Bill to create advisory group for tourism self-assessment wins committee hearing; sponsors outline public–private funding framework

Representative Amy Wallen introduced House Bill 14 37 and the Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee opened a public hearing on Jan. 28, 2025, to take testimony from tourism industry representatives and community partners about a proposed advisory group to evaluate an industry self-supported assessment for statewide tourism promotion.

Martha Whaling, staff to the committee, summarized the bill’s core feature: the Washington Tourism Marketing Authority Board would appoint at least eight members representing tourism-sector interests to an advisory group charged with evaluating the viability of an industry self-supported assessment and recommending procedures to establish it. The advisory group’s recommendations would be due to the Legislature by November 2025.

Representative Wallen, the bill’s prime sponsor, said the goal is a sustainable…