Marko Liias — Stephen Ellis addresses Chair Liias.
Marko Liias — The speaker refers to Senator Inslee in discussing past governors and budget limits.
Marko Liias — Addressed as Chair Liias.
Marko Liias — Addressed as Chair Liias.
Marko Liias — Addressed as Mr. Chair Liias.
Marko Liias — Acknowledged as Chair.
Kyle Seafrin — Kyle Seafrin is introduced as OFM staff assisting with the budget.
Maria Thomas — Maria Thomas is introduced as OFM staff assisting with the budget.
Renee Martinez — Renee Martinez is introduced as OFM staff assisting with the budget.
Brooke Gore — Brooke Gore is identified as OFM staff assisting with the budget development.
SB6005 — The committee announces the public hearing on Senate Bill 6005, identifying it as the supplemental transportation appropriations bill for the 2025-27 fiscal biennium.
SB6005 — The chair announced the conclusion of the public hearing on Senate Bill 6005 and adjourned the committee.
Steve Ellis — Steve Ellis is scheduled to testify, with the chair first noting he will be invited forward after the remote testifier and then adjusting the order to move him ahead while Laura is being connected.
Mike Ennis — He is invited to testify after the remote testifier.
Laura Lance — Laura Lance is called as a remote witness and asked to take two minutes to testify while the committee continues with other testimony.
Mike Innes — Mike Innes is introduced as the next witness, testifies on behalf of the Washington Asphalt Pavement Association and ICON Materials, and is then addressed by the chair with a question about asphalt cost drivers.
Laura Lant — She identifies herself as a council member representing Bainbridge Island and supports the governor's ferry investments.
Stephen Ellis — He testifies on behalf of the Association of Washington Cities and thanks the committee and governor for budget actions.
Tim Iman — Tim Iman is called to testify and then introduces himself as being from Kirkland, stating that he has worked in the field for 29 years.
Ken Short — Ken Short is first named as an upcoming testifier, then appears on the record representing the Association of Washington Business and testifies in support of the bill/preservation priorities.
Neil Strahy — Named as an upcoming testifier.
Jerry Vanderwood — Jerry Vanderwood was invited as an upcoming testifier and then began his testimony, identifying himself as being with Associated General Contractors and speaking in support of increased preservation and maintenance funding, including SB 6005.
SB6005 — AGC expresses support for SB 6005, saying it helps maintain stability in the state's transportation program during the biennium and represents a commitment to sustaining transportation investments that will keep Washington's transportation system moving.
Neil Streggie — Testified on behalf of the Washington Roundtable in support of transportation investment and preservation.
Dania Otto — Named as the next remote testifier.
Peter Brady — Invited forward as an in-person testifier.
Eric Fitch — Eric Fitch, executive director of the Washington Public Ports Association, was invited to testify in support of Senate Bill 605. He explained that WPPA members operate transportation facilities that support statewide economic development and emphasized the importance of the governor’s proposed $15 million for dredging the lower Columbia River channel. Fitch described the dredging as a recurring need tied to maintaining the federal channel at 43 feet, noted that the non-federal share falls on ports such as Kalama, Vancouver, and Longview, and said the investment is important for jobs, trade, and statewide economic competitiveness. In response to a question, he said he would need to follow up on a low-tide-related detail to avoid misstating it on the record.
Donya Rescu Otto — Donya Rescu Otto testified on behalf of Sakura 39ers and Kofa community members in Washington in support of an additional appropriation in the supplemental transportation budget for COFA REAL ID compliance. She explained that many COFA residents face language, financial, and transportation barriers that make it difficult to obtain REAL ID-compliant documents such as passports, and she thanked the committee for its prior work and consideration of the request.
Pete Brady — Pete Brady testified about concerns with the Washington State Ferries budget, arguing that lifecycle cost information he obtained suggests hybrid-electric ferries are far more expensive than commonly understood. He cited a large cost differential in preservation and maintenance, emphasized that batteries are the major expense, compared long-term costs for diesel boats, and concluded that adding shore-base batteries could bring the total to about $5 billion, implying the funding needs would be far higher than expected.
Mary Patterson — Mary Patterson, representing Solutionary Rail and the Rail Can't Wait Coalition, argued that Washington cannot rely on roads alone because construction and maintenance costs are too high. She urged greater investment in transit and rail, noted that more passenger-only ferry use could reduce pressure on the ferry system, and pointed to the Empire Builder continuing service during recent floods as evidence of rail resilience. She concluded by asking the committee to review rail capital funding, including Climate Commitment Act rail funds, and to consider broader rail investment beyond high-speed rail.
Katie Durkin — Katie Durkin was invited forward and then testified on behalf of the Washington Federation of State Employees, supporting maintenance and preservation funding and improved working conditions for WSDOT workers.
Axel Swanson — Testified on behalf of the Association of Counties.
Mr. Hanson — Referenced as having covered the first issue in prior testimony and the staff report.
Sean Egan — Testified on behalf of the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
Jake Lewing — Testified on behalf of the City of Wenatchee in support of continued funding for Confluence Parkway.
Tim Gould — Testified as a longtime transit advocate and chair of the Sierra Club Washington Chapter Transportation and Land Use Committee.
Curtis King — Introduced himself as state senator from the 14th Legislative District and ranking member.
Curtis King — Addressed as Ranking Member King.
Curtis King — Curtis King is repeatedly addressed as the ranking member/senator during a committee discussion on transportation preservation funding. He asks whether additional DOT preservation funds could be used in 2026 and whether the request is specifically for paving, and later speakers reference his earlier question while continuing the same funding discussion.
Keith Goehner — Introduced himself as representing the 12th District, covering most of Snohomish and part of King County.
John Lovick — Introduced himself as state senator from the 44th District in Snohomish County.
John Lovick — Vice Chair John Lovick is called to manage the hearing and then explains the hearing procedure, including starting with the remote testifier and setting a two-minute timer.
John Lovick — Acknowledged as Vice Chair.
Deborah Krishnadasan — Mentioned as a senator from the 26th Legislative District.
Javier Valdez — Javier Valdez is introduced and then identifies himself as representing the 46th Legislative District in Northeast Seattle.
Javier Valdez — Referred to as the speaker's own senator.
Liz Lovelett — Introduced herself as senator from the 40th Legislative District, including the San Juan Islands, western Skagit, and Whatcom.
Emily Alvarado — Introduced herself as serving in the 34th District.
T'wina Nobles — Introduced herself as representing the 28th Legislative District.
Jeff Wilson — Introduced himself as representing the 19th Legislative District.