NYBA lobbyist Jim Hedrick has sent us the following updates regarding to maritime-specific bills that were moving their way through the Washington State Legislature. 

• HB 1919 allowing private moorage to more easily sell abandoned vessels has passed the Legislature – see below.
• HB 1906 re: Changing the vessel length for non-resident permits from max 200' length to max 300' length has DIED IN COMMITTEE, it did not come to a vote in the Senate. This means that the current statute will remain in place, i.e. vessels larger than 200 feet will NOT be able to apply for non-resident cruising permits in the state of Washington. 

HB 1919 – Modifying the process by which a private moorage facility may sell an abandoned vessel for failure to pay moorage fees.  The Bill: Changes, from 90 days to 45 days, the amount of notice that a private moorage operator must provide to a vessel owner before a vessel may be sold for failure to pay moorage fees. Changes, from 60 days to 40 days, the timeline by which a lawsuit to challenge the validity of a private moorage facility's impoundment of a vessel must be commenced.  Passed Legislature.