Transportation

signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1878: Improving young driver safety.

HB 1878, titled "Improving young driver safety," enacts new requirements for young adults obtaining their initial driver's license in Washington. Beginning in 2027 and phasing in by age, individuals under 22 years old will be required to complete a driver training education course before receiving their license. The bill also mandates that initial license applicants under 25 years old pass an online course on driver work zone and first responder safety from 2026 to 2031. Furthermore, it requires initial license holders under 25 who commit two moving violations to complete a safe driving course, with license suspension as a consequence for not doing so.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates safety training for young drivers, directly enhancing road safety standards under transportation policy.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 5556: Modernizing the adopt-a-highway program to improve its ability to meet its original purpose within existing fiscal limitations.

SB 5556 modernizes Washington's adopt-a-highway program, affecting volunteer groups, businesses, and sponsors who participate in roadside clean-up and maintenance. The bill explicitly links the program's operation and recognition efforts to specific legislative appropriations, emphasizing fiscal limitations. It expands adoptable locations to include rest areas and park-and-ride lots, and clarifies that activities can include planting pollinator-friendly vegetation and graffiti removal. Additionally, it requires the Department of Transportation to submit annual reports on program participants and prohibits politically active organizations from participating.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationModernizes adopt-a-highway program for roadside maintenance, expands to rest areas/park-and-ride, enhances infrastructure upkeep within budget constraints.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · Senate May 16, 2025

SB 5702: Streamlining the toll rate setting process at the transportation commission.

Senate Bill 5702 streamlines the process for setting and adjusting toll rates in Washington state. It exempts the Transportation Commission, when acting as the state's tolling authority, from the standard administrative procedure act for these decisions. This change is intended to allow for quicker adjustments to tolls, enabling the commission to meet financial obligations and performance requirements for tolled facilities more efficiently. The bill aims to establish a faster, more flexible toll setting process while still maintaining public transparency.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationStreamlines toll rate adjustments to improve financial management of transportation infrastructure, enabling efficient meeting of obligations for tolled facilities.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1418: Adding two voting members that are transit users to the governing body of public transportation benefit areas.

HB 1418 modifies the governing bodies of public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs) by adding two new voting members who are transit users. This increases the maximum number of voting members for single-county PTBAs to 11 and for multi-county PTBAs to 17. One new member must primarily rely on public transportation, while the other must represent a community-based organization and occasionally use transit. This aims to include the perspectives of transit riders in the governance of public transportation systems, and meetings must be accessible by transit to facilitate their participation.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAdds transit user representation to PTBA governance, enhancing rider input in transit decisions and strengthening public transit oversight.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · Senate May 12, 2025

SB 5716: Expanding the locations where a person can be guilty of unlawful transit conduct to include the Washington state ferries.

Senate Bill 5716 expands the definition of "unlawful transit conduct" to include actions occurring on Washington State Ferries. This bill amends existing law (RCW 9.91.025) to explicitly include the Washington State Ferries under the definition of a "transit authority." As a result, behaviors such as smoking, littering, playing loud music without headphones, or consuming alcohol without authorization are now considered unlawful conduct when on or at ferry facilities. Individuals who violate these provisions on Washington State Ferries can be found guilty of a misdemeanor.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeExpands criminalization by adding ferry locations to unlawful transit conduct definitions, increasing scope of punishable behaviors under existing law.85% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill strengthens transportation safety by explicitly including ferries under transit authority, enforcing rules against disruptive conduct to maintain order on public transit.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1970: Concerning state highway construction project alternative contracting procedures.

House Bill 1970 modifies the procedures for state highway construction projects, primarily affecting the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). The bill exempts WSDOT from needing to obtain certification or project-specific approval from a committee when using alternative contracting methods like "design-build" or "general contractor/construction manager." Additionally, it removes a previous monetary threshold for competitively bid highway construction contracts that may be constructed using a design-build procedure. These changes aim to streamline WSDOT's ability to utilize these alternative procurement methods for infrastructure projects.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExempts WSDOT from approval requirements for highway construction, streamlining infrastructure projects. No funding cuts or restrictions mentioned.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · House May 12, 2025

HB 1596: Concerning accountability for persons for speeding.

HB 1596, titled "Concerning accountability for persons for speeding," requires certain drivers to install an "intelligent speed assistance device" in their vehicles. This applies to individuals with temporary restricted or occupational driver's licenses, those on probation for specific traffic offenses, or by court order. The device uses GPS to limit a vehicle's speed to the posted limit, though it includes a limited override function for up to three uses per month. Drivers are responsible for the costs of installation, maintenance, and a monthly fee, with some exemptions for employer-owned vehicles and indigence. Data collected by these devices is securely maintained and generally not shared without a court order.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates speed-limiting devices for specific drivers to prevent speeding, directly enhancing transportation safety standards.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · House Apr 29, 2025

HB 1244: Concerning training as an alternative to driver license suspension for the accumulation of certain traffic infractions.

Substitute House Bill 1244 provides an alternative to driver's license suspension for Washington drivers who accumulate multiple moving traffic infractions. Under this bill, instead of serving a full 60-day license suspension, drivers can complete a required safe driving course either after receiving notice of a pending suspension or during the suspension period. Completing the course allows for the early termination of the suspension, though a one-year probation period still applies. This early termination option is available to a driver once every five years.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill promotes traffic safety via mandatory safe driving courses instead of license suspensions, aligning with transportation safety indicators.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5764: Repealing the expiration date for the ambulance transport fund.

SB 5764 repeals the expiration date for the ambulance transport fund. This action makes the fund permanent, ensuring its continued operation beyond a previously set deadline. The bill directly affects the longevity and stability of funding for ambulance transport services, impacting those who rely on these services and the providers themselves.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRepeals expiration of ambulance transport fund, ensuring permanent funding for emergency medical transportation services, directly supporting transportation infrastructure stability.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

signed · Washington · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1650: Concerning the addition of airport capital projects as an allowable use of local real estate excise tax revenues.

House Bill 1650 expands the allowable uses of local real estate excise tax (REET) revenues for counties and cities. It permits these local governments to fund certain airport capital projects through REET. Specifically, eligible airport projects are those included in the Washington aviation system plan or national plan of integrated airport systems with fewer than 10,000 annual enplanements. However, the bill explicitly prohibits using these funds for installing or improving leaded fuel systems at airports.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill explicitly permits REET funds for airport capital projects (transportation infrastructure), expanding funding for aviation system infrastructure per Washington aviation plans.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation