[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,74,86,98],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":43,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6127456,"mediaKeyId","2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90","parentId",2663299,"title","Committee advances three bills to Rules Committee in executive session","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",5776840,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90&start=5776&end=5776","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90/thumbnail_5776840.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6127456/Washington/Committee-advances-three-bills-to-Rules-Committee-in-executive-session","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127456-a06c5dc0bb57c0b6d05b2cb93c75f5e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1769668681&Signature=C0Vq5z95FQGEms-3qUlUSFxtNPKHPG0tS~D4MsFYGt~x3C~4LE9xhYknvJf4M808eVfFVT5-x8Fe5kMtg86d9rMt9fRtUwQCYGdGZtIaeApKV5mKeb0uVrJfnR6Xa710poEhAm3XTIaBv2QaL1cJgzdXPQIFbr8V1txJF9L1~iscYrSiogs0cWDwxinC-SvMdOvuxNoqiYb0Zj16ceDUdFUox0cOBrmST0ULcq9syvklG0rotmlStUiw7C9ZnHIqOvxO~WvDhFiJpO9l2S0c-7pZ1moFgxM1MikGb4GcPlGXYf2ZURDga33rFxkW6xDP1H0r08s3FPn63gF7ryykKg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Legislature","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","OLYMPIA — During an executive session on March 17, the Senate Transportation Committee advanced three bills to the Rules Committee by voice vote.

Votes at a glance

- House Bill 1511 (concerning Washington State ferries captains and master/mates bargaining): Vice Chair Levick moved that the committee recommend HB 1511 “with the due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee.” The motion carried by voice vote. No roll‑call tally was recorded on the transcript; the committee record shows the motion passed and will be returned to the Rules Committee subject to signature.

- Substitute House Bill 1371 (authorizing certain parking privileges for qualifying veterans): The committee adopted a striking amendment (S‑2323.3) after debate and then advanced the bill “as amended” with a due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee. The amendment and the bill advanced by voice vote; the transcript records the motion to adopt the striking amendment and the subsequent motion to advance the bill as amended, both moved by Vice Chair Levick.

- Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1439 (technical corrections and alignment of motor vehicle and driver licensing laws with federal changes): Vice Chair Levick moved to advance ESHB 1439 with a due pass recommendation to the Rules Committee and the motion carried by voice vote. The staff described the bill as largely technical and agency‑request legislation with one substantive retention: in‑person hearing rights for licensees contesting suspension or revocation.

Notes on procedure and outcome: All three measures were advanced by voice votes in executive session; the transcript records motions and that “motion carries” for each but does not provide a roll‑call vote tally. Committee members present were recorded as saying “aye” or declining to dissent on the voice votes. The committee adjourned after the actions and members were reminded to sign committee reports.

What’s next: The bills advanced to the Rules Committee and will be available for review and further consideration by the full Senate if placed on the calendar.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Transportation - 3/17/2025 ","oneSentenceSummary","In executive session the Senate Transportation Committee voted to advance three measures: House Bill 1511 (ferry captains bargaining), Substitute House Bill 1371 (veteran parking privileges) as amended, and Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1439 (motor vehicle and driver licensing technical changes).","taxTitle","Transportation, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20512,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":75,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":76,"_40":77,"_42":78,"_44":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":84,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":85,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72},6127460,"‘Mosquito Fleet’ bill wins broad local support in committee hearing for passenger‑only ferries",3363,2184570,5548350,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90&start=2184&end=5548","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90/thumbnail_2184570.jpg","/articles/6127460/Washington/Mosquito-Fleet-bill-wins-broad-local-support-in-committee-hearing-for-passengeronly-ferries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127460-cf16cb41315500da5836f9b42748696f/orig.mp4?Expires=1769668681&Signature=QnOVVzYgQ6kqZ7~Zp8cDUdnub2wZr2w0ACkJzvym~w4obzn9O4PCO5Fq7lp34dcNUs0z8Fnl5qsmEDLi5LvKf4zL8G6Rl7IcboyTXhWu1b5NZH3X327SoIx3wU-jD5zYIqqmJiP4UrJL00rN9cXXy503GYGYYm3ilVlhCkQA5j6yEZEX5p7m7KawKJ9US9GkvbcL7sUAzCk3gOvDzdUbhwDYY0kfgJJsqptwkcGf5uCkR3TVn7TwvksGyPSQwKseq4HVzL5~i~oadNPQLJe5tQkYM~~2vByxlNDhYydzoQ8vFgTctFmd~ytaRzL2eh-8W5OKZqTkaRts09qkL5pK7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","OLYMPIA — The Senate Transportation Committee heard testimony March 17 on Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1923, the Mosquito Fleet Act, which would broaden which local governments and transit entities may form passenger‑only ferry (PO) taxing districts on Puget Sound and Grays Harbor.

