Committee holds public hearing on expanding digital equity duties to Office of Equity, shifting some broadband responsibilities

The Technology, Economic Development and Veterans Committee held a public hearing Jan. 31 on House Bill 1503, a bill to expand Washington's digital-equity efforts and reassign certain duties from the state Broadband Office to the Office of Equity.

Committee staff Emily Pool briefed members, explaining that HB 1503 would expand the Broadband Office’s purpose to include digital equity while reassigning some outreach and plan-development duties to the Office of Equity. The Office of Equity would be required to develop and monitor implementation of the state digital equity plan, provide staff support to the Digital Equity Forum, and submit a progress report by Dec. 1, 2026; the office would also submit a revised digital equity plan every two years. The bill updates the state's definitions for broadband service and sets new broadband goals for 2028, 2030 and 2032.

Representativ…