This bill amends existing election and municipal code provisions to let cities, towns, and special purpose districts that hold elections under state law choose to move their regular local general elections from odd-numbered years to even-numbered years. It primarily modifies RCW 29A.04.330 and amends multiple related RCWs (including 35.17.020, 35.18.270, 35.23.051, 35.27.090, 35.30.080, 35A.02.050, 3.50.040, and 3.50.050) to reflect the change. These are procedural changes to election timing, nomination and term schedules, and special election calling rules rather than the creation of a new crime or penalty. The bill establishes how a jurisdiction may adopt the change (by ordinance or policy after two public hearings at least 30 days apart; by voter approval of an ordinance or charter amendment referred by the legislative body; or by voter initiative or charter amendment where applicable). An ordinance or policy must be adopted by January 15 of an odd-numbered year to begin transition that year. Transition requires electing each position to one specified transitional term that is either one year shorter or one year longer than otherwise provided; after the transitional term, regular even‑year elections resume and normal term lengths return. The change must apply to all elected positions in the jurisdiction. The bill also preserves specified exceptions (for example, recall elections and certain district and school measures), sets authorized special-election dates and filing deadlines, allows emergency special elections for levies or bonds with some timing restrictions, and provides a process to revert to odd‑year elections if the ordinance or charter amendment is repealed. Other amendments clarify local government structures and terms: in second-class cities council positions are numbered with position seven serving a two-year term and positions one through six serving four-year terms and detailed ward and redistricting rules are provided; reorganization and initial-term rules for council-members and mayors are adjusted depending on whether elections occur in odd or even years; the municipal judge position may be made elective by ordinance with qualifications matching appointment standards and term timing can be modified to comply with the election-timing provisions. The act names affected entities (cities, towns, special purpose districts, county auditors, municipal courts, and voters). Some text is missing or incomplete in the extracted material (including portions of the amendments to RCW 35.27.090, 35.30.080, 35A.02.050, 3.50.040, and 3.50.050 and the end of certain sentences), and the full content of newly created sections referenced in the bill is not available here. The act also includes a funding contingency: if specific funding for the act is not included in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 2025, the act is null and void.

If enacted, local governments would gain a formal option to move their regular municipal elections into even-numbered years, which would likely raise voter turnout for those offices and could reduce per-election administrative costs by aligning with statewide elections, but it also forces one-time adjustments to every elected official’s term (a specified single transitional year that can be one year shorter or longer). Cities, towns, special purpose districts, and county auditors would face new procedural steps and deadlines—public hearing requirements, an ordinance adoption deadline (Jan. 15 of an odd-numbered year to begin transition that year), and detailed special‑election scheduling rules—so election planning, staffing, and short-term budget timing would change; incumbents, candidates, and voters would need to accommodate altered term lengths and election timing. The bill also changes how some cities structure councils and wards (including a designated two-year position and ward voting rules), lets municipal judges be made elective with four‑year terms (subject to election-year adjustments), and requires cities to pay a pro rata share if a district judge serves as their municipal judge (the text about that payment is incomplete here). Important details are missing from the extracted text—several amended sections and the municipal judge provisions are cut off—and there is a fiscal contingency: if the act is not specifically funded in the omnibus appropriations act by June 30, 2025, the act becomes null and void, creating a clear funding and implementation risk.