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Treasurer's office flags drafting error in transportation bond law; moves bond sale ahead of June 30
Summary
Office of the State Treasurer officials said a drafting error in Senate Bill 6225 references a chapter not a section, potentially undermining authority to issue transportation bonds after 06/30/2026; the office is moving the summer bond sale earlier and will seek a statutory fix in the next legislative session.
State finance staff warned May 28 that a drafting error in Senate Bill 6225 could cloud the state's authority to issue transportation bonds after June 30, 2026, and the Treasurer's Office is taking short‑term steps to avoid disruption.
Secretary Jason Richter told the committee the bill includes three provisions that sunset or expire outdated bond authorizations, but a drafting error referred to a chapter rather than a section. “That drafting error, referred to a chapter instead of a section to be sunsetted,” Richter said, and it "casts some doubt on the ability to issue transportation bonds after 06/30/2026."
As an interim remedy the office moved the planned summer bond sale up by a few weeks to ensure closing before June 30 so the Washington State Department of Transportation will have sufficient funding for projects through the calendar year. Richter said staff will work with partners to pursue a legislative fix in the next session; he characterized the expected operational impact as minimal if the fix is achieved next session.
The committee did not take formal action on the drafting error at the meeting; staff described the change in timing of the sale and the planned statutory correction as the near‑term approach.
