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Committee amends and gives due‑pass recommendation to transit grant bill focused on nonfixed rural services
Summary
The committee amended House Bill 1106 to specify that a proposed $2 million appropriation target nonfixed‑route rural transit providers, passed the amendment and then voted to give the bill a due‑pass recommendation as amended; the measure will move to appropriations for funding decisions.
Representative Munson’s draft for House Bill 1106 would provide state support to public transit providers. Committee members moved and adopted an amendment to focus the $2 million appropriation on nonfixed‑route (demand‑response) rural transit providers so that funds are available to authorities that do not operate fixed‑route urban bus systems. Representative Christiansen moved the amendment; Representative Greenheck seconded it and the amendment was adopted by the committee.
Following amendment, Representative Fralick moved that the committee give HB 1106 a due‑pass recommendation as amended; Representative Johnston seconded. The committee proceeded to a roll call vote and the motion carried. The committee record shows the bill will be re‑referred to the Appropriations Committee for consideration of the actual funding allocation in the budget process.
Committee members said the Department of Transportation’s grant process worked well last session and asked DOT to continue administering an objective application process. Witness testimony and committee discussion emphasized that rural nonfixed‑route providers lack local taxing authority and frequently operate on thin budgets, and that the appropriation should be targeted to supplement existing federal and local funding for operations and coordination.
The bill as amended narrows the intended recipients and leaves final appropriation and distribution decisions to the appropriations process and DOT’s grant program.
