SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5160
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Transportation, March 27, 2025
Title: An act relating to transportation funding and appropriations.
Brief Description: Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium. [Revised for 1st Substitute: Concerning additive transportation funding and appropriations.]
Sponsors: Senators Liias, King and Nobles; by request of Office of Financial Management.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 3/25/25, 3/27/25 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].
Brief Summary of First Substitute Bill
  • Makes additive transportation appropriations for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.
  • States the Legislature's intent representing a commitment to provide appropriations to identified agencies, programs, and activities through fiscal year 2031. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5160 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.
Signed by Senators Liias, Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Ramos, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Goehner, Assistant Ranking Member; Alvarado, Chapman, Cortes, Fortunato, Harris, Krishnadasan, Lovelett, Nobles, Shewmake and Valdez.
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senator Christian.
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senators MacEwen and Wilson, J..
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):

Additive transportation appropriations are made for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium.  The appropriations reflect the 2025-2027 portion of the Legislature's intended funding levels specified in LEAP Transportation Document NL-2025-A as developed March 24, 2025, representing a commitment to provide appropriations to the agencies, programs, and activities at the amounts identified through fiscal year 2031. 

 

Budget summary materials can be found in the 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 increase of $1 million in the 2025-2027 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 First Substitute:

The committee recommended a different version of the bill than what was heard.  Please refer to the March 25, 2025 recording of the public hearing on the Senate Transportation Committee Schedules, Agendas & Documents website at https://app.leg.wa.gov/committeeschedules/#//TRAN/.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Marko Liias, Prime Sponsor; Justin Leighton, Washington State Transit Association; Matt Ransom, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council; Tom McBride, Kitsap County.
CON: Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist.
OTHER: Mary Paterson.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.