INTRODUCTION

As 2021 winds to a close, the 2022 Legislative Session is gearing up. Your Government Affairs team here at WPPA is hard at work preparing for the upcoming Session and ensuring that ports’ goals and interests are well-represented in the law-making process.

This is the last Interim Report before we switch over to our members-only Friday Legislative Reports, the weekly rundown of the action that’s happened in Olympia. These Interim Reports, a new feature in 2021, are designed to keep WPPA membership informed of advocacy efforts that happen outside of the Session. We hope you’ve enjoyed these monthly features, and we plan to bring them back after the 2022 Legislative Session wraps up.

A final reflection for the end of 2021—this has been a difficult year as we continued to be challenged by the pandemic and large demographic and societal shifts. These forces have exerted pressure here at home, on our own port community. The staff of WPPA are grateful for all our members, and even when our conversations are difficult, we know that it’s all in service to building the best port community possible for the residents of Washington. We thank you for your public service and look forward to seeing more of you in 2022.

ISSUES

Formally adopting our Legislative Agenda

On December 3rd, the WPPA Board of Trustees adopted the legislative priorities recommended by the Legislative Committee. This upcoming legislative session, the WPPA will be working with coalitions on issues in common, advancing bills and monitoring the State Capitol. Ports' big issues center on state transportation needs, making sure MTCA remedial grants are being distributed in a timely manner, and CERB program funding. There are many other important issues we are working on, which you can see on our website's Advocacy page.

Infrastructure List of Port Projects

During the last Legislative Session, WPPA compiled a list of potential port infrastructure projects that could move forward within 12 to 24 months. There were well over 100 projects identified and a separate list of possible broadband projects. WPPA shared these lists with key legislators involved with budget-writing, and with leadership and staff at the Office of Financial Management, the agency that manages the state budgets. We also met with staff at CERB and the Department of Commerce. Some of the projects on that list were funded in the last budget cycle, and CERB identified a group of projects that could qualify for CERB funds.

This week, WPPA met with program managers at the Department of Commerce and pitched the list again to potentially fund projects within their budget requests this session. It was an encouraging conversation and we agreed to meet again soon to further the conversation about ways to incorporate port projects into their new and ongoing programs.

Port Day

WPPA is pleased to offer a virtual Port Day on January 25, 2022, with the option to meet in-person for breakfast at the Ports Building in Olympia to watch the online sessions. The agenda is designed to be half-day, beginning at 7:30AM and ending around 12:00PM. While we are working on finalizing details and speakers, we can tell you we plan to bring legislative leadership to speak to ports, offer a session on transportation and the new Supply Chain Caucus (more on that in the write up below), plus talk about the effects of the new carbon legislation on ports. Please save the date and look for an invite soon.

Senator Marko Liias named chair of the Senate Transportation Committee

Senator Marko Liias, (D) from the 21st Legislative District was appointed chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. He replaces Senator Steve Hobbs who was nominated to Secretary of State in November by Governor Inslee.

Marko Liias has been in legislature since 2008, and while he hasn’t served on the Transportation Committee in a few years, he is no stranger to the issue. He was instrumental in negotiating the 2015 Connecting Washington Transportation Package and authored legislation which authorized regional Sound Transit 3.

Senator Liias lives in Mukilteo and formerly served as floor leader in the Senate. Changes to other committee assignments will be decided next week.

Supply Chain Legislative Caucus proposed; sets first meeting

A new caucus was formed to raise awareness and importance of supply chain disruptions and complexities. The Supply Chain Legislative Caucus (SCLC) will be chaired by Representative Matt Boehnke of Washington’s 8th Legislative District in the Tri-Cities and met for the first time on Monday December 13th; they will have a follow-up meeting on January 13th. The primary goal for the SCLC is to discuss and identify solutions for sustaining and improving the state’s supply chains. If you’d like to participate, please email Sheri Call at sheri@watrucking.org.

Model Toxics Cleanup Account (MTCA)

Ports, cities, and counties identified language in a MTCA reform bill passed in 2019 that ties funding and permitting cycles together and presents unproductive obstacles to funding cleanup projects. The WPPA is working with Ways & Means Vice Chair for Capital, Sen. David Frockt, and a coalition of stakeholders to pass legislation to remedy this problem. We will keep you informed on our progress in this effort in our legislative reports.

Emissions Intensive Trade Exposed (EITE) Legislation

During the 2021 Legislative Session the legislature enacted a statewide cap-and-trade program, also know as the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The bill included stringent provisions protecting Emissions Intensive Trade Exposed (EITE) businesses, which is important to ports. The Department of Ecology plans to introduce agency request legislation in the 2022 Legislative Session that would outline an EITE compliance pathway. Additional details on EITEs and their linkage to CCA can be found here.

Department of Ecology Rulemaking

The Washington State Department of Ecology is currently engaged in four carbon-related rulemaking processes that are tied to the passage of Washington’s Clean Fuel Standard and the Climate Commitment Act. The rulemakings include the development of the clean fuel standards, the development of the cap-and-trade program, greenhouse gas reporting rules, and criteria for EITEs. Additional details can be found here. WPPA is working to engage in the process through the Environmental Technical Committee, which will have its first meeting on the rulemakings on January 20th from 1-3pm.