Committee hears testimony supporting Senate Bill 5649 to fund port and supply-chain projects

Senators, community and port officials urged the Technology, Economic Development and Veterans Committee on March 19, 2025, to advance Senate Bill 5649, which would create a State Supply Chain Competitiveness Infrastructure Program to provide grants and loans for public and tribal port projects.

Martha Whaling, staff to the committee, told members the bill (companion to House Bill 1860) would require the Department of Transportation to set program priorities, collaborate with supply-chain stakeholders, develop performance metrics and publish the project types eligible for funding. Eligible projects must be included in a port’s freight development plan and align with six programmatic goals, including operations, efficiency, market access and mitigation for impacted communities. The measure also creates a dedicated account in the state treasury for the program.

Senator Marco Lias, who identified himself as chair of the Senate…