Transportation Committee advances multiple bills and confirms two gubernatorial appointments

On Feb. 27, 2025, the Washington State Senate Transportation Committee met in executive session and advanced a series of bills to the rules committee with due‑pass recommendations and reported two gubernatorial appointments with recommendations for confirmation.

Actions taken at the executive session included advancement of bills on ferry labor units, supply chain competitiveness grants, unlawful transit conduct, weapons restrictions at certain public facilities (with a museum exemption amendment), utility relocation reporting and coordination, an active transportation safety bill, an advisory committee on electric vehicle charger property crime, authorization for alternative procurement and delivery models for large transportation projects, inclusion of blood type on driver credentials as an optional designation, and changes to the Transportation Commission toll‑setting process.

Several amendments were adopted before advancement: an amendment requested by the Washington State Historical Society to exempt museum collections from the weapons restrictions bill was adopted and rolled into the second substitute for Substitute Senate Bill 5098; amendments clarifying program applicability and reporting timing were adopted for the utility relocation bill (SB 5690) and for the alternative procurement bill (SB 5773). Most bills were advanced by voice vote; the committee chair repeatedly stated "the motion carries" after voice votes.

The committee also reported two gubernatorial appointments with recommendations that they be confirmed: one listed as Senate gubernatorial appointment 09/1100 for Marcus Glasser (director, Department of Licensing) and Senate gubernatorial appointment 9223 for Julie Meredith as secretary of the Department of Transportation. Committee members spoke in support of both appointments during the confirmation motions.

Votes at a glance (motions moved and advanced to the rules committee; all motions carried by voice vote unless noted):

- Senate Bill 5059 — Allow Washington State ferry captains to vote to rejoin mates into a unified bargaining unit (mover: Vice Chair Levick) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Senate Bill 5649 — Create a Washington State supply chain competitiveness infrastructure grant and loan program (mover: Vice Chair Lubbock) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Senate Bill 5716 — Expand unlawful transit conduct to include Washington State Ferries (mover: Vice Chair Lubbock) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Substitute Senate Bill 5098 — Restrict possession of weapons in certain public buildings, parks and county fair facilities with an adopted amendment exempting museum collections when under museum custody (mover: Vice Chair Lubbock; amendment explained and offered by Senator Valdez) — amendment adopted; second substitute advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Senate Bill 5690 (proposed substitute) — Utility relocation: require proactive notification to utility owners and encourage application for federal fish passage funding that includes relocation costs; amendment adopted and rolled into substitute (mover: Vice Chair Lubbock) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Senate Bill 5581 — Implement safe system approach strategies for active transportation infrastructure (mover: Vice Chair Levick) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Senate Bill 5746 — Create an advisory committee on electric vehicle charger infrastructure property crime (mover: Vice Chair Lubbock) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee (fiscal note estimates staffing costs to Commerce of roughly $350,000 per biennium).

- Senate Bill 5773 — Authorize alternative procurement and delivery models (public‑private partnerships, progressive design‑build, GCCM) for transportation projects with rulemaking and consultation requirements; clarifying amendment adopted regarding small business certification applicability (mover: Vice Chair Lavec) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Senate Bill 5689 — Allow designation of blood type on driver licenses and identicards with a $2 fee and a one‑time IT programming cost estimate of about $72,000 (mover: Vice Chair Levick) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Senate Bill 5702 — Streamline the Transportation Commission toll‑setting process by removing it from the Administrative Procedure Act and establishing a new commission procedure (mover: Vice Chair Lavec) — advanced with due‑pass recommendation to the rules committee.

- Senate gubernatorial appointment 09/1100 — Marcus Glasser, director, Department of Licensing (mover: Vice Chair Lubbock) — committee reported appointment with recommendation for confirmation.

- Senate gubernatorial appointment 9223 — Julie Meredith, secretary, Department of Transportation (mover: Vice Chair Lubbock) — committee reported appointment with recommendation for confirmation.

Committee members noted these votes will move bills forward to the rules committee and, from there, to additional floor consideration as appropriate.