Committee Hears Bill to Create Statewide Economic Development and Competitiveness Plan

Senator Claudia Kaufman (47th Legislative District) introduced Substitute Senate Bill 6,289 and asked the Technology, Economic Development and Veterans Committee to support a statewide economic development and competitiveness strategic plan that would be produced by the Department of Commerce.

"This helps to build and bring together efforts under 1 statewide strategy so that we can be more intentional, more coordinated, and more effective," Kaufman said, urging the committee’s support for a data-driven plan that sets clear goals and implementation steps.

Martha Whaling, staff to the committee, told members the bill directs Commerce to develop the plan by 2027-06-30 and to update it every five years, with minimum plan content described in the bill analysis. Whaling also noted an amendment (WALE 402) sponsored by Representative Ryu that changes the update cycle from every two years to every five years.

Suzanne Dale Estee, identified as executive director of the Washington Economic Development Association, testified in support and urged adequate funding for implementation. "It is absolutely critical that we get this plan established and that the commerce department has sufficient resources to implement a thoughtfully crafted, collaboratively developed strategic plan," she said, warning that OEDC funding was cut nearly 50% last session and asking that the plan not be funded solely from existing Commerce resources.

Andrea Chartock, Assistant Director at the Department of Commerce leading the Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness (OEDC), described the agency’s convening role and said the governor’s budget does not delineate the full cost of the proposed work. "We have been successful in attracting nearly $8,000,000,000 in capital investment to Washington in the past 5 years," Chartock said, and she supported the amendment to move updates to a five-year cycle to reduce fiscal pressure.

Committee members asked staff to update the fiscal note so appropriations would see realistic costs and questioned why the plan is being proposed now given budget pressures. Staff and the sponsor said the plan is intended to make the state more competitive, to better coordinate existing efforts, and to prepare industries and workers for shifts including those driven by tariffs and AI.

The hearing closed without a committee vote; staff said the fiscal note could be updated for appropriations review. The bill record indicates additional work with stakeholders and periodic check-ins with the committee would be expected if the measure advances.