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