SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5947
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Transportation, February 23, 2024
Title: An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.
Brief Description: Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.
Sponsors: Senators Liias, King, Keiser, Nobles and Trudeau; by request of Office of Financial Management.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/09/24, 2/21/24, 2/23/24 [DPS, DNP].
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Makes supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2023-25 fiscal biennium.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5947 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Liias, Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Shewmake, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Holy, Assistant Ranking Member; Cleveland, Fortunato, Hansen, Hawkins, Kauffman, Lovelett, Nobles, Valdez, Wilson, C. and Wilson, J..
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senator Padden.
Staff: Brandon Popovac (786-7465)
Background:

The operating and capital expenses of state transportation agencies and programs are funded on a biennial basis by an omnibus transportation budget adopted by the Legislature in odd-numbered years.  Supplemental budgets may be adopted during the biennium, making various modifications to agency appropriations.
Summary of Bill:

The bill as referred to committee not considered.
Summary of Bill (First Substitute):

The 2023-25 appropriations for various state transportation agencies and programs are modified.
 
Budget summary materials can be found in the non SCS tab in the committee materials for the public hearing.
EFFECT OF CHANGES MADE BY TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE (First Substitute):

Various provisions with differing fiscal impacts were added as committee amendments, resulting in a net decrease of $21.6 million in the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.
Appropriation: Various.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Original Bill (January 9, 2024):

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  Please refer to the January 9, 2024 recording of the public hearing on the Senate Transportation Committee Schedules, Agendas & Documents website at: https://app.leg.wa.gov/committeeschedules/#//TRAN/////year
Persons Testifying (January 9, 2024):

PRO: Senator Marko Liias, Prime Sponsor; Jane Wall, County Road Administration Board; Melanie Bacon, Island County; Lynne Robinson, City of Bellevue Mayor; Jane Fuller, San Juan County Council.

CON: Mary Paterson.

OTHER: Kati Durkin, Washington Federation of State Employees; Breck Lebegue; Sean Eagan, The Northwest Seaport Alliance; Thomas White; Lael White, Climate Rail Alliance; Carolyn Logue, South Sound Chamber of Commerce Legislative Coalition; Tim Gould; Chris Herman, Washington Public Ports Association.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (January 9, 2024): No one.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Proposed Substitute (February 21, 2024):

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  Please refer to the February 21, 2024 recording of the public hearing on the Senate Transportation Committee Schedules, Agendas & Documents website at: https://app.leg.wa.gov/committeeschedules/#//TRAN/////year
Persons Testifying (February 21, 2024): 

PRO: Senator Marko Liias, Prime Sponsor; Justin Leighton, Washington State Transit Association; Vicky Clarke, Washington Bikes; Kirk Hovenkotter, Transportation Choices Coalition; Mike Rosen, City of Edmonds; Cindy Wolf, San Juan County; Axel Swanson, Washington State Association of County Engineers; Brandy DeLange, Association of Washington Cities; Lilly Hayward, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce; Scott Richards, The Nature Conservancy.

CON: Armondo Pavone, Mayor, City of Renton; Bill Moyer, Solutionary Rail; Michael Transue, Tacoma Pierce County Chamber; Sean Eagan, The Northwest Seaport Alliance; Carolyn Logue, South Sound Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition; Mary Paterson.
OTHER: Breck Lebegue, WA Physicians for Social Responsibility; Jane Wall, County Road Administration Board; Regan Bolli, Covington City Manager; Lael White, Climate Rail Alliance; Will Knedlik, BadRoads.US; Arvia Morris; Isaac Kastama, Clean and Prosperous Washington; Leah Missik, Climate Solutions; Thomas White, Climate Rail Alliance; Tim Gould.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (February 21, 2024):  No one.