Pending Legislation
Senate Bill 5522: State Capitol Campus
Introduced: Senator Deborah Krishnadasan (D-026)
Summary: The state wishes to preserve its state capitol campus, so the department of enterprise services and state capitol committee will work together to make an annual recommendation to the legislature regarding importance, impact, and prioritization of proposed state capital budget projects.
Design-Build Impact: Could lead to an opening for more design-build projects on the state capitol campus.
Last Action: January 12, 2026: Through a resolution this bill was reintroduced and retained in its present status.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low
Senate Bill 5710: State Ferries
Introduced: Senator Drew MacEwen (R-35)
Summary: The bill addresses diesel vessel procurement at the Washington state ferries.
Design-Build Impact: Design-build contracts will be allowed to be used for contracts that fall under this bill’s prerogative
Last Action: January 12, 2026: The bill has been reintroduced and has retained its status as being within the SENATE Committee on TRANSPORTATION.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low
Senate Bill 5773: Transportation Projects
Introduced: Marko Liias (D-021)
Summary: Concerns alternative procurement and delivery models for transportation projects. The bill authorizes the DOT to use progressive design–build procedure, or any general contractor/construction manager procedure. Until June 30, 2031, upon completing a delivery method selection process that identifies the progressive design–build procedure or any general contract/construction manager procedure as the preferred delivery method for a project in excess of $100,000,000, the department shall consult with the capital projects advisory review board under chapter 39.10 RCW to review the selected delivery method for the project and provide any recommendations or feedback for the department to consider. The department and the capital projects advisory review board shall collaboratively develop and implement the coordination and details of this consultation.
Design-Build Impact: The bill explicitly seeks to promote the use of alternative project delivery models, like progressive design-build and general contractor/construction manager procedures, without mandatory approval or review by the capital projects advisory review board. This stems from a belief that this will deliver better value for the public and provide the department of transportation with more options to deliver complex transportation projects.
Last Action: January 12, 2026: The bill is within the SENATE Committee on RULES however its progress has been indefinitely postponed.
Status: Pending
DBIA Position: Support
DBIA Priority Level: Medium
Senate Bill 6047: Administration of State Capital Projects
Introduced: Senator Yasmine Trudeau (D-27)
Summary: The bill focuses on statutory guidelines for the administration of state capital projects.
Design-Build Impact: The bill enforces that public bodies may utilize the design-build procedure, including progressive design-build, for public works projects in which the total project cost is over $2,000,000 and a design-build approach is critical in developing the construction methodology; or the projects selected provide opportunity for greater innovation or efficiencies between the designer and the builder, and significant savings in project delivery time would be realized. State public bodies may use the design-build procedure, including progressive design-build, for parking garages and pre-engineered metal buildings, regardless of cost. Washington State University may perform design-build demonstration projects with a total project cost under $2,000,000 to develop best practices in encouraging participation of small business entities and of minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses.
Last Action: January 12, 2026: The bill has been placed on the second reading committee by the SENATE Committee on RULES
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Medium
House Bill 1227: Transportation Appropriation
Introduced: Representative Jake Fey (D-27)
Summary: Makes transportation appropriations for the specified fiscal biennium.
Design-Build Impact: $450,000 of the motor vehicle account will be allocated under this bill to conduct a study and make recommendations on alternative project delivery methods that may be used by the WDOT in public works contracting. The study must review use of design-build, design-bid-build, progressive design build, general contractor/construction manager, public-private partnerships, and other contracting methods, and how choice of project delivery method impacts cost, contract competition, and project delivery schedule.
Last Action: January 12, 2026: The bill has been reintroduced and is in the HOUSE Committee on RULES but has been postponed indefinitely.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low
House Bill 1377: Ferry System
Introduced: Representative Michelle Caldier (R-26 -02)
Summary: Declares the ferry system to be in a state of emergency to authorize expedient actions.
Design-Build Impact: Does not change the design-build law.
Last Action: January 12, 2026: The bill has been reintroduced and is in the HOUSE Committee on RULES but has been postponed indefinitely.
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low
House Bill 1923: Mosquito Fleet Act
Introduced: Representative Greg Nance (D-23)
Summary: The bill increases the availability of passenger-only ferries by establishing the mosquito fleet act.
Design-Build Impact: Design-build contracts will be allowed to be used in order to expand the ferry service.
Last Action: January 12, 2026: The bill has passed from the HOUSE into the SENATE and is within the SENATE Committee on TRANSPORTATION
Status: In Committee
DBIA Position: Neutral
DBIA Priority Level: Low