This bill adds a new section to chapter 43.21C RCW creating a categorical exemption from that chapter for certain decisions to develop or extend a trail or path. In other words, it establishes a procedural change by exempting qualifying trail or path projects from the environmental review requirements of chapter 43.21C and from city or county ordinances or regulations that would impose equivalent requirements, rather than creating a new crime or penalty. The exemption applies only if the proposed new trail, path, or extension has a surface area of 10 acres or less, is located in whole or in part on a railroad right-of-way designated for interim trail use under 16 U.S.C. §1247, and is within a city with a population of 500,000 or more. Projects using the exemption must post notice on the property at both ends and in the middle for at least 30 days before the action that will give final approval, request meaningful consultation with any potentially affected federally recognized tribe at the earliest possible date before applying for a state or local license, and notify the tribe by at least two methods including mail. If the tribe does not initiate consultation within 90 days of receipt of the written notice, the exemption takes effect; if consultation is initiated but no agreement is reached, the parties must enter mediation. The exemption explicitly includes utility and support infrastructure for trails and paths and excludes unrelated infrastructure improvements. “Extension” and the terms “trail” and “path” are tied to RCW 47.30.005, and the section is stated to be additional to, not an amendment of, categorical exemptions adopted by rule under RCW 43.21C.110(1)(a). The bill affects large cities (500,000+), counties and cities insofar as their ordinances might be preempted, applicants for state or local licenses for such trails, federally recognized tribes that may be potentially affected, and entities involved with interim trail-use railroad rights-of-way. The text provided leaves several implementation details unspecified, including what specific “action that will give final approval” triggers the 30-day posting, what exactly counts as “earliest possible date” for consultation, how “receipt” of tribal notice is determined, what methods beyond mail satisfy the two-methods requirement, how “may be potentially affected” and “meaningful consultation” are defined, and which population estimate determines the 500,000-city threshold.

If enacted, the bill would let cities with 500,000+ people move forward more quickly on new or extended trails and paths that are on interim railroad rights-of-way and cover 10 acres or less by removing the need for state environmental review and similar local permit requirements. Project sponsors would still have to post notice on the property for at least 30 days and seek early, documented consultation with any affected federally recognized tribe; basic trail support work like crossings, lighting, signage, and drainage is covered by the exemption, but unrelated infrastructure is not. The most affected parties are applicants (public agencies or developers) who would likely face lower review costs and faster approvals, and large cities and counties that would lose some permitting authority over these specific trail projects. Federally recognized tribes would be required to be notified by at least two methods and would have 90 days to start consultation or the exemption takes effect, which could reduce tribes’ leverage to use environmental review to delay projects and may lead to mediation if agreement isn’t reached. Key implementation details are unclear from the text—such as what exactly starts the 30‑day posting clock, what counts as “receipt” of tribal notice, and how “earliest possible date” for consultation is determined—so those uncertainties could cause disputes or delays in practice.