The House Transportation Committee spent its organizational meeting Thursday outlining committee operations, introducing staff assignments and repeating deadlines members must meet to file amendments.

Committee staff coordinator Mark Mattson told members the committee’s operating guidelines include two notable changes for the 2025 session: a reduced threshold to vote a bill out of committee — 14 yes votes this year — and a new decorum provision under rule 21 that asks members to refrain from speaking while seated on or standing near the dais when another member or a member of the public has been recognized by the chair. “There are just a couple of changes. One, for the committee to vote a bill out of committee, this year it requires 14 votes,” Mattson said. “...the provision says members will refrain from speaking while seated on or standing in proximity of the dais when a fellow member or member of the public has been recognized by the chair to speak.”

Mattson and Amy Skay, the committee’s budget coordinator, walked members through amendment deadlines and the staff roles they should contact for help. For amendments to be considered in an executive session, Mattson said, members must request and approve drafting the proposed amendment the weekday prior to the executive session by 10 a.m., and finalize and authorize public release by 6 p.m. that same day so the amendment can be posted in the electronic bill book. “So when an executive session is coming up and you're interested in offering an amendment, the amendment or proposed sub must be requested and approved for public release,” Mattson said, adding that staff will remind members as deadlines approach.

The session included an onstage introduction of committee staff and their primary policy and budget assignments. Mattson identified Amy Skay as the budget coordinator and said she is the point person for questions on bonds, financial plans and fund balances. Other staff introductions listed assignments such as highway management, ferry policy, driver's licensing, traffic safety, fuels and right-of-way; members were urged to consult Mark Mattson if they were unsure who to contact for a particular topic.

Mattson emphasized that staff coordinate both policy and budget work: “If you have questions about bonds, about the financial plan, about fund balances, anything budget, she's the one to go to,” he said of Skay. Skay also outlined the broad public-facing budget timeline: agencies submitted budget requests in September, the governor released a proposal in December, and the legislature’s work continues in January through the March revenue forecast and draft budgets released in March.

The chair also reminded members that the committee will take public testimony but will have a hard stop at 5 p.m. on the next hearing day; testimony not heard may be rescheduled. Members were told caucus meeting rooms and other logistical details for the coming week would be communicated by staff.

The introductions and procedural briefings preceded a more detailed staff presentation on committee jurisdiction and the transportation budget, which staff said would inform amendment and funding priorities during the session.

Members were encouraged to direct district-specific emergent needs to staff; Mattson said the committee will ask members to report any changed or urgent district conditions that might require near-term action. The meeting concluded with housekeeping instructions for caucus locations and the day’s schedule.