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Committee hears proposal to raise WSDOT contracting thresholds to account for inflation and boost state workforce capacity

Washington State Senate Transportation Committee · January 27, 2026
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Summary

Senate Bill 6170 would raise the dollar thresholds for state forces and emergency contracting (from $60K to $100K normal, and $100K to $160K emergency) to give WSDOT more flexibility; labor and DOT witnesses supported the change while committee members discussed indexing for inflation and equity safeguards.

The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony on SB 6170 to increase statutory dollar thresholds for state highway construction and emergency contracting.

Committee staff explained the bill would raise the normal value limit for work done by state forces from $60,000 to $100,000 and the emergency limit from $100,000 to $160,000; the current limits were last adjusted in 2005. The proposal would also increase the maximum contract value that may use procurement rules intended to broaden competition for small, veteran, minority and women‑owned contractors.

Senator King, the bill’s prime sponsor, told the committee the change would help keep state maintenance workers employed on projects that inflation has priced above the old thresholds and could reduce time and cost by allowing in‑house crews to perform more work. Senator Valdez asked whether the change could undermine WSDOT’s equity and small‑business goals; sponsors and staff said they do not anticipate that outcome and suggested monitoring or an escalator (inflation adjustment) could be considered.

Katie Durkin of the Washington Federation of State Employees supported the bill as a way to preserve in‑house capacity and union jobs. WSDOT representatives also voiced support and said the agency would monitor equity impacts to small and disadvantaged contractors.

The bill had broad pro testimony recorded (staff reported 55 pro submissions for the matter earlier in the session) and no immediate committee action was taken the same day. Committee staff reminded members that amendment requests for executive session would be due by noon the next day and posted by 7 p.m.

What happens next: the committee may consider proposed amendments at the scheduled executive session and then vote to advance or not advance the bill.