SB5580 – Authorizes loans and grants for emergency public works broadband projects, and no longer requires UTC assessments of applications’ technical feasibility.
Prime Sponsor – Senator Wellman (D; 41st District; Mercer Island) (Co-Sponsor Senator Mullet -D) (By request of the Public Works Board)
Current status – Referred to Rules. Still there at cutoff; sent to the “X” file February 17th.
Next step would be – Dead bill.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.
HB1673 is a companion bill in the House.

In the Senate –
Had a hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology January 12th; replaced by a substitute and passed out of committee January 20th.

Summary –

Substitute –
When the Board was funding emergency public works projects, the substitute would require it to prioritize replacing an existing provider’s damaged infrastructure, and prohibit funding a new provider to overbuild the existing one.

Original bill –
The bill would authorize the board to make low-interest or interest-free loans or grants for emergency public works broadband projects, including the construction, repair, reconstruction, replacement, rehabilitation, or improvement to critical broadband infrastructure damaged by unforeseen events.

It would no longer require the board to consult with the Utilities and Transportation Commission to assessments of the technical feasibility of applications and to consider those as part of its evaluations of them.

It would also make financial and commercial information and records supplied by businesses or individuals in applying for loans or program services exempt from disclosure under the public records act, and make very minor changes in the processes for applications and for objections by current providers.