Committee staff Jenna Forti said the current law limits passenger‑only taxing districts to public transportation benefit areas (PTBAs) on the west side of Puget Sound and noted Kitsap Transit is the only existing qualifying PTBA. The bill would add counties, ports, city transit systems, county transportation authorities, metropolitan municipal corporation transits, unincorporated transportation benefit areas and regional transit authorities that border Puget Sound or Grays Harbor. Forti also provided a fiscal note: an estimated one‑time cost to the Department of Revenue of $1.3 million and an ongoing $1.0 million biennial cost to the general fund.

Representative Craig Nance, prime sponsor and Kitsap delegation member, said the bill is “about local empowerment” and argued that passenger‑only service can be started quickly, cheaply and nimbly to restore connectivity while the state’s large auto‑carrying ferry fleet is rebuilt. “Every community across Puget Sound deserves reliable ferry access,” Nance told the committee.

Kitsap Transit’s director Dylan Doty described the Kitsap model: a 0.3‑cent sales tax plus farebox revenue has funded a roughly $25 million annual passenger‑only budget that operates 10 vessels on five routes, he said. Doty testified that the Kitsap system is “fully self‑sufficient in terms of the operational dollars.” He also provided sample fares: “$2 from Kitsap to Seattle, $12 from Seattle back to Kitsap; or a monthly pass for $196,” as a rough pricing example used by his agency.

Local elected officials, port and transit leaders, business groups, emergency‑preparedness volunteers and maritime workforce advocates gave broad support during several hours of testimony. Proponents said passenger‑only ferries help underserved communities, improve access to medical care and work commutes, can be run from existing recreational marinas (reducing terminal capital costs), and may relieve car and truck congestion on auto ferry routes.

Peter Phillips, who consults on passenger ferry policy, said the Mosquito Fleet Act would enable “several communities to come together to organize themselves to most efficiently establish service that serves a mutual need” and projected new vessels would be built in Washington shipyards.

Several county officials and San Juan County leaders said reliable passenger‑only service has been essential during recent WSF reductions. San Juan County Council Vice Chair Jane Fuller said emergency funding last year helped stand up temporary passenger‑only service for the route and that the bill would give rural communities a statutory framework to pursue longer‑term options.

Supporters also said passenger‑only ferries could provide workforce entry points to maritime careers, a benefit highlighted by Jake Beatty of Northwest Maritime, who described the smaller vessels as “a farm team” that lets mariners gain sea time toward larger credentials.

Public safety and emergency preparedness advocates urged passage as resilience planning: Vashon Island emergency volunteers said small, nimble vessels could be critical after a regional disaster when larger terminals might be damaged.

Opposition and concerns were limited in the hearing record that day. Senators asked about environmental protections for whales and quiet‑hull technology; Rep. Nance said the bill’s intent language had been amended to reflect environmental safeguards and that the sponsor had consulted whale‑protection advocates.

What’s next: The committee received extensive public testimony and did not vote on the bill that day. Supporters urged the committee to advance the bill so local communities could move more quickly to stand up passenger‑only service.","Lawmakers heard more than 50 in‑person and remote supporters of ESHB 1923, the Mosquito Fleet Act, which would expand which local entities can form passenger‑only ferry taxing districts; witnesses said passenger‑only services can be launched faster and more cheaply than vehicle ferries and can relieve pressure on WSF.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":90,"_44":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":96,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":97,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72},6127464,"Senate committee hears testimony for bill to expand salary comparators for Washington State Ferries contracts",2054,1829020,3883310,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90&start=1829&end=3883","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90/thumbnail_1829020.jpg","/articles/6127464/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-testimony-for-bill-to-expand-salary-comparators-for-Washington-State-Ferries-contracts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127464-d25d8016afed03a683b61500fb213ec3/orig.mp4?Expires=1769668681&Signature=doOYswvAWxmUHr8njJfH3xg-gj4y5fGp8DH3xG883-m7sMjbVr0Nt1FxxFIKVSQLs~TH-KKUlrWx3m~v3VDRVC1WWxwoZdMGU7c7REaUhEynqQBNKB4Si9xIJcHomdGx~Whpm4y1dKgrANg7u3J~AjD~9bwjjRftc2cBIKNZzBBcQF17o7BsNl~ribJSqoy-YYmf56QdQG7xj0o-ExLaYS3KSlNWw1KJV0WriGUFq6TfCV5Ar2--UtNhk~pd5fRNsuqsxn8nHFtT5Me4i8xDaCY~Qh1Dk30wdti2i2cx~zUgl4h41a8JuVdjVdwmOTntRi4WMFSICiHg6k4eOVAgmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","OLYMPIA — The Senate Transportation Committee held a public hearing March 17 on substitute House Bill 1264, a bill that would require the Office of Financial Management to contract with a nationally recognized human resources firm to produce a biannual salary survey covering public and private sector comparators for Washington State Ferries (WSF) bargaining units.

