The Washington State Legislative adjourned for the year on March 7. Here are a few updates from Jim Hedrick, regarding the two marine-related bills, 1919 and 1906:

HB 1919 – Modifying the process by which a private moorage facility may sell an abandoned vessel for failure to pay moorage fees. 

Result: Passed Legislature

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. 1919 passed both the House and Senate unanimously, Governor Inslee expected to sign into law next week.

HB 1906 – Changing the vessel length requirement in obtaining non-resident vessel permits, from max 200' to max 300'. 

Result: Died on Third Reading (Floor) Calendar. 

The Bill: Would have increased from 200 to 300 feet the allowable maximum length of certain non-resident vessels eligible for a non-resident vessel permit. Would have required a fee for a non-resident vessel permit for commercially-owned vessels between 201 and 300 feet of $100 per foot of vessel length, beginning May 1, 2025.

Analysis: 1906 was on the Senate floor calendar for a final floor vote and they did not get to it. There were also Republican "no" votes out of committee who always vote against fees, and some more liberal Democrats who are opposed to anything to do with “wealthy yacht owners.” Jim suggests that 1906 will likely re-appear in the next Legislative session, since there was not a robust opposition.

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Plus - Review Jim's final Legislative Update of the session, recapping popular bills, upcoming initiatives and more.