Bill would add tribal representation to state transportation safety councils and create tribal traffic-safety coordinator program

Senate Bill 5374 would require that local and regional transportation planning include coordination with affected tribal governments and an assessment of impacts on tribal areas, add tribal government representation to the Cooper Jones active transportation safety council, and create a tribal traffic‑safety coordinator program within the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to support tribes with tailored traffic-safety initiatives and grant assistance.

Michelle Rests, committee staff, described the bill’s changes to the Growth Management Act transportation element requirements and explained the new program elements for the Traffic Safety Commission. The bill also broadens the definition of “commercially zoned property” for binding site plans in another bill; staff framed the transportation changes separately.

Sen. Claudia Kaufman, sponsor, said data presented to the legislature show American Indian fatality rates on roads are many times higher than the state average and that tribal communities regularly raise concerns about roadway design, lack of sidewalks, and other safety infrastructure. “This bill ensures that tribal governments have a meaningful role in transportation planning… and strengthens safety initiatives,” Kaufman said.

Staff and sponsor said the bill would enable grant funding and programmatic support for tribes to perform road-safety audits, organize outreach, and identify data gaps. The committee did not take a vote on the measure during the hearing.