HB 1226
In CommitteeHouse
Transportation budget, supp.
Making supplemental transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill amends the 2024 transportation budget (chapter 310, Laws of 2024) with adjustments to numerous account appropriations across multiple agencies. It reduces funding for some programs (e.g., University of Washington multimodal account, Department of Enterprise Services carbon account) while significantly increasing funding for others (e.g., Washington Traffic Safety Commission, Washington State Patrol, Department of Licensing). The bill establishes new initiatives including a statewide e-bike rebate program, truck parking studies, and advanced air mobility planning, and includes requirements for workforce diversity and inclusion assessments.
- Reduces University of Washington multimodal transportation account appropriation from $5 million to $2.7 million, with funds specifically for sidewalk inventory and accessibility mapping projects.
- Reduces Department of Enterprise Services carbon emissions reduction account appropriation from $18 million to $6 million, with funds for zero-emission electric vehicle charging infrastructure at state facilities.
- Reduces Evergreen State College aeronautics account appropriation from $188,000 to $94,000, with funds for an independent assessment of Puget Sound regional aviation forecasts and environmental impact strategies.
- Increases Washington Traffic Safety Commission highway safety account appropriation by $4 million, with funds for impaired driving enforcement, automated vehicle noise enforcement pilot programs, telematics data collection, and safety camera implementation.
- Increases Washington State Patrol highway safety account appropriation by over $3.5 million, with funds for recruitment bonuses, diversity and equity programs, new trooper training classes, and technology upgrades.
- Increases Department of Licensing highway safety account appropriation by over $4.7 million, with funds for mobile licensing units, driver education support for deaf and hard of hearing youth, and expanded services for low-income and refugee populations.
- Establishes a statewide e-bike rebate program with up to $1,200 rebates for low-income households and up to $300 for others, plus funding for e-bike lending libraries.
- Requires the Washington State Patrol to conduct a study on workforce diversity and inclusion, including a review of collective bargaining agreements for barriers to diversity.
- Directs the Department of Transportation to conduct a route jurisdiction study and assess approaches to streamlining toll rate-setting processes.
- Provides funding for freight mobility strategic investment board projects, truck parking solutions, and advanced air mobility planning.
Who is affected
- University of Washington — The University of Washington receives funding to develop a public sidewalk inventory and accessibility mapping project, including tools for open data publishing, with priority given to counties with high proportions of overburdened communities.
- Washington State Transportation Center — The Washington State Transportation Center receives funding to support intern programs, road scholars training, and graduate fellowships with the Department of Transportation, plus conduct a workforce shortage analysis and action plan for civil engineers and related disciplines.
- Washington Traffic Safety Commission — The Washington Traffic Safety Commission receives increased funding for traffic safety initiatives, including research on street lighting and safety, wrong-way driving prevention, impaired driving enforcement, automated vehicle noise enforcement pilot programs, and telematics data collection.
- Washington State Patrol — The Washington State Patrol receives significant funding increases for recruitment and retention bonuses, diversity and equity programs, new trooper training classes, technology upgrades (including a land mobile radio system), and implementation of speed safety cameras and other safety programs.
- Department of Licensing — The Department of Licensing receives increased funding for driver licensing technology improvements, mobile licensing units, driver education support for deaf and hard of hearing youth, and expanded services for low-income and refugee populations seeking driver's licenses.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (9)
Increases Washington Traffic Safety Commission highway safety account by $4M, funding impaired driving enforcement, automated vehicle noise enforcement pilot programs, telematics data collection, and safety camera implementation — directly enhancing traffic safety for all road users.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 201, 2024 c 310 s 201Increases Washington State Patrol highway safety account by $3.5M, funding recruitment bonuses, diversity and equity programs, new trooper training classes, and technology upgrades — improving law enforcement capacity and community trust.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 202, 2024 c 310 s 202Increases Washington State Patrol funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs ($2.688M), including community engagement with historically underrepresented communities and workforce recruitment — strengthening equitable policing practices.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 202, 2024 c 310 s 202Increases Department of Licensing highway safety account by $4.7M, funding mobile licensing units, driver education for deaf and hard of hearing youth, and expanded services for low-income and refugee populations — improving equitable access to driver licensing and road safety.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 205, 2024 c 310 s 208Establishes statewide e-bike rebate program with up to $1,200 rebates for low-income households and $300 for others, plus funding for e-bike lending libraries — promoting affordable, zero-emission transportation and increasing mobility for low-income residents.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 212, 2024 c 310 s 215Establishes statewide e-bike rebate program, supporting reduced vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions — contributing to state climate goals and cleaner air.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 212, 2024 c 310 s 215Requires Washington State Patrol to conduct workforce diversity and inclusion study, including review of collective bargaining agreements for barriers to diversity — promoting equitable hiring and retention practices across state law enforcement.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 212, 2024 c 310 s 215Directs Department of Transportation to conduct route jurisdiction study and assess toll rate-setting streamlining — potentially improving efficiency and coordination between state and local transportation agencies.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 212, 2024 c 310 s 215Provides funding for freight mobility strategic investment board projects, truck parking solutions, and advanced air mobility planning — supporting logistics industry growth and workforce development.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 212, 2024 c 310 s 215
Potential Concerns (5)
Reduces University of Washington multimodal account appropriation from $5M to $2.7M, limiting active transportation data collection capacity and potentially reducing public access to open data tools for sidewalk accessibility mapping.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 101, 2024 c 310 s 105Reduces Department of Enterprise Services carbon emissions reduction account appropriation from $18M to $6M, significantly limiting zero-emission EV charging infrastructure deployment at state facilities and slowing progress toward state climate goals.
EnvironmentRef: Sec. 102, 2024 c 310 s 106Reduces Evergreen State College aeronautics account appropriation by 50% ($188K to $94K), reducing capacity to conduct independent assessment of Puget Sound regional aviation forecasts and environmental impact strategies, potentially weakening oversight of aviation emissions.
EnvironmentRef: Sec. 103, 2024 c 310 s 110Reduces Department of Licensing motor vehicle account appropriation by $547K and Department of Licensing services account by $340K, potentially reducing capacity to support small businesses and low-income residents seeking driver's licenses and related services.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 206, 2024 c 310 s 208Reduces Department of Transportation multimodal transportation account appropriation by $681K, potentially limiting support for local government transportation planning and infrastructure projects.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 209, 2024 c 310 s 211
Who Is Most Affected
University of Washington will receive $2.7M (down from $5M) for sidewalk inventory and accessibility mapping, limiting capacity to develop open data tools for active transportation infrastructure.
Department of Enterprise Services will receive $6M (down from $18M) for zero-emission EV charging infrastructure at state facilities, significantly slowing progress toward state climate goals and EV adoption.
Evergreen State College will receive $94K (down from $188K) for independent assessment of Puget Sound regional aviation forecasts and environmental impact strategies, weakening oversight capacity.
Washington Traffic Safety Commission receives $4M increase to fund impaired driving enforcement, automated vehicle noise enforcement pilot programs, telematics data collection, and safety camera implementation — directly enhancing traffic safety.
Washington State Patrol receives $3.5M+ increase for recruitment bonuses, diversity and equity programs, new trooper training classes, and technology upgrades — improving law enforcement capacity and community trust.
Department of Licensing receives $4.7M+ increase for mobile licensing units, driver education for deaf and hard of hearing youth, and expanded services for low-income and refugee populations — improving equitable access to driver licensing and road safety.