Jennifer Harris — Jennifer Harris is introduced and then begins briefing the committee on House Bill 292 as committee staff.
Julia Reed — Julia Reed opened her remarks by thanking the chair and committee and introducing the passenger rail advisory committee concept. She explained that the idea is meant to improve ongoing engagement and noted that conditions have improved, but emphasized the need for a durable structure beyond individual legislators. She then continued her presentation with a light joke before closing her remarks by inviting advocates to speak. In a later follow-up, she clarified that fare-setting remains a legislative decision, though the advisory group could discuss affordability and potentially recommend changes.
Julia Reed — Praised for excellent work last year on House Bill 1837.
Ed Orcutt — Representative Orcutt questioned why BNSF or other railroad representatives were not included in the discussion, noting that Amtrak runs on corporate rail and that the rail owners should be part of the advisory or discussion structure because they own the rail.
Ed Orcutt — His question about industry inclusion is answered.
Andrew Barkis — Representative Barkis is referenced repeatedly in a single discussion about advisory board structure and related questions. He is first mentioned in passing, then called on for further questions, thanked for his work, and ultimately affirmed as someone whose collaboration on improving the advisory board structure would be very helpful.
Andrew Barkis — Addressed as Ranking Member Barkis.
Andrew Barkis — Ranking Member Barkis is addressed by the witness.
Andrew Barkis — Ranking Member Barkis is addressed in testimony.
Andrew Barkis — Ranking Member Barkis is thanked for sponsoring the bill.
Andrew Barkis — Barkis is thanked for sponsoring the bill.
Andrew Barkis — Ranking Member Barkis is addressed by the staff briefing the bill.
Andrew Barkis — Ranking Member Barkis is addressed in the opening of the bill briefing.
Andrew Barkis — The ranking member, Barkis (Andrew Barkis), is referenced in a continuous discussion, with both mentions identifying the same person in the same context.
Joe Timmons — Representative Joe Timmons discussed rail travel, noting his positive experience riding Amtrak from Seattle to Chicago and his support for trains and the Cascades. He then asked whether the advisory committee could explore ways to make rail travel more affordable, and the exchange continued with a prompt for any follow-on question.
Joe Timmons — The speaker references Representative Timmons's district boundary.
Mari Leavitt — Thanked for comments before moving to public testimony.
Mari Leavitt — Asked to call people to testify; likely a transcription error for the vice chair's name.
Mari Leavitt — Praised for her vision and leadership in proposing the rail advisory committee.
Mari Leavitt — Met with stakeholders and invited additional ideas on the bill.
Mari Leavitt — Thanked for co-sponsoring the rail bill.
Mari Leavitt — Vice Chair Donaghy is called on twice in quick succession as the meeting transitions to public testimony, with no substantive discussion beyond the procedural call.
Luis Moscoso — Luis Moscoso is introduced as the first scheduled witness, and his background is noted as a former legislator and former vice chair of the Transportation Committee.
Gary Wirt — Gary Wirt is introduced as the second scheduled witness, then appears to testify in favor of HB 2092 and briefly identifies himself for the record, noting his transportation background.
Charles Hamilton — Charles Hamilton, Executive Director of All Aboard Washington, testified on HB 2092. He introduced himself and then urged expanding the passenger rail advisory committee statewide, including representation from the disability community.
Luis Saul Moscoso — Testified in favor of HB 2092 on behalf of All Aboard Washington.
HB2092 — Multiple witnesses testify in strong support of HB 2092, which would establish a passenger rail advisory committee. They describe the committee as a useful tool for improving statewide passenger rail service, strengthening transportation equity and reliability, and creating a better relationship between customers and the service provider. One witness notes the committee should not be limited to the Amtrak Cascades and should have a broader rail focus. The testimony repeatedly urges the committee to pass the bill and send it for signature.
Debra Entenman — Vice Chair Donaghy is called on during the hearing to help manage the transition to the next witness, is then recognized for questions after testimony, and responds by facilitating the move to the next witness with a brief procedural remark.
Debra Entenman — Vice Chair Donaghy managed the final panel of witnesses by introducing the panel, directing Mr. Latham to proceed, and then inviting Mr. Sanderson to begin.
