HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 6229
As Passed House:
February 28, 2024
Title: An act relating to modifying match requirements for the green transportation capital grant program.
Brief Description: Modifying match requirements for the green transportation capital grant program.
Sponsors: Senators Shewmake, Cleveland, King, Holy, Liias, Lovick and Nobles.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 2/22/24, 2/26/24 [DP].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/28/24, 74-21.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Allows the Washington State Department of Transportation to determine the required match for the Green Transportation Capital Grant Program.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by 24 members:Representatives Fey, Chair; Donaghy, Vice Chair; Paul, Vice Chair; Timmons, Vice Chair; Barkis, Ranking Minority Member; Hutchins, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Low, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Berry, Bronoske, Chapman, Cortes, Dent, Doglio, Duerr, Entenman, Hackney, Klicker, Mena, Nance, Orcutt, Ramel, Ramos, Schmidt and Wylie.
Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by 4 members:Representatives Goehner, Griffey, Volz and Walsh.
Staff: Michael Hirsch (786-7195).
Background:

The Green Transportation Capital Grant Program (GTCGP) was created by the Legislature in the 2019 Legislative Session and is administered by the Public Transportation Division at the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to aid local transit authorities in funding cost-effective capital projects to reduce the carbon intensity of the Washington transportation system.  Projects eligible for funding by the GTCGP include:

  • fleet electrification and hydrogen refueling;
  • facilities that support fleet electrification including construction of charging or fueling stations;
  • upgrades to electrical transmissions and distribution systems; and
  • staff directly managing construction or procurement projects and acquisition of property rights for capital projects.

 

The WSDOT's Public Transportation Division identifies projects and submits a prioritized list of all projects requesting funding to the Legislature by December 1 of each even-numbered year.

 

To receive GTCGP funding for a project, a transit authority must provide matching funding of at least 20 percent of the total cost of the project.
Summary of Bill:

The match requirement for each GTCGP project is set at the level deemed appropriate by the WSDOT.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) This bill improves access to funding for small and rural transit agencies.  Smaller agencies do not have the funds for a 20 percent match.  The bill aligns the GTCGP with other grant programs.

 

(Opposed) None.
Persons Testifying:

Justin Leighton, Washington State Transit Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying:

Jeannette Mcchesney.