HOUSE BILL REPORT
ESHB 1125
As Amended by the Senate
Title: An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.
Brief Description: Making transportation appropriations for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium and the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.
Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Fey, Lekanoff, Timmons, Paul, Wylie and Donaghy; by request of Office of Financial Management).
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Transportation: 1/12/23, 1/18/23, 3/27/23, 3/29/23 [DPS].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 4/3/23, 96-1.
Senate Amended.
Passed Senate: 4/5/23, 42-6.
Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill
  • Makes biennial transportation appropriations for the 2023-25 biennium.
  • Modifies existing transportation appropriations for 2019-21 biennium.
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by 29 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; Robertson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Berry, Bronoske, Chapman, Cortes, Dent, Doglio, Duerr, Entenman, Goehner, Griffey, Hackney, Klicker, Mena, Orcutt, Ramel, Ramos, Schmidt, Taylor, Volz, Walsh and Wylie.
Staff: Amy Skei (786-7109).
Background:

The state government operates on a fiscal biennium that begins July 1 of each odd-numbered year.  Supplemental budgets are typically enacted in each of the following two years after adoption of the biennial budget.  Appropriations are made in the biennial and supplemental transportation budgets for the operation and capital expenses of state transportation agencies and programs.
Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill:

Appropriations totaling $13.2 billion are made for state transportation agencies and programs for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium from a number of transportation accounts.  Capital-related appropriations total $7.0 billion, and operating-related appropriations total $6.2 billion.  Appropriations for the fiscal biennium include:  $9.8 billion for the Washington State Department of Transportation; $1.8 billion for debt service; $646 million for the Washington State Patrol; and $418 million for the Department of Licensing.  Fund transfers and other provisions are made.  Additional detail can be found at fiscal.wa.gov.

 

Appropriations are adjusted for state transportation agencies and programs for the 2021-23 fiscal biennium.  Overall appropriations are reduced by $1.9 billion from $12.2 billion to $10.3 billion.  Capital-related appropriations are reduced by $1.8 billion, and operating-related appropriations are reduced by $52 million.  Fund transfers and other provisions are adjusted.
EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENT(S):

The Senate amendment makes changes to appropriated levels and other provisions for the 2021-23 and 2023-25 fiscal biennia.
Appropriation: The bill contains multiple appropriations. Please refer to the bill and supporting documents.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

Please refer to the January 12, 2023 and January 18, 2023 recordings of the public hearings on the original bill.


Please refer to the March 27, 2023 recording of the public hearing on the proposed substitute bill.
Persons Testifying: Hearing Dates January 12, 2023, and January 18, 2023
(In support of original bill) Representative Jake Fey, prime sponsor; Jane Wall, County Road Administration Board; Noelani Derrickson, Tesla; Heidi Sickler, British Patroleum Pulse Fleet; Genesee Adkins, City of Bellevue, Isaac Kastama, Clean and Prosperous Washington; Orville Thomas, CALSTART; Dawit Habte, Afar Trucking, Inc. and African Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest; Leah Missik, Climate Solutions; Andrea Pratt, Volvo Group North America; Cristina Mateo, Washington Build Back Black Alliance; Kevin Maggay, Navistar; and Geoffrey Thomas, City of Monroe.
(Opposed to the original bill) Katherine Ross, City of Snoqualmie; and Diana Wilhite.
(Other testimony on the original bill) Mary Paterson; Lael White, Climate Rail Alliance; Angela Birney, City of Redmond; Thomas White; David Garlington, City of Sequim; Ron Allen, James Town S'Klallam Tribe; Mark Ozias, Clallam County; Debora Munguia, Mason County; Dick Marzano, The Northwest Seaport Alliance; Bill Moyer, Solutionary Rail; Bill Adamson, South Sound Military and Communities Partnership Program; Marc Daily, Thurston Regional Planning Council; David Troutt, Nisqually Indian Tribe; Josh Deikmann, City of Tacoma; Arvia Morris; Brent McFarlane, Puget Sound Advocates for Retirement Action; Sharon Abreu, Irthlingz Arts-Based Environmental Education; Bobby Whittaker; Tim Gould; Mike Ennis, Association of Washington Businesses; Sheri Call, Washington Trucking Association; Jerry VanderWood, Associated General Contractors; Breean Beggs, City of Spokane; Victor Bishop, Eastside Transportation Association; Jodie Alberts, Bellevue Chamber of Commerce; Kristina Hudson, OneRedmond; Licett Garbe, Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce; Mariya Frost, Kemper Development Company; Nadine Woodward, City of Spokane Office of the Mayor; Cheryl Stewart, Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors; Jesse Bank, Northeast Public Development Authority; Amber Waldref, Spokane County; Mark Riker, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council; Rob Wotton, City of Snoqualmie; Ben Lane, Eastside Fire and Rescue; and Mark Rigos, City of North Bend.

Hearing Date March 27, 2023
(In support of proposed substitute bill) Representative Jake Fey, prime sponsor; Justin Leighton, Washington State Transit Association; Lacey Jane Wolfe, City of Bellevue; Ryan Mello, Pierce County Council, District 4; Axel Straklejahn, Port of Bremerton; Heidi Sickler, British Petroleum Pulse Fleet; Isaac Kastama and Michael Mann, Clean and Prosperous Washington; Paula Sardinas, Washington Build Back Black Alliance; Leah Missik, Climate Solutions; Lisa Janicki, Skagit County Public Works Department; Wes Stewart, Sierra Club Washington State; Axel Swanson, Washington State Association of County Engineers; Mark Riker, Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council; Dan West, Rivian; Jeff Gombosky, Tesla Motors; Adam Browning; Brandy DeLange, Association of Washington Cities; Jaimini Parekh, Earthjustice; Elizabeth Szulc, CALSTART; and Chris Herman, Washington Public Ports Association.

(Opposed to the proposed substitute bill) None.

(Other testimony on the substitute bill) Mary Paterson; Thomas White; Lael White; Brent McFarlane; Pat Reay, Port of Walla Walla; Ki Bealey and Elizabeth Chamberlain, City of Walla Walla; Tim Gould; Arvia Morris; Sean Kelly, City of Maple Valley; Dana Schutter, Eastside Fire and Rescue; Kelly Coughlin, SnoValley Chamber of Commerce; Jeremy Tillunger, Via Transport; Anji Jorstad, City of Lake Stevens; Mike Ennis, Association of Washington Business; Lisa McShane, American Rivers; James Paribello, Save Our Wild Salmon; Amber Carter, Portland Vancouver Junction Railroad; Michael Transue, Drivewyze; and Brock Howell.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: Hearing Dates January 12, 2023, and January 18, 2023 on original bill
Michael Mann, Clean and Prosperous Washington; Tracey Whitten, City of Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment; Michael White, King County; Axel Swanson, Washington State Association of County Engineers; Colin Lay, Kenworth; Preston Dwoskin; Don Schwerin; Chris Herman, Washington Public Ports Association; Brandy DeLange, Association of Washington Cities; Dawn Sonntag, Stop the Airport; Michael Transue, Tacoma Pierce County Chamber, City of Fife; Greg Johnson, Wright Runstad and Company; Samantha St. John, Kirkland Chamber of Commerce; Edna Shim, Seattle Children's Hospital; Sean Kelly, City of Maple Valley; and Stanford Le, Snoqualmie Casino.

Hearing Date March 27, 2023 on proposed substitute bill
None.