Jake Fey — The speaker thanks Rep. Reid for co-sponsoring the rail bill and for leadership on improving passenger rail in Washington, including introducing HB 2092. The exchange also includes a brief address to Chair Fey, but the overall discussion remains focused on rail legislation and related leadership.
Jake Fey — Chair Jake Fey is repeatedly addressed during the bill discussion: a witness and staff member speak to him directly, thank him for his leadership last session, and acknowledge his sponsorship of the bill.
Jake Fey — The speaker addresses Chairman Jake Fey, along with the ranking member and committee members, as part of a single opening acknowledgment.
HB1837 — HB 1837 is referenced as the prior rail bill from last year, and the discussion explains that the sponsor carefully chose the bill’s trip times, frequency, and reliability provisions.
Dr. Breck Lebeg — Dr. Breck Lebeg, co-chair of the Climate and Health Task Force of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, testifies in support of HB 2092. He says WPSR strongly supports the bill because it welcomes citizen input and helps ensure transportation equity and reliability for Cascades trains.
Mary Patterson — Testifies for Solutionary Rail in support of HB 2092.
Tom White — Technical advisor to Climate Rail Alliance and Rail Can't Wait; testifies in support of HB 2092.
Bill Moyer — Bill Moyer testifies in favor of HB 2092 and introduces himself as directing the Solutionary Rail Council/Campaign, noting his involvement with the Rail Can’t Wait Coalition and that he hosts the Rail in the Public Interest podcast, Reconnect America.
HB2092 — House Bill 2092 is discussed in a single public-hearing segment focused on creating the passenger rail advisory committee and advancing rail policy goals. Witnesses testify in favor of the bill, describe it as a continuation of progress from HB 1837, and express support from Solutionary Rail and the coalition. While generally supportive, they ask for amendments or added language to strengthen the committee’s mission and ensure people with disabilities are represented on the advisory committee. The hearing then concludes.
Tim Gould — Tim Gould was introduced as one of the final testifiers and then gave testimony in support of House Bill 2092. He thanked the committee, identified himself as a transit advocate and chair of the Sierra Club Transportation and Land Use Committee for Washington, noted his involvement with the Rail Can't Wait Coalition, and closed by expressing his hope for the bill’s passage.
Sean Latham — Sean Latham is identified as one of the upcoming testifiers, then called to testify, and begins his remarks by introducing himself as representing self-advocates in leadership, a coalition of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Trevor Sanderson-Sandison — Named as one of the last three testifiers; name appears with a likely transcription error.
HB1837 — House Bill 1837 is referenced as the prior bill that passed and established service performance targets for Amtrak Cascades.
Trevor Sandison — Trevor Sandison, representing Community Employment Alliance, introduced himself and described the organization’s long-standing advocacy work in Washington state supporting people with disabilities, their families, and businesses. He noted it had been 30 years since he last appeared before the Transportation Committee and requested that a person with disabilities be included on the advisory committee. He then concluded his testimony by thanking the committee.
HB2111 — House Bill 2111 is introduced and explained as a bill allowing the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project toll facility bond retirement account to retain its proportionate share of interest earnings, directing that revenue to the I-5 bridge replacement project rather than the operating budget. The discussion includes support for advancing the bill and concludes with the chair closing public testimony on House Bill 2111.
David Minneke — Identified as the staff member who will brief the next bill.
Amy Skate — Identified as assisting with the next bill briefing.
David Monarchy — Staff to the committee, introduced House Bill 2111 briefing.
Ron Arp — Introduces himself and begins testimony in support of House Bill 2111.
Matt Zivich — Matt Zivich, Legislative Director for State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti, presents testimony on House Bill 2111 and concludes by offering to answer any questions.
HB2114 — The committee opens the public hearing on House Bill 2114 and receives an overview of the bill. The measure would require the Department of Licensing to waive replacement plate fees in certain cases, allowing people with defective license plates to request free replacement plates within specified time windows. The briefing also notes exceptions, the bill’s January 1, 2027 effective date, and that there is a fiscal note.