HB1722– Requires cities and towns to allow microtrenching for fiber optic cables.
Prime Sponsor – Representative Boehnke (D; 8th District; Tri-Cities) (Co-Sponsor Representative Paul-D)
Current status – Scheduled for a hearing in the Committee on Local Government Wednesday January 26th at 10:00 AM.
Next step would be – Action by the committee.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.
SB5775 is a companion bill in the Senate.

Summary –
The bill would require cities and towns to allow microtrenching for installing fiber optic cable, unless they makes a written finding that allowing it would inconvenience the public use of the right-of-way or adversely affect public health, safety, and welfare. (A microtrench for conduit is no more than four inches wide and between 12 inches and 26 inches deep; they could be shallower if the jurisdiction and the installer agreed to that.) Jurisdictions could charge fees to cover their costs for issuing permits and inspections.