Welcome to our weekly Dispatch from Olympia and the first day of the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session! This email will arrive in your inbox early each week and provide highlights about what’s happening in the legislature, including upcoming events, the status of bills we’re tracking, and ways to take action.
Our weekly Dispatch is a great way to stay informed about the latest developments on legislation impacting Washington transportation, our climate, and our communities.
If you haven’t already, check out Transportation Choices’ 2025 Legislative Agenda. Our 2025 priorities include:
- Upholding the promises of the Climate Commitment Act by protecting funds designated to programs that align with our climate and mobility goals.
- Tackling the road safety crisis with a state-led Megaproject for Safety — $1.5 billion over the next decade to address safety on our state’s most dangerous corridors.
- Expanding the Travel Washington Intercity Bus Program with an additional $12 million annually to connect rural communities and ensure equitable access for seniors and people with disabilities.
- Ensuring highway funds go toward fixing the infrastructure we have before investing in new projects.
- Looking to the future of transportation funding in Washington by tracking efforts to examine a state road usage charge.
- Supporting efforts to ensure operators and riders feel safe and secure on transit.
Session begins today, January 13th, and runs through April 27th. This week, we’re tracking the following:
- A public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 4 PM on the budget proposed by Governor Inslee (SB 5161)
- A public hearing in the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 4 PM on the budget proposed by Governor Inslee (HB 1226)
- A transportation safety work session in the House Transportation Committee on Thursday, Jan. 16, at 4 PM. to review reports and data on driver safety.
This year’s session is hybrid, so you can testify, sign in on bills, or engage with legislators virtually and in person. When bills in committee have a public hearing, you can sign in as “pro,” “con,” or “other,” submit written comments, or sign up to testify. We’ll make sure to let you know about important opportunities to take action.
You can learn more about the legislative session and committee schedules on the Washington State Legislature website. The Senate Transportation Committee will meet Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 4 – 6 PM, and the House Transportation Committee will meet Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 4 – 6 PM.
Finally, stay tuned for the launch of our Bill Tracker, where you can see the current status of important bills we’re following.
Ride on!
– Transportation Choices