House and Senate Release Proposed Transportation Budgets

On Monday, the House and Senate each released their proposed 2025-2027 Operating and Transportation budgets. This newsletter will focus on the proposed transportation budgets, which include notable amounts of Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funding. 

In the context of a challenging budget environment, Clean & Prosperous Washington (CaPWA) is pleased to see initial proposals from both chambers that remain committed to advancing transportation electrification projects crucial to meeting our shared climate goals.

Our Testimony

Earlier this week we provided testimony at both the House and Senate transportation committees on their initial budget proposals. 

Clean & Prosperous lobbyist Isaac Kastama (at right) provides testimony at the House Transportation Committee

Clean & Prosperous Washington lobbyist Isaac Kastama had this to say at the House Transportation Committee: 

“We are very excited to see continued funding for the [Medium- and Heavy-Duty Zero Emission Vehicle] voucher program. It has been one of the most successful programs that we have seen out of California for helping medium- and heavy-duty trucks…and I think this [budget] reflects the demand that we’re hoping to see for the program.” 

You can watch the complete House and Senate transportation committee hearings on TVW. 

Key Issues

Both House and Senate budget proposals are actively changing as legislators consider each package. Here are some high-level takeaways on CaPWA’s top transportation priorities this session: 

• Truck decarbonization: The House’s proposal includes an additional $25 million for the Medium- and Heavy-Duty (MHD) Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) voucher program, bringing the total program budget to $135 million, while the Senate funds the voucher program at $70 million. We encourage a final funding level that improves upon the $110 million included in the previous budget. 
• Ferry & port electrification: Both chambers include some delays for hybrid-electric ferry conversions and related port electrification. The data clearly shows that ferry and port electrification has extremely high return on investment in terms of emissions reduction, and it’s crucial that these projects remain a priority for our state. 
• Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF): The Senate’s proposal includes significant new investments – approximately $26 million – for SAF. Continued efforts to boost the SAF ecosystem are crucial for helping reduce transportation emissions while creating green jobs and generating economic opportunity.

You can explore the budget proposals in full at https://fiscal.wa.gov/. 

What’s Next

The Legislature will continue to debate and shape their budget proposals in the coming days and weeks. Both houses will soon release their proposed capital budgets, where the outstanding CCA funding lies. Subscribe to this newsletter if you aren’t already so you receive our capital budget breakdown.