2019 State Legislative Session Review
Briefing to Port of Seattle Commission
May 28, 2019
Eric ffitch, Manager, State Government Relations, Port of Seattle
Trent House, Contract Lobbyist, Port of Seattle
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Item No. 9b supp
Date: May 28, 2019
Overview
• High-level recap of 2019 Legislative Session, which adjourned on Sunday, April 28
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– Adopted three budgets: transportation, operating, and capital.
– First time finishing concluding in 105 days in a budget year since 2009.
• Port priority items – broadly successful, but more work to be done
– Workforce training bill passed; transportation electrification bill passed;
Maritime Innovation Center funded; Initiative 1000 passed
– Low-carbon fuel standard effort unsuccessful
• Additional items of interest
– 100% Clean Electricity enacted
– Initiative 1000
– Airport coordinating commission
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Priority Agenda Items
Maritime Innovation Center: The final capital budget included $5m for the Department of Commerce to
partner with the Port of Seattle in development of the Maritime Innovation Center.
Workforce development: Long sought by the Port of Seattle, this
session we were joined in advocacy by the Ports of Port Angeles
and Moses Lake, and other groups including the Association of
Washington Businesses and maritime labor. The bill passed
without a single vote in opposition in either chamber.
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Transportation access to Sea-Tac Airport: Legislation to authorize tolling and
accelerate construction of the Puget Sound Gateway program passed this session.
The Port has been a primary advocate for the construction of the Puget Sound
Gateway Program, connecting SR 167 and SR 509 to Interstate 5, and speeding freight
movement throughout the region.
Low-carbon fuel standard: Legislation to enact a low-carbon fuel standard made it
further than last session—passing the House and receiving multiple hearings in the
Senate—but it did not move forward before the end of session. It will remain an
active effort in the 2020 legislative session.
Additional Items of Interest
• Initiative 1000 (I-200 amendment)
• Transportation electrification
• Fishing pier funding
• SR 518 study extension
• Model Toxics Control Act reform
• Career Connect WA
• Airport Coordinating Commission
• Job-order contracting
• 100% Clean Electricity
• Human trafficking legislation
• Electric aviation
• Sustainable aviation biofuels work
group
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2019 Port Priorities Scorecard
Next Steps
• Funding and other follow ups: Fishing pier with Expedia; Maritime
Innovation Center with Dept. of Commerce; Initiative 1000
• Interim meetings with lawmakers (June-December 2019)
• Potential small group tours (July-September 2019)
• 2020 Legislative Agenda Development (now through November
2019)
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