2018 State Legislative Session Recap
Briefing to Port of Seattle Commission
May 8, 2018
Pearse Edwards, Director, Government Relations, Port of Seattle
Eric ffitch, Manager, State Government Relations, Port of Seattle
Trent House, Contract Lobbyist, Port of Seattle
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Item No. 9a
Date: May 8, 2018
Overview
• High-level recap of sixty-day legislative session, ended on March 8
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– Adopted three supplemental budgets: transportation, operating, and capital.
– First time finishing without “special,” extended, sessions since 2014
• Port priority items – mixed success
– Tourism enacted; SR 518 study funded
– Workforce training and fishing fleet modernization bills died
• Additional items of interest
– Initiative 200 repeal
– Energy issues: Port officially endorsed carbon pricing proposal and Low Carbon Fuels Standard
– Clean trucks: NWSA successful in moving legislation and securing funding regarding Clean Trucks
– Representative Orwall’s airport impact study
• Work this interim
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Priority Agenda Items
• State Route 518 study: The final transportation budget included $500,000 for a study of corridor congestion issues on State Route 518,
the main roadway that provides access to Sea-Tac Airport.
• Workforce development: Representative Tarleton once again introduced
legislation to clarify port district worker training authority. It passed the House
unanimously, but did not receive a vote in the Senate.
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• Statewide tourism marketing: After seven years of advocacy, the Washington Tourism Alliance and its
wide array of stakeholders were successful in enacting a statewide tourism marketing program.
• Fishing fleet modernization: Despite passing House, and being funded in final budget deal, Rep.
Tarleton’s fishing fleet modernization bill died on the final day.
Additional Items of Interest
These issues received formal support by Port of Seattle Commissioners or staff during 2018 session:
• Sustainable Aviation Biofuels work group: Sen. Billig (D-1st LD, Spokane) introduced a bill to reestablish a work group on aviation
biofuels that has been dormant since 2017. The Port of Seattle supported that effort, and while the bill stalled Sen. Billing inserted
language in the budget to formally reconvene the work group.
• Unit price contracting for port districts: The Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, and Washington Public Ports Association supported
legislation to clarify that ports have the authority to use “unit priced contracting” methods. It passed both chambers and was enacted
into law.
• NWSA’s clean truck authority: Legislation passed that clarifies the authority of port districts to offer programs relating to air quality
improvement equipment and fuel programs that provide emission reductions for engines, vehicles, and vessels.”
• Harbor Maintenance Tax resolution: Another NWSA priority, this resolution put the legislature on record as demanding that the U.S.
Congress develop a policy to reform the Harbor Maintenance Tax to address its impact on the competitiveness of Washington state
ports.
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Additional Items of Interest – Continued
• Initiative 200 Repeal:
– For the 3
rd
session running, the Port was vocally supportive of repealing I-200
– Commissioner Bowman testified in support of SB 6406, a bill to repeal I-200
– The legislation passed the State Government, Tribal Relations, and Elections Committee; it did not receive a vote on the Senate
floor
• Energy issues:
– Low Carbon Fuels Standard: Port provided testimony; Passed House Environment Committee and House Transportation
Committee
– Inslee/Carlyle carbon pricing proposal: Cmr. Gregoire letter of support; aviation language added; did not reach Senate floor
• Airport issues:
– Rep. Orwall airport study
– Rep. Pellicciotti noise abatement legislation
• Other:
– Rep. Gregerson governance legislation
– Broadband authority for all port districts
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Legislative Scorecard – 2018 Session
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Next Steps
• Interim meetings with lawmakers (May-October 2018)
• Potential small group airport tours (June or July 2018)
• Commission trip to Eastern WA (August 2018)
• 2019 Legislative Agenda Development (now through November 2018)
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