The only professional pilot in the Washington State legislature, District 13 Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake. has proposed four aviation specific bills:
HB1683 to evaluate the best location for a new airport by a Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission established to evaluate the best location for a new airport
HB 1456 would create a community aviation revitalization loan program to support public-use airport improvements.
HB 1457 would redistribute aircraft fuel tax revenue to add funds to the state aviation account
HB 1397 would expand the Washington Department of Transportation’s supervision area to include electric aircraft and assessing infrastructure needs related to this developing technology.
The package received a good deal of support from other members and witnesses, for example:
District 33 Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, prime sponsor, represents the SEA-TAC community. Support from the largest airport in the state anchors the politics involved in considering new airports.