TagWashington State Legislature(117)

Washington State Bill E2SSB 5955 creates a grant program, running through July 1, 2029, managed by the Department of Commerce to help port districts — primarily the Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac Airport — repair or replace faulty noise mitigation equipment installed in nearby homes, and to fix any structural damage caused by that equipment. The program is funded through a new 'port district equity fund' drawing from legislative appropriations, local government contributions, and private donations. An independent review by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee is required by July 1, 2028, to assess how many homes have been remediated and how many still need attention.

Washington State bill E2SSB 5955 creates a grant program, running through July 1, 2029, managed by the Department of Commerce to help large port districts — primarily the Port of Seattle, which operates Sea-Tac Airport — repair or replace faulty noise mitigation equipment installed in nearby homes, and address any structural damage caused by that equipment. Port districts can hire building inspectors or partner with their county to inspect affected properties, and must apply for grant funds when inspections reveal problems. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee will review the program's effectiveness by July 1, 2028.

This Washington State Senate amendment to P2SSB 5955, introduced by Senator Robinson through the Committee on Ways & Means, removes an appropriation provision from the bill by striking Section 7 and updating the bill's title language accordingly. The amendment eliminates any dedicated funding allocation that was previously included in the legislation, leaving the bill to create a new section without an attached appropriation.

This Washington State Senate amendment (S-4747.1/24), sponsored by Senator Keiser, modifies legislation related to airport noise mitigation programs administered by port districts. It expands the types of professionals that port districts—such as the Port of Seattle—can hire to inspect sound mitigation equipment, replacing the requirement for a 'state certified building inspector' with the broader option of building inspectors or other professionals experienced in sound testing or window and door installations. The amendment also allows port districts to enter into interlocal agreements with their host counties to contract for such inspection services, and makes technical language changes to the bill's intent section.

Washington Senate Bill 5955 proposes creating a 'port district equity fund' to help large port districts—such as the one operating Sea-Tac Airport—pay for aircraft noise mitigation programs. The fund would be seeded with a $10 million appropriation for fiscal year 2025 and subsequently replenished by sales and use tax revenue collected on capital construction projects at the airport, with the port district required to match at least half of state-provided funds. The Department of Commerce would administer grants from the fund to cover costs such as inspecting and repairing soundproofing equipment in nearby homes and addressing any structural damage caused by its installation.

This Washington State fiscal note summarizes the estimated costs of House Bill 2070, which relates to environmental justice and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) projects. The bill is projected to cost multiple state agencies a combined total of approximately $1.28 million in operating expenditures for 2023-25, rising to $2.64 million in 2025-27, before declining to about $1.61 million in 2027-29. The Department of Ecology, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Office of the Attorney General are among the primary agencies expected to incur costs, with some impacts remaining indeterminate.

Washington State Senate Bill 5955 creates a 'port district equity fund' to help large port districts, such as the Port of Seattle operating Sea-Tac International Airport, pay for aircraft noise mitigation programs in nearby communities. The bill provides an initial one-time appropriation for FY 2025, followed by ongoing funding of up to $10 million per year drawn from sales and use taxes on capital construction projects within the district. It also requires port districts to apply for fund resources to repair or replace noise mitigation equipment that is no longer working or has caused structural damage to properties, with port districts required to match at least half of the Legislature's contribution.

Washington State House Bill 2070 requires government agencies to complete environmental justice impact statements alongside standard environmental reviews for new, expanding, or permit-renewing projects located in pollution-burdened communities. The bill outlines what these statements must include, how affected communities must be notified and given input, and mandates that agencies deny or require mitigation for projects that would worsen environmental or public health conditions in already overburdened areas. Note that this bill addresses broad statewide environmental justice policy and does not specifically pertain to Sea-Tac Airport noise issues.

This is a fiscal note summary for Washington State House Bill 2103, concerning large port districts. It estimates that local governments would face operating expenditures of approximately $100.5 million per biennium across 2023-29, along with declining cash receipt reductions to local governments ranging from $867,000 in 2023-25 to over $8.5 million in 2027-29. The Office of State Treasurer notes non-zero but indeterminate financial impacts, while the Department of Commerce's fiscal note was not available at the time of the preliminary publication on January 16, 2024.

This is a fiscal note summary for Washington State Senate Bill 5955, which concerns large port districts. The document estimates that local governments could face operating expenditures of $100 million per biennium across multiple budget periods, while also projecting declining cash receipt losses to local governments ranging from approximately $867,000 in 2023-25 to over $8.5 million by 2027-29. The Office of State Treasurer notes non-zero but indeterminate cost impacts, and the Department of Commerce's fiscal note was not available at the time of publication in January 2024.