Jenna Forti, committee staff, told the panel the bill would require OFM to produce an unredacted survey by April 1 of every even‑numbered year, to seek input from employee organizations and to specify comparator groups for masters, mates, pilots, engine room employees and trades at Eagle Harbor. The bill includes a fiscal note: a one‑time interagency transfer estimated at $375,000 from motor‑vehicle funds to OFM to conduct the survey, Forti said.

Representative Laurie Jinkins Fye (presenting as prime sponsor at the hearing) framed the bill as an effort to make compensation comparisons more accurate and transparent to help recruitment and retention in a stressed maritime workforce.

Labor and front‑line WSF employees offered multiple statements in favor of the bill during the public hearing.

Robert Hodge, assistant business manager/organizer for Boilermakers Local 104, told the committee, “The current collective bargaining process at Washington State for this group of workers is fundamentally broken,” and said OFM’s existing process had dismissed submitted contracts and produced what he described as a narrow set of comparators.

Chief Engineer Chris Schneider, elected chair of the License Negotiating Committee, said the bill would let the state “allow more accurate and fair assessment of our compensation and the job market that our licensure qualifies us to work,” and warned that the 400 engineers at WSF worked “a combined total of over 100,000 hours of overtime” last year.

Representatives of unions and licensed engineers emphasized a global shortage of marine engineers, competition from private shipping and other public systems, and the wage gap that has driven experienced mariners away. Eric Wing of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association said the bill would “close that wide gap and bring Washington State Ferries in line with what the market is paying to professional marine engineers.”

Multiple engine‑room and deck officers recounted that WSF has struggled to attract credentialed mariners and that current comparators exclude private‑sector jobs requiring the same Coast Guard credentials. Felix Tapley, a marine engineer with 18 years’ industry experience, said wages are a primary factor causing departures and described temporary work on a container ship that paid several dollars an hour more than a WSF chief engineer’s rate.

WSF employees and union representatives asked senators to move the bill forward so arbitration panels have a fuller view of comparable wages, hours and benefits when resolving collective bargaining disputes.

What’s next: The committee closed the public hearing on HB 1264 after receiving testimony. No formal committee vote on the measure was recorded that day.","Staff and union representatives urged the Senate Transportation Committee to approve House Bill 1264, which would require OFM to use a national compensation firm and expanded comparators when producing the salary survey used in ferry collective bargaining.",{"_32":99,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":100,"_40":101,"_42":102,"_44":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":108,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":109,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72},6127469,"Washington State Ferries outlines workforce push, hybrid conversions and summer service returns",1445,26360,1471660,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90&start=26&end=1471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2663299-73ac46dc94e86f806b1c41c7f17ace90/thumbnail_26360.jpg","/articles/6127469/Washington/Washington-State-Ferries-outlines-workforce-push-hybrid-conversions-and-summer-service-returns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6127469-614e5f06b2e297666a861abde6d15fd7/orig.mp4?Expires=1769668681&Signature=KZSrpr8DL9Md8aZW9vciq6rSrh4Qu5gIeg3CgrPEFGA9QBnSnIt~r9kdGNzMyf4FB~UiGByx9imt8lm5VQWhnEZkOzDMs58YluTgs0y2g0aZ6fgd16xs2hfzfRm~uVV8co~w66MgGuvA7sRpPIo3CRGyWOTU4lEdFbsBkRBG4EAJc~2uEOi60FP06x944CslUk01qKB-qq4d9yrdwIL7~edTJoHj1LejNL7d6SfVpsLq0s~CiJJYkIFfxRi0M6vbk4bY2hyp90na5U0oS-2JpkJeoLuJxBkP~LKq9CF~0BpLCU8y73JMJFvzDTn-ucXGduDGXAt6jiYuJRaXEs3wbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","OLYMPIA — Washington State Ferries’ senior leaders told the Senate Transportation Committee on March 17 that a combination of cultural reforms, workforce development programs and a temporary hold on two vessel conversions should let the system restore service on several routes this summer.

