Draft 2023 State Legislative Agenda
Briefing to the Port of Seattle Commission
October 25, 2022

Eric ffitch, Senior Government Relations Manager
Trent House, Contract Lobbyist

                     Overview
•   Olympia preview – what to expect from 2023 Session
–  Long session, biennial budget year
–  Budget picture
–  First in-person session since 2020
•  Allowance will still be made for virtual testimony
•  Members and staff encouraged to attend all proceedings in person

•   Agenda development process
–  Evaluate progress made last session
–  Incorporate ongoing work and core priorities
•   Next steps
–  Incorporate additional Commission feedback between now and 11/8
–  Seek Commission adoption of final agenda in 11/8


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             Priority Agenda Items
Invest in essential workforces: The Port seeks continuing state partnership on workforce development in port-related industries,
including support for pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs and policies intended to support retention and promote
a respectful worksite free of harassment and intimidation.
Progressive climate action: Enactment of progressive climate policies spurs investment in new technologies and generates
demand for a newly skilled workforce, while reducing emissions and improving environmental justice action. With the Clean Fuels
Program and Climate Commitment Act in place, the state should pursue partnership with ports on decarbonization of heavy
transportation from maritime to aviation sectors.
The Port of Seattle fully supports state partnership in:
-     Proposed maritime decarbonization investments put forward by The Northwest Seaport Alliance
-     Potential Regional Maritime Fuels collaborative, developed alongside Maritime Blue, to speed adoption and promote regional leadership
in the fuels space
-     Development of an incentive package to promote deployment of Sustainable Aviation Fuels and other low- and zero-carbon aviation
technologies
Further, the Port acknowledges that siting of clean energy facilities sufficient to meet state demand for renewable energy will require legislative
changes, and we support state work to promote development of in-state renewable energy sources.

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        Priority Agenda Items - continued
Equity and Community focus: An annual priority for the Port of Seattle, this year legislative efforts that can support
our community partners include:
-    Reduced local match for community improvements: The Port supports reducing the required local match that non-profit
entities must provide in order to receive small-dollar grants for public improvement projects. This statutory change will
help the Port distribute grant funding at a time when many local government partners will be forced to reduce
grantmaking.
-    Public contracting and grantmaking: The Port ’s  Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is eager to work with our
community to increase the share of grants and contracts that go to underserved populations. Legislative changes may
be required to meet our goals, and we will partner with Olympia lawmakers to pursue such changes.
Vessel noise and impacts: With the state’s prior investment in Quiet Sound leading to successful program
implementation and early successes, the Port supports additional state funding for Quiet Sound to ensure
continued program success and further growth and development.


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      Priority Issue Areas – Quality Jobs and Small Business
•    Quality Jobs:
-    Worker training programs in port-related industries
-    Career-connected and work-based learning programs for middle- and high-school age students
-    State support for pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs
-    Responsible enforcement of labor standards, including a culture of respect and inclusion
-    Continued state partnership on tourism promotion
-    Support for rural economic development

•    Small Business:
-     Continued support for the repeal of Initiative 200
-     Flexibility in contracting to public owners, including alternative public works
-     Enhance the opportunities for SMWBEs to compete for small works projects
-    MODIFIED: Support business assistance programs for small business capacity building and help SMWBEs compete


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               Priority Issue Areas – Transportation and Competitiveness (page 1)
General transportation priorities:
-     MODIFIED: Upgrades to State Route 518 and finish construction of the Puget Sound Gateway Program (SR509/SR167), and
others.
-     Proposals that speed the movement of freight and passengers from origin to destination
-     Deepen partnership with Washington State on promoting Washington state as an international trading partner

-     Support the authority of the Port to control access to port facilities by all transportation modes
-     Support regional conversations related to a potential increase in passenger vessel routes, with appropriate mitigation
-     Promote resilience in the transportation network, and support collaboration with other government agencies, including on
issues of climate resilience.
-     Coordinated approach to regional transportation planning, including aviation planning, to reflect the unprecedented growth in
the region and the related stresses on our existing infrastructure.



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               Priority Issue Areas – Transportation and Competitiveness (page 3)
Land use priorities: Continue to advocate on land use issues facing Washington ports, with a specific focus on zoning issues that
may affect port competitiveness. This may include:
-    Proposals  that  reflect  the  NWSA's  “Guiding  Principles:  Stewardship, Enhancement, and Protection  of  Maritime and
Manufacturing Lands”
-    NEW: Reduce gentrification pressure on critical industrial lands by focusing dense residential development in existing
residential areas
-    Proposals  that  reflect  the  Port's  commitment  to  environmental  sustainability,  acknowledge  that  manufacturing  and
industrial centers are resource lands of statewide economic significance
-    Recognize the role industrial resource lands play in global port competitiveness
-    Proposals that seek to strengthen the Container Ports Element of the Growth Management Act
-    Recommendations related to the Department of Commerce’s Interbay Public Development Advisory Committee; and
-    Any legislative changes that may impact the efficient functioning of statewide essential public facilities.


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     Priority Issue Areas – Energy and Environment (page 1)
Priority Issue Areas: Energy and Environment

-    Promote the use of low- and zero-carbon fuels for transportation; low or zero emission transit options; reduction in the cost of
low-carbon energy sources to consumers in the state.

-    Programs directed at Puget Sound health

-    Programs funded through the Model Tox i cs Control Act (MTCA)

-    Continued collaboration with state and local agencies on disbursement of funds from the national Volkswagen settlement

-    Policies  that  promote  use  of  clean  energy  technology,  build  energy  efficiency,  and  support  a  statewide  reduction  in
greenhouse gas emissions


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     Priority Issue Areas – Energy and Environment (page 2)
-    MODIFIED: Continued state support for partnership sustainable aviation and maritime technologies

-    Promote climate change resilience and collaboration with other government agencies in this effort

-    Policies  that  reduce  carbon  and  air  pollution  emissions  for  passengers,  employees,  and  cargo  traveling  to  and  from
Port facilities
-    Reduce carbon emissions from waterfront operations while maintaining international competitive edge





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      Priority Issue Areas – Tax, Governance, Technology, and more
Tax: Support tax policies at the state level including:
•   Policies that support those communities that house the warehousing and distribution infrastructures.
•   Policies that reduce manufacturing costs in port-related businesses
Governance: Oppose legislation that would create an imbalance of representatives between the two homeports in their governing of the
Northwest Seaport Alliance.
Cybersecurity: Monitor proposals that seek to balance the importance of transparency and public disclosure with the vulnerability of public
governments that manage critical infrastructure.
Technology: Monitor proposals related to the use of biometric technology
Broadband: Support continued state and local government efforts to bridge the digital divide
Human trafficking: Engage continued state partnership with Port efforts to combat human trafficking at port facilities




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                    Next Steps
•   Today – Commission briefing study session
•   Now through November 8, 2022 – Incorporate feedback received
•   November 8, 2022 – Seek Commission adoption in public session
•   November and December 2022– Distribute agenda to key legislators; continue staff and elected level meetings
with legislators
•   January 9, 2023 – First day of 2022 state legislative session
•   April 23, 2023 – Estimated end of 2023 state legislative session


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