SB 6335, cutting back the Washington State Transportation Commission’s planning and policy roles, failed to pass the February 17 house-of-origin cutoff. AWC does not expect the bill to make a return before the end of the legislative session.

Senate proposal targets, cuts back State Transportation Commission role

January 30, 2026

A proposal to reduce the Washington State Transportation Commission’s role as a planning and policy development entity for the state’s transportation system is under consideration this year in the Senate.

Sen. Marko Liias (D–Edmonds) has sponsored SB 6335, an updated version of a similar proposal introduced, but not adopted, last year.

The new bill removes the commission’s legislative directive to develop a statewide transportation plan and formulate transportation policy recommendations for the Governor’s Office. The commission would no longer coordinate state transportation planning with national, state, local, and regional policies or contribute to the development of state transportation agency objectives and performance measures.

Under SB 6335, the commission would no longer serve as a central point of coordination for the Department of Licensing, the State Patrol, the Traffic Safety Commission, the County Road Administration Board, and the Department of Transportation. It would no longer receive city and county arterial inventory data from the Transportation Investment Board, and it would lose its voting membership on the Puget Sound Regional Council.

The bill retains the commission’s public engagement duties, though they would be limited to the newly truncated areas of concern outlined in the legislation, and the commission would no longer serve as a public forum for policy development purposes.

The commission would maintain other responsibilities, such as conducting studies, setting tolls and ferry rates, and recommending route jurisdiction transfers to the Legislature. Lastly, the bill requires the commission to provide the Legislature with an annual summary of the public's views regarding the transportation system.

The proposed changes could have wide-ranging, long-term impacts on Washington’s transportation system by limiting the representation of local governments in statewide transportation development. Furthermore, removing critical guidance from the commission could impair the Legislature’s ability to successfully assess and prepare for long-term challenges to the whole system, which must develop and grow in a coordinated, comprehensive manner that accounts for the needs of all interested parties—the state, cities, and counties that maintain and operate the system, and the motorists and passengers who depend on it.

AWC has significant concerns regarding the changes the bill makes. We encourage cities and towns to contact your legislators, along with AWC staff, to share your experiences with the commission, illustrating how it adds value to your community and the state.

Date to remember

SB 6335 is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee on Monday, February 2, at 4 pm.