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SR8607 • 2026
Celebrating the fortieth anniversary of the public works board and public works assistance account.
This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Public works board
Adopted.
Public works board
WHEREAS, A 1983 public works report commissioned by the 1 Washington State Legislature found that local governments of the 2 State of Washington projected more than $2 billion in critical 3 infrastructure needs at that time; and 4 WHEREAS, To support Washington State local governments in the 5 financing of critical infrastructure projects, the 1985 Washington 6 State Legislature created the Washington State Public Works Board and 7 Public Works Assistance Account through chapter 466, Laws of 1985; 8 and 9 WHEREAS, The Public Works Board is composed of 13 members 10 appointed by the governor; three representing cities, three 11 representing counties, three jointly representing water-sewer 12 districts and public utility districts, and four representing the 13 general public; and 14 WHEREAS, The Public Works Board is responsible for administering 15 Public Works Assistance Account funds in the form of low-interest 16 loans and grants to Washington State counties, cities, water and 17 sewer districts, and public utility districts to finance essential 18 drinking water, sanitary sewer, stormwater, road, bridge, and solid 19 waste infrastructure projects; and 20 WHEREAS, The Public Works Assistance Account is a revolving loan 21 fund that uses Public Works Board-awarded project loan repayments and 22 percentages of the Washington State real estate excise tax, public 23 SENATE RESOLUTION 8607 By Senators Lovelett, Chapman, Dhingra, Orwall, Valdez, J. Wilson, and Warnick p. 1 8607 utility tax, and solid waste tax to generate monies for 1 additional infrastructure-funded projects; and 2 WHEREAS, Since its creation, the Public Works Board has 3 invested nearly $3.5 billion in more than 2,200 projects 4 supporting essential infrastructure to the direct benefit of 5 residents and businesses in every county and across cities and 6 towns in the State of Washington; and 7 WHEREAS, Just in the past six years, awards by the Public 8 Works Board have saved local governments $188 million in 9 interest rate savings and grants, helping keep utility rates 10 affordable; and 11 WHEREAS, The success of the Public Works Board and Public 12 Works Assistance Account in providing a viable option for local 13 governments to finance critical infrastructure projects has been 14 recognized and emulated by other states across the nation; and15 WHEREAS, In the 2023-2025 biennium, the Public Works Board 16 awarded $392 million in loans and grants for construction 17 projects, $15 million in loans and grants for preconstruction 18 projects, and $8.5 million in loans and grants for emergency 19 infrastructure projects; and 20 WHEREAS, The 2025 Session of the Washington State 21 Legislature marks the 40th anniversary of the creation of the 22 Public Works Board and the Public Works Assistance Account;23 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State 24 Senate celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Public Works Board 25 and Public Works Assistance Account and recognize the 26 significant benefit the program has created for the State of 27 Washington and communities across the state by preserving public 28 health and safety, protecting the environment, supporting 29 affordable housing, and creating family-wage jobs since its 30 creation in 1985. 31 I, Sarah Bannister, Secretary of the Senate, 32 do hereby certify that this is a true and 33 correct copy of Senate Resolution 8607, 34 adopted by the Senate 35 January 31, 2025 36 p. 2 8607 SARAH BANNISTER 1 Secretary of the Senate 2 p. 3 8607