight of a statutory digital equity plan, and would receive data from the State Broadband Office on broadband adoption and programs. The bill requires the Office of Equity to support the Digital Equity Forum and to update the plan every four years; it also calls for reviewing and updating state minimum speed goals by…