Transportation

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2109: Addressing vehicle loads on public highways.

HB 2109 requires vehicles transporting loose materials (like dirt, sand, or gravel) on Washington public highways to securely cover loads or maintain six inches of space above the load to prevent spillage. It mandates immediate cleanup of spilled materials, glass, or debris that could endanger other drivers, and requires vehicles with mud or debris to be cleaned before traveling. Violations range from infractions for minor failures to gross misdemeanors if negligence causes bodily harm. The law applies directly to commercial drivers and anyone transporting such materials, with penalties defined by the severity of the hazard created. It exempts public maintenance vehicles from sand-spreading for traction or highway cleaning.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates secure loads and immediate spill cleanup on highways to prevent accidents, directly enhancing road safety standards per transportation safety indicators.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2172: Concerning route jurisdiction transfer and abandonment.

HB 2172 proposes changes to how Washington State manages highway jurisdiction transfers. It requires a new review process by a transportation commission for requests to transfer state highways over two miles long or including bridges to county or city control. The commission must evaluate these requests using existing criteria focused on road connectivity, traffic volume, and regional importance before making recommendations. This bill directly affects counties, cities, and the state transportation commission by altering the procedure for road management decisions.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires transportation commission review for highway jurisdiction transfers, ensuring evaluations on connectivity and regional importance to maintain infrastructure quality.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2111: Allowing the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project toll facility bond retirement account to receive its proportionate share of earnings.

HB 2111 amends Washington state law to ensure the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project toll facility bond retirement account receives its proportionate share of investment earnings from the state treasury. The bill adds this specific account to a list of state funds that automatically receive earnings based on their average daily balance in the treasury. This change affects only the financial management of the I-5 bridge project's dedicated account, ensuring it benefits from the same investment returns as other similar state accounts. The bill does not create new funding or alter project scope - it simply corrects the accounting mechanism to include this account in existing earnings distribution rules.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnsures I-5 bridge project's dedicated account receives investment earnings, securing funding for critical infrastructure project.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2203: Creating the offense of reckless interference with emergency operations.

HB 2203 creates a new offense for drivers who operate vehicles on public roadways closed due to emergencies (e.g., barricades, emergency vehicles), with two penalty levels: a serious misdemeanor for general violations, or a felony if the act causes injury to first responders or involves minors/vulnerable adults. Convicted individuals face license suspension (60-90 days) and must reimburse public agencies for emergency response costs, capped at $25,000 per incident. The bill directly affects drivers who ignore emergency closures, particularly those with minors in the vehicle or who endanger first responders. It establishes clear penalties and financial accountability for reckless interference during emergency operations.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeCreates new offense with felony penalties for drivers interfering with emergencies, expanding criminalization of non-violent conduct per 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill enhances road safety by penalizing reckless driving on emergency-closed roadways, protecting first responders and public safety during emergencies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2095: Protecting vulnerable users of public ways.

HB 2095 creates new legal protections for vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists, etc.) in designated areas like sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike lanes. It requires law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges to complete training on negligent driving involving these users by 2027-2028. The bill establishes a legal presumption of negligence when a vulnerable user is injured or killed in a designated area, shifting the burden to vehicle operators to prove they weren't negligent. Plaintiffs can recover actual damages, $1,500 in statutory damages, and attorney fees, with punitive damages possible for repeat offenders.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill establishes legal presumption of negligence for vehicle operators when vulnerable users are harmed, enhancing road safety standards for pedestrians/cyclists in designated areas.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed both · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1923: Increasing the availability of passenger-only ferries by establishing the mosquito fleet act.

House Bill 1923, known as the "Mosquito Fleet Act," aims to increase the availability of passenger-only ferry services in Washington state. The bill expands the types of local governmental entities, such as counties, port districts, and public transportation benefit areas, that can establish passenger-only ferry service districts. These districts would be empowered to establish, finance, and operate passenger-only ferry services, including purchasing or leasing vessels and dock facilities. Before providing service, each district must develop an investment plan detailing proposed services, projected costs, and funding sources, ultimately impacting residents who rely on ferry transportation.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill expands public transit by enabling counties, port districts, and others to establish passenger-only ferry services, directly increasing transportation infrastructure availability.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 1823: Modifying transportation improvement board provisions.

HB 1823 updates Washington’s Transportation Improvement Board rules and funding processes. It requires counties, cities, or transportation districts to provide written certification of local/private funding within one year of project approval, or funds may be reallocated. The bill clarifies board membership requirements, including population thresholds for city/county representatives and specific roles for transit, port, and active transportation advocates. Projects must align with the Growth Management Act, Clean Air Act, and other transportation planning standards to qualify for funding. These changes directly affect local governments seeking state transportation funds.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRequires local funding certification to prevent reallocation, clarifies board roles, and ensures projects align with growth plans - strengthening transportation funding processes.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1043: Extending the commute trip reduction tax credit.

HB 1043 extends the state's commute trip reduction tax credit program for employers and property managers until 2035. This program allows eligible entities to claim a tax credit for providing financial incentives to employees who use alternative commuting methods like ride-sharing, public transportation, car-sharing, or non-motorized transport. The bill changes the credit calculation so that the full amount paid to or on behalf of an employee, up to $60 per employee annually, can be credited (previously 50%). It also reduces the maximum credit a single entity can claim per fiscal year from $100,000 to $50,000.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExtends tax credit program for employers, providing tax relief under state fiscal policy to incentivize sustainable commuting methods.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPromotes alternative commuting methods (public transit, car-sharing), reducing fossil fuel dependence in transportation, aligning with energy efficiency goals.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentExtends tax credit for alternative commuting methods (public transit, carpooling), reducing vehicle emissions and promoting sustainable transportation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends tax credit for employer incentives promoting public transit, ride-sharing, and sustainable commuting, directly advancing sustainable transportation policies.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1814: Streamlining certain decisions pertaining to the development or extension of a trail or path from the state environmental policy act.

HB 1814 proposes to exempt certain decisions regarding the development or extension of trails and paths from the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) and equivalent local environmental review requirements. This exemption applies to projects that are 10 acres or less, located on a railroad right-of-way designated for interim trail use, and situated within cities with a population of 500,000 or more. The bill requires developers to post public notice on the property for at least 30 days before final approval. Additionally, it mandates early and meaningful consultation with potentially affected federally recognized tribes to discuss impacts on cultural resources and treaty rights, including a mediation process if an agreement is not reached.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts trail projects from SEPA review, removing environmental oversight requirements. This weakens regulatory protections for environmental review.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExempts trail development from environmental reviews, facilitating transportation infrastructure projects in urban areas per bill's focus on trails/pathways as transportation infrastructure.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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passed · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1616: Expanding the locations where a person can be guilty of unlawful transit conduct to include the Washington state ferries.

HB 1616 expands the definition of "unlawful transit conduct" to explicitly include Washington State Ferries. This means that behaviors previously prohibited on other public transit, such as smoking, littering, playing loud music without headphones, or consuming open alcoholic beverages, will now also apply to state ferries. The bill amends existing law by adding "ferry boat" to the definition of a transit vehicle and "the Washington state ferries" to the definition of a transit authority. Individuals found in violation of these rules on state ferries could be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Topics ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationExtends public transit safety rules (smoking, noise, alcohol) to ferries, enhancing transportation safety standards for public transit infrastructure.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Transportation

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