Washington Business 2019 Legislative Review & Vote Record | Page 29

issue area reports | infrastructure
Act, E3SHB 1324 took a few turns this
session and was eventually stripped of the
elements regarding the access to capital
improvements. The final version of the bill
instead directed the Washington Institute
for Public Policy to conduct a study on
similar programs across the country and
report back by July 2020. The bill also
extended the preferential B&O tax rate for
timber products to 2045 and extended the
forest and fish support account surcharge
on timber products to 2045. While the
lack of access to capital was disappointing,
the bill is still considered a win for rural
Washington. The bill passed the Senate
40-9 and passed unanimously in the House.
SSB 5370
airport task force
Passed/AWB Neutral
Senate Bill 5879/House Bill 1843, which
would prohibit railroad carriers from
disciplining employees for illness or injuries,
establish fatigue layoff and family and
medical leave programs. AWB opposed the
bills because these issues are generally found
under the collective bargaining process or
through federal regulations. While most of
the bills died in policy committee, HB 1841
passed out of the House 72-24, but did not
come up for a vote in the Senate.
SSB 5971
$17 billion transportation
revenue package
Failed/AWB Opposed
AWB opposed Substitute Senate Bill 5971,
sponsored by Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Ste-
vens, which would have implemented a 6
cent gas tax increase, a carbon tax, statewide
impact fees on new construction, and vari-
ous other transportation-related fees to fund
$17 billion in transportation and stormwa-
ter infrastructure improvements across the
state. Before session, AWB hosted a seven-city
listening tour, asking our members for their
thoughts regarding the package. While the
business community recognizes a need for
additional infrastructure funding, employers
expressed consistent opposition to the carbon
tax and impact fees on new construction. SSB
5971 passed out of the Senate Transporta-
tion Committee, but did not move out of the
Ways and Means Committee. This bill is the
beginning of a multi-session conversation on
passing a statewide transportation revenue
package and we expect to see another effort
next session.
Legislators adopted Substitute Senate Bill
5370, sponsored by Sen. Karen Keiser,
D-Kent, which creates a task force to study
potential locations for a new commer-
cial airport. The task force is required to
recommend a preferred site for a new com-
mercial airport by Jan. 1, 2021, and produce
a timeline with a new facility complete and
functional by 2040. The task force is made
up of 13 voting members representing vari-
ous state agencies, ports, and the private
sector. SSB 5370 was adopted unanimously
in both the House and Senate.
HB 1841
anti-rail bills
Failed/AWB Opposed
AWB opposed three anti-railroad bills this
session: Senate Bill 5877/House Bill 1841,
which would mandate a minimum crew
size; Senate Bill 5878/House Bill 1842,
which would mandate limits on the number
of hours for yardmasters and prohibit
railroad carriers from communicating with
yardmasters during off-duty periods; and
Bill considered as part of
AWB’s voting record
Rep. Andrew Barkis, R-Olympia, is the ranking Republican on the House Transportation Committee.
Favorable outcome for
Washington businesses
Missed Opportunities
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