WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION

HB 1970: Highway alt. contracting

Concerning state highway construction project alternative contracting procedures.

Summary

  • Authorizes the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to use alternative public works contracting procedures, including design-build (DB), progressive design-build (PDB), or general contracting/construction manager (GC/CM) processes.
  • Includes PDB and GC/CM procedures in the WSDOT processes for awarding competitively bid highway construction contracts using alternative public works contracting procedures.
  • Excludes the WSDOT from seeking Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (Board) certification requirements to use the DB, PDB, or GC/CM contracting procedure on individual projects.
  • Allows for the WSDOT to no longer be subjected to Board approval requirements for GC/CM projects after delivering three GC/CM projects approved by the Board.

From the House Bill Report (HB 1970), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 231, Laws of 2025
  1. IntroducedFeb 13, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 28, 2025
  3. Passed HouseMar 5, 2025
  4. Passed SenateApr 16, 2025
  5. GovernorMay 12, 2025
  6. LawMay 12, 2025
Prime sponsor
Janice Zahn (D-41)
Introduced
February 13, 2025 in the House
Last action
May 12, 2025
Session law
Chapter 231, Laws of 2025
Budget
Has a fiscal note

AN ACT Relating to state highway construction project alternative contracting procedures;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Janice Zahn (D-41)

1 co-sponsor (1 Democrat, 0 Republicans)

Brandy Donaghy D-44

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 5, 2025
Version voted on: HB 1970
97 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58001
Republican39000
How each member voted

Yea (97)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 16, 2025
Version voted on: HB 1970
48 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29100
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (48)

Nay (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed April 21, 2025
Version voted on: HB 1970
97 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58001
Republican39000
How each member voted

Yea (97)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 5/12/2025.
  2. Chapter 231, 2025 Laws.
  3. Governor signed.
  4. Delivered to Governor.
  5. President signed.
  6. Speaker signed.
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.
  8. House concurred in Senate amendments.
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  14. TRAN - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
  15. First reading, referred to Transportation.
  16. Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.
  17. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
  18. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  19. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  20. TR - Majority; do pass.
  21. TR - Executive action taken by committee.
  22. First reading, referred to Transportation.

HB 1970 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

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