Transportation and Infrastructure Cutoff

Bills that made it through the house of origin cutoff:

HB 2384 will expand local authority to utilize automated traffic safety cameras. WSACE testified in committee in support of the bill and its companion SB 5959. The bill provides a local option for counties to use technology to reduce speeding, decrease accidents, and pay for safety improvements. On Monday, it passed the House with a divided vote of 58 to 39. It’s now scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee next Tuesday, February 20th.

The bill was amended to reflect a change we requested for cameras in county road work zones. We are currently working on some other suggestions for technical and administrative changes to make the program more practical for counties to implement.

SB 6040 aims to ensure prompt payment to subcontractors, a policy goal that WSACE supports. We testified initially with concerns on the original bill. Our primary concerns were that it was unclear who was responsible for the prompt payment, the contractor or the county, and that language requiring payment within “30 days after the work is accepted” would have caused some confusion. Generally, payments are made based on progress estimates prepared by the agency and agreed to by the contractor and not at “acceptance,” which usually occurs when the project is 100% complete. Following a stakeholder meeting, the sponsor introduced a substitute bill that clarified the language.

The substitute was amended on the Senate floor prior to passage, and we are now evaluating the bill’s applicability to local government. It’s been referred to the House Capital Budget Committee.

HB 1976 We support this bill which authorizes the Department of Commerce to provide higher incentives under the Early Adoption Incentive program for buildings that comply with the State Energy Performance Standard. It passed the House unanimously, had a hearing this week in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, and is scheduled for executive session on the 20th.

SHB 1870 We support this bill which creates a state pool of matching funds and aims to provide technical assistance for local jurisdictions submitting applications for federal grants. It passed the House unanimously and is scheduled for a public hearing and executive session in the Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee on the 20th.

HB 1982 We support this bill which authorizes the Community Economic Revitalization Board to make broadband loans and grants to governmental entities in rural and underserved areas for the purpose of economic or community development. It passed the House unanimously, had a hearing this week in the Senate, and is scheduled for executive session in the Senate Business, Financial Services, Gaming & Trade Committee on February 20th.

Bills that failed to make it through cutoff:

HB 2451 would have limited the amount counties can increase impact fees to the Consumer Price Index, impeding our ability to pay for Capital Facilities Plan projects. WSACE testified opposed to the bill which failed to make it out of the House Local Government Committee.

SB 6285 would have arbitrarily capped the amount of impact fees paid for any one project at 50% and included a new requirement that fees be spent within five years instead of ten, which is inconsistent with current project delivery timelines. WSACE testified opposed to the bill, which failed to make it out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

SB 5770 would have replaced the arbitrary 1% property tax cap on county revenue with a local option percentage increase tied to the rate of inflation up to 3%. The original bill, with a different limit factor, was heard in the Senate Ways and Means Committee during the second week of session. WSACE testified alongside other county and local jurisdiction partners in support. We highlighted the structural deficit the cap has created between county revenues and expenses and the damage it has caused to the county transportation system. The bill failed to pass the Senate prior to cutoff.

SB 5133 would have added to apprenticeship utilization criteria contractors must meet in order to qualify as responsive bidders on public works projects. WSACE testified with other local partners expressing concerns focused on the timing of these new requirements. HB 1050, which created a new statewide apprenticeship utilization program, passed just last session, and we are actively training county staff on the requirements. Changing the criteria so soon, in our view, was untimely. The bill failed to make it out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Capital and Transportation Budget hearings:

SB 5949 Concerning the capital budget. The proposed Senate Supplemental Capital Budget was heard on Thursday in the Ways & Means Committee. WSACE testified in support of the bill highlighting its additional $22 million for fish barrier removal projects and $1 million for broadband technical assistance.

HB 2134 Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. The proposed House Supplemental Transportation Budget will be heard in the House Transportation Committee on Monday, February 19th.

HB 2089 Concerning the capital budget. The proposed House Supplemental Capital Budget will be heard in the House Capital Budget Committee on Tuesday, February 20th.

SB 5947 Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. The proposed Senate Supplemental Transportation Budget will be heard in the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday, February 21st.