Committee reports a package of transportation bills out of committee, advances climate-account changes and several transportation measures

The House Appropriations Committee met in executive session on Feb. 9 and moved a slate of transportation-related bills out of committee with "due pass" recommendations after debate and several roll-call votes.

The committee advanced a proposed substitute to House Bill 2,092 to establish a Washington State Amtrak Cascades Passenger Rail Advisory Committee with membership that includes WSDOT, the UTC, the Office of the Governor, transit agencies, BNSF, Amtrak, tribal representation, rail labor, disability advocates, passenger advocates and rider appointees. Representative Reed urged adoption, saying, "This is just a good little bill that is about creating a greater voice for consumers, for users of passenger rail," and the committee reported the substitute out with a due-pass recommendation (clerk reported 20 aye, 6 nay, 3 excused).

A more contested measure, House Bill 2,251, would restructure Climate Commitment Act (CCA) accounts and change how CCA revenue is distributed. The committee considered several amendments: one (JOND402) to broaden allowable uses related to forest carbon retention was adopted; an amendment (JOND401) clarifying that $25,000,000 is intended for Department of Ecology administrative costs was adopted; other amendments to split excess revenues and add transportation uses were put forward and failed. Vice Chair Reid said the measure was intended to "facilitate the budget work" and to recognize forecasts showing CCA resources may fall short of current statutory commitments. The committee reported the substitute as amended out of committee (clerk announced 18 aye, 8 nay, 3 excused).

Other bills reported out include:

- House Bill 2,114 (substitute): allows Department of Licensing fee waivers for defective replacement license plates; adopted by voice vote (26–0, 3 excused reported).

- House Bill 2,374 (substitute H3400.1): refines e-bike/e-motorcycle definitions, establishes a work group and would consider civil infractions for supplying electric motorcycles to minors; sponsor Representative Zahn said the work group will "thoughtfully develop" regulations; substitute adopted by voice vote (26–0, 3 excused reported).

- House Bill 2,410 (substitute): creates a Commercial Truck Safety and Education Council and raises the commercial vehicle safety fee from $16 to $32 to fund safety and training programs. Representative Orcutt highlighted bridge strikes and road safety concerns during debate; substitute moved out of committee (clerk reported 25–1, 3 excused).

- House Bill 2,552 (substitute H3473.1 with amendment THOC171): authorizes construction multiple-award task order contracting (METOC) for WSDOT and RTAs with added apprenticeship and prevailing-wage provisions and contractor notification requirements; amendment and substitute as amended were adopted and the bill was reported out (clerk reported 16 aye, 10 nay, 3 excused).

- House Bill 2,588: authorizes county ferry districts to operate ferries beyond passenger-only services; Representative Timmons cited Lummi Island's aging vessel and fare burdens; bill reported out (clerk reported 16 aye, 10 nay, 3 excused).

- House Bill 2,718 (substitute): streamlines WSDOT multi-agency permitting and removes a provision requiring a publicly accessible contractor-rating website (amendment Mun882 rolled into substitute); bill reported out (clerk reported 26–0, 3 excused).

- House Bill 2,722: raises the vehicle-weight threshold for transportation benefit district vehicle fees from 6,000 to 10,000 pounds; sponsor said a floor amendment would lower the limit to 9,000 pounds if the bill advances; bill reported out (clerk reported 17 aye, 9 nay, 3 excused).

- House Bill 2,727: establishes the Educational Transit Access Grant Program for pilot free or reduced transit fares for community and technical college students; sponsor Representative Taylor noted omission of inclusive post-secondary program language to be addressed later; bill reported out (clerk reported 21 aye, 5 nay, 3 excused).

The committee recessed briefly for party caucuses during the meeting and concluded after the final votes. Several members flagged points for further work in subsequent stages — notably over the architecture and membership of the Amtrak advisory committee, the allowable uses and caps in the CCA-account restructuring, and implementation details for METOC contracting and ferry taxation structure. The committee thanked staff and recessed to caucus at the end of the session.

Votes at a glance (clerk-reported outcomes): substitute HB 2,092 — moved out of committee (20 aye, 6 nay, 3 excused); substitute HB 2,114 — moved out (26 aye, 0 nay, 3 excused); substitute HB 2,172 — moved out (26 aye, 0 nay, 3 excused); substitute HB 2,251 (as amended) — moved out (18 aye, 8 nay, 3 excused); substitute HB 2,374 — moved out (26 aye, 0 nay, 3 excused); substitute HB 2,410 — moved out (25 aye, 1 nay, 3 excused); substitute HB 2,552 (as amended) — moved out (16 aye, 10 nay, 3 excused); HB 2,588 — moved out (16 aye, 10 nay, 3 excused); substitute HB 2,718 — moved out (26 aye, 0 nay, 3 excused); HB 2,722 — moved out (17 aye, 9 nay, 3 excused); HB 2,727 — moved out (21 aye, 5 nay, 3 excused).

Next steps: each bill moved out of committee will proceed to the next stage of the House process and may be amended further on the floor. Members raised implementation and scope questions to be resolved in later hearings and negotiations with the Senate.