Deputy Secretary Steve Nevi and Deputy Assistant Secretary John Vazina briefed the committee on staffing, vessel conversions and service plans, saying the system has moved sharply to reduce canceled sailings since the pandemic while preparing for construction of new, 160‑vehicle hybrid‑electric ferries.

The briefing came as Nevi marked his 12‑month anniversary leading the ferry system. “I’ve now been the head of the Washington State Ferries for 12 months,” he said, then summarized a strategic plan he distributes across the agency and its three stated priorities: “service excellence, improved communication, and empowered people.”

Why it matters: Washington State Ferries (WSF) operates one of the country’s largest ferry systems and serves as a daily lifeline across Puget Sound. The agency faces near‑term retirements among senior vessel officers and a multi‑year vessel acquisition program; how it recruits and retains engineers, deck officers and terminal staff will affect summer schedules and service for years.

Nevi described a two‑year culture assessment conducted by Seagull that led to a “culture enhancement charter” addressing six focus areas — quality of life, cohesion, employee engagement, accountability, human resources and communication practices — and said WSF has created internal project teams to make measurable improvements.

On workforce development, Nevi said WSF has widened outreach to high schools and maritime programs, launched a “Classroom on the Water” summer program and changed internal licensing pipelines so non‑licensed crew no longer must pay tuition or use unpaid leave to obtain required licenses. “Now we pay the tuition and they get paid their wage while they’re doing the tuition,” he said, adding the change expanded licensed deck officer graduations from “maybe five or six” a year to the “thirties and forties.” He attributed a sharp decline in crew‑shortage cancellations to those efforts.

Vazina described propulsion conversions and service planning. He said the agency began converting three Jumbo Mark II vessels to hybrid‑electric systems after direction from the governor and the Legislature. The first conversion began in September 2022 and has taken about 22 months; the vessel is expected back in May for crew familiarization and to return to service in mid‑June.

Citing a direction from Governor Jay Inslee (and action under Governor Jay Inslee/Governor Ferguson references in the briefing), Vazina said the state will delay converting the next two large vessels so the system can prioritize service this summer. “If we have 18 vessels, we believe we can restore a lot of domestic service this summer,” he said. He listed specific near‑term restorations: a third boat on the Fauntleroy‑Southworth‑Vashon triangle when the right Issaquah‑class extensions are available; restoration of a second boat at Bremerton to reduce current two‑and‑a‑half‑hour gaps between sailings there; and a plan to restore two‑boat service at Coupeville on Fridays through Mondays initially.

Nevi and Vazina provided workforce figures and risks. They said roughly 216 deck and engine employees — about 18% of those classifications — are in a retirement risk cohort. Nevi said captains and chief engineers are particularly vulnerable, with “60% and 42% respectively expected to retire by 2029,” and warned that rapidly promoted officers may lack decades of experience on aging vessels. The agency reported that in 2024, with funding from the Legislature to grow training programs, “71 engine employees and 155 deck employees were eligible for promotion” into the pool of qualified licensed officers.

The briefing also covered vessel acquisition: WSF is moving forward with a class of 160‑vehicle hybrid‑electric ferries and expects multiple shipyards to bid; bids were scheduled to open in April. The long‑range plan calls for a 26‑vessel fleet, which would require roughly 11 additional vessels over 15 years to replace aging hulls and to add capacity.

On performance metrics, Vazina told senators that WSF recently completed 99.52% of scheduled sailings in a single week and had raised on‑time performance to about 94%.

Committee members asked about training for hybrid‑electric propulsion; Nevi said Seattle Maritime Academy and Siemens developed courses tied to the Wenatchee conversion and that training will continue as more hybrid vessels enter service. Senators also raised capacity questions about whether 160‑vehicle vessels would fit existing slips; staff said most terminals can accommodate the 160‑foot design, though Coupeville will likely require a special class due to tidal and current constraints.

Nevi closed by thanking committee members and WSF employees. “They get up every day and want to do their best,” he said.

What’s next: The committee took no formal action on the briefing itself. WSF said it would continue working with shipyards, the governor’s office and ferry advisory committees on service plans and vessel conversions.","Deputy ferry leaders told the Senate Transportation Committee that targeted recruitment, tuition-paid licensing programs and a pause on two hybrid conversions should allow Washington State Ferries to restore more routes this summer and reduce canceled sailings.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