Washington Business 2019 Legislative Review & Vote Record | Page 28

2019 legislative review Mike Ennis is AWB’s government affairs director for transportation, land use and rural issues. Senate Bill 5825 makes tolling on I-405 and SR 167 permanent, authorizes tolling on the new Gateway facility, authorizes bonding on both I-405, SR 167, and the Gateway facility, and moves up completion of the Gateway project by three years. Lawmakers also agreed to move all three tolling accounts into the Motor Vehicle Fund, which was an important policy for the business community because it provides 18th Amendment protections for the toll revenues to be used for highway purposes only. ESSB 5825 was adopted by the House 60-38 and the Senate by a vote of 32-14. E2SHB 1110 low carbon fuel standard Failed/AWB Opposed AWB opposed Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1110, sponsored by Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Burien, which would have directed the Washington State Department of Ecolog y to implement a Low Carbon 26 association of washington business Fuel Standard (LCFS). An LCFS is a cost driver and it has increased the price of fuel in Oregon and California where officials have implemented the new fuel standard. California officials estimate the LCFS will raise the cost of gasoline by 46 cents per gallon by 2030 and the cost of diesel by 50 cents per gallon also by 2030. E2SHB 1110 passed the House 53-43, but it did not pass out of the Senate Transportation Committee. 2SSB 5511 rural broadband Passed/AWB Supported AWB supported and lawmakers passed S e cond Sub s t it ut e S en at e Bi l l 551 1 , sponsored by Sen. Lisa Wellman, D-Mercer Island, which is the rural broadband bill. AWB worked with stakeholders and the governor’s office as the bill evolved during session and ultimately it landed in a good spot. The bill centralizes Washington’s broadband efforts by reestablishing a state broadband office and creates a grant and loan program administered by that office. The Legislature also provided $21 million in funding. The bill expands authorization for Port Districts and Public Utility Districts to provide some broadband service under certain circumstances and extends the State Universal Communications Services program by five years. The bill passed the House by a vote of 97-1 and the Senate by a vote of 48-0. Expect the legislature to continue its conversation on rural broadband during future sessions as other pieces were either not addressed or not fully funded. E3SHB 1324 rural jobs act Passed/AWB Supported AW B s u p p o r t e d E n g r o s s e d T h i r d Substitute House Bill 1324, sponsored by Rep. Mike Chapman, D-Port Angeles. Or ig i na l ly k now n a s t he Ru ra l Jobs