Published date: February 10, 2025
APWA Legislative Report, Week 5
The legislative session is creeping towards its first bill deadline. February 21st is the policy bill cutoff, when attention turns to the fiscal committees, which may be particularly brutal to bills with large fiscal notes given the current budget crisis.
The Legislature has introduced over 1,650 bills and is on the way towards 2,000. Week 5’s hearing schedule is full. Bills not scheduled for a hearing are likely dead for this session. One of the bills not yet scheduled, but likely to be next Thursday, is HB 1921, establishing new sources of transportation revenue based on motor vehicle use of public roadways (otherwise known as the road usage charge or RUC).
It is initially a voluntary program that places a per mile fee on motor vehicles. From July 1, 2027 to June 30, 2029, all electric and hybrid vehicles are eligible to participate. From July 1, 2029 to June 30, 2031, internal combustion engines with fuel economy of 20 miles or higher are eligible. Electric and hybrid electric vehicle registration renewal fees are waived if participating in the RUC program.
A mandatory RUC will start in July 1,2029 for electric vehicles and for internal combustion vehicles, depending on their fuel economy rating in the following years. The RUC is 2.6 cents per mile and is automatically adjusted when a fuel tax rate adjustment is made to the motor vehicle fuel tax. Proceeds from that license fee must be used for preservation and maintenance highway purposes. There is an exemption for “publicly owned and operated urban passenger transportation systems.”
A road usage assessment on the RUC is authorized in an amount equal to 10% of the total RUC imposed and is intended to fund multimodal transportation needs. The RUC and assessment are due at the time of annual vehicle registration renewal.
There are a lot of rumors about bills that will be introduced this month that will set the table for budget cuts. These will affect the general fund budget and show the extent of the cuts needed to address the deficit. Although a few revenue bills are being considered, such as HB 1334 to raise the property tax cap from 1% to 3%, expect real proposals after the March 20th revenue forecast. There is currently no consensus on revenue.
As week 4 ends, here are the bills scheduled, so far, for week 5:
Upcoming Events
Transportation (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/10 @ 4:00pm
- HB 1823 – Public Hearing – Modifying transportation improvement board provisions. (Remote Testimony Available).
Civil Rights & Judiciary (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/11 @ 10:30am
- HB 1733 – Public Hearing – Increasing the reimbursement cap for moving and relocation expenses incurred by persons affected by agency displacements. (Remote Testimony Available).
Postsecondary Education & Workforce (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/11 @ 1:30pm
- HB 1777 – Public Hearing – Concerning the requirements and process for approving and registering apprenticeship programs. (Remote Testimony Available).
Environment & Energy (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/11 @ 4:00pm
- HB 1150 – Exec Session – Improving Washington’s solid waste management outcomes.
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/12 @ 8:00am
- SB 5671 – Public Hearing – Modifying eligibility for the broadband service expansion grant and loan program. (Remote Testimony Available).
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/12 @ 8:00am
- HB 1821 – Public Hearing – Expanding the definition of “interested party” for the purposes of prevailing wage laws. (Remote Testimony Available).
Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans (House) – HHR C and Virtual JLOB – 2/12 @ 8:00am
- HB 1503 – Exec Session – Furthering digital equity and opportunity in Washington state.
Capital Budget (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/13 @ 1:30pm
- HB 1461 – Public Hearing – Concerning contracts for materials or work required by joint operating agencies. (Remote Testimony Available).
- HB 1726 – Public Hearing – Prioritizing lumber procured from Washington state lumber mills for the purpose of public works projects. (Remote Testimony Available).
Transportation (House) – HHR B and Virtual JLOB – 2/13 @ 4:00pm
- HB 1921 – Public Hearing – Establishing new sources of transportation revenue based on motor vehicle use of public roadways. (Remote Testimony Available). (If measure is referred to committee.)
Labor & Commerce (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/14 @ 8:00am
- SB 5061 – Exec Session – Requiring certain wages in public works contracts to be at least the prevailing wage in effect when the work is performed.
Civil Rights & Judiciary (House) – HHR A and Virtual JLOB – 2/14 @ 10:30am
- HB 1733 – Exec Session – Increasing the reimbursement cap for moving and relocation expenses incurred by persons affected by agency displacements.
Environment, Energy & Technology (Senate) – SHR 1 and Virtual J.A. Cherberg – 2/14 @ 10:30am
- SB 5284 – Exec Session – Improving Washington’s solid waste management outcomes.
- SB 5627 – Public Hearing – Improving safe excavation practices and preventing damage to underground utilities. (Remote Testimony Available).
Labor & Workplace Standards (House) – HHR D and Virtual JLOB – 2/14 @ 10:30am
- HB 1549 – Exec Session – Modifying the responsible bidder criteria for public works projects.