issue area reports | transportation , housing and land use
Transportation , Housing and Land Use
Morgan Irwin : Transportation , Land Use and Telecom
Washington state and adds increased penalties against medium and heavyduty vehicles idling for more than five minutes . These proposals came out of recommendations from the Interagency Electric Vehicle Coordinating Council ’ s Transportation Electrification Strategy . The bill did not advance .
HB 2262 rolling resistance tires
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Rep . Chipalo Street , D-Seattle
Morgan Irwin is AWB ’ s government affairs director for infrastructure , including transportation , land use and telecom .
This proposal is a standalone bill that creates requirements for tires with reduced rolling resistance , and adds penalties and fines for violations . This bill also failed to advance .
In 2024 , the Legislature adopted a $ 14.6 billion supplemental transportation budget that adds $ 1 billion in new spending . The budget includes no new taxes and prioritizes existing work on I-405 road improvements , the SR 167 / SR 509 Puget Sound Gateway , and other projects crucial for transportation and commerce .
Lawmakers also committed to spending real dollars on pavement preservation — an AWB priority — including $ 100 million for the rest of the 2023-2025 biennium and $ 80 million in each of the next two biennia . The struggling state ferry system also got a boost , with funding for new crew and boat construction .
Looking ahead , legislators will face a transportation budget crunch in the 2025-2027 biennium . They will need to find new revenue to make up a budget deficit of about $ 1 billion . Prices have skyrocketed for many highway megaprojects due to inflation and rising material and labor costs .
There are multiple options for new and increased revenue . Lawmakers are considering a sales tax diversion for transportation and a road usage charge ; cities are studying the feasibility of enacting a tax on deliveries . The 2025 legislative session will be the year of revenue in transportation .
SB 6304 transportation electrification
Failed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Sen . Marko Liias , D-Lynnwood
This bill requires that only tires with reduced rolling resistance be sold in
HB 2384 traffic safety cameras
Passed / AWB Opposed sponsor : Rep . Brandy Donaghy , D-Mill Creek
This proposal would allow every jurisdiction in the state to implement traffic safety cameras as they see fit . AWB opposed this bill because we would rather have a single unified policy for traffic cameras instead of a patchwork , which creates challenges for trucking and shipping . The final bill passed the Senate 26-23 and the House 55-38 , with several Democrats joining with Republicans in voting no .
SB 6302 supply chain grants
Failed / AWB Supported sponsor : Sen . Marko Liias , D-Lynnwood
Bill considered as part of AWB ’ s voting record
Favorable outcome for Washington businesses
Missed Opportunities
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