WA SB5251

Amends RCW 67.28.1816 governing how municipalities may use lodging tax revenues for tourism marketing, special events, and tourism-related facility operations and capital expenditures

Requires applicants for lodging tax funds to estimate how funding will increase travelers staying overnight in paid accommodations, traveling 50+ miles, or visiting from out of state or country

Mandates that municipalities with populations of 5,000 or more route applications through local lodging tax advisory committees, which select candidates and recommend funding amounts for final municipal approval

Requires all funding recipients to report actual tourism impact numbers to the municipality, which must share reports with the legislative body, public, joint legislative audit and review committee, and advisory committee members

Exempts counties with populations of 1,500,000 or more from these application and reporting requirements