March 12 brought with it an important milestone, and deadline, in the 2025 legislative session: house of origin cutoff.
The chamber, House of Representatives or Senate, a bill is introduced in is considered its “house of origin" and this cutoff date represents the last day bills may have action taken on them there. Any legislation that is not passed off of the house or senate floors by the cutoff are considered “dead” for the session.
However, there is a big caveat.
Bills that are deemed “necessary to implement the budget,” or “NTIB,” do not fall under this deadline and can have action taken on them anytime further on in session.
As you may be aware, the County Road Administration Board introduced legislation for the first time in decades to create a local roads program we strongly believe will benefit the transportation system, economy and citizens of Washington State. Over the past two months, we have received a lot of positive feedback on the legislation and our agency as a whole. We are well respected and lawmakers appear interested in supporting us where they can.
HB 1098, sponsored by Representative Sam Low (R-Snohomish County) passed unanimously from the House Transportation Committee to the House floor but, unfortunately, did not make the cutoff deadline.
While it may be dead, IF the legislature chooses to fund the program, the bill will be considered NTIB.
We are now in a holding period while we wait for the legislature to roll out their 2025-2027 budgets. The March revenue forecast is scheduled for March 18th and, several days later we should expect the first budget proposal to be released. This year, the Senate will go first; a few days after we should expect the House budget to be released.
While the bulk of the budgets are likely written, lawmakers are still making changes and additions to their proposals. We do not know if our program proposal will be a part of a larger revenue package, but we are holding out hope. I will provide a budget update via a special bulletin in the next two weeks. Keep an eye out and keep your fingers crossed!
