SENATE BILL REPORT
ESSB 5161
As Passed Senate, March 29, 2025
Title: An act relating to transportation fiscal matters.
Brief Description: Addressing transportation fiscal matters.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Liias, King and Nobles; by request of Office of Financial Management).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/14/25, 3/25/25, 3/27/25 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate: 3/29/25, 34-15.
Brief Summary of Engrossed First Substitute Bill
  • Makes transportation appropriations for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium and supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5161 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 Engrossed First Substitute Bill:

Appropriations are provided for certain state transportation agencies and programs for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium and are adjusted for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.

 

Budget summary materials can be found in the SCS tab in the committee materials for the public hearing.
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 14, 2025):

Please refer to the January 14, 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 (January 14, 2025):

PRO: Heather Kurtenbach, Washington State Building & Construction Trades Council; Billy Wallace, Washington & Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers; Marci Straub, Washington Association of Vehicle Subagents.

 

CON: Brent Ludeman, Turo; Greg Hanon, Western States Petroleum Assoc.; Kirk Hovenkotter, Transportation Choices Coalition; stephen alldridge; Amber Carter, Seattle Mariners; Thera Black.

 

OTHER: Debbie Young, Chair, Washington State Transportation Commission; Ashley Probart, Transportation Improvement Board; Lois Bollenback, SRTC - Spokane Regional Transportation Council; Jeff Gombosky, Enterprise Mobility; Matt Ransom, Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council; Carl Schroeder, Association of Washington Cities; Ehren Flygare, American Car Rental Association. 
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (January 14, 2025): No one.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Proposed Substitute (March 25, 2025):

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 (March 25, 2025):

PRO: Senator Marko Liias, Prime Sponsor; Debora Munguia, Mason County; Linda Thompson, Washington Association for Substance misuse and Violence Prevention (WASAVP); Kirk Hovenkotter, Transportation Choices Coalition; Justin Leighton, Washington State Transit Association; Jared Nieuwenhuis, City of Bellevue, Council; Leah Missik, Climate Solutions.

CON: Tim Eyman, Initiative Activist; JOHN WORTHINGTON.

OTHER: Kati Durkin, Washington Federation of State Employees; Chad Bieren, City of Kent Public Works Director; Carston Curd, City of Bothell Councilmember; Lael White; Jeff Wagner, City of Covington; Will Aho, Eastside Fire and Rescue; Breck Lebegue, WA Physicians for Social Responsibility; Tom White; Mara Machulsky, Hoh Tribe; Peggen Frank, Hoh Tribe; Joe Kunzler; Sean Eagan, The Northwest Seaport Alliance.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (March 25, 2025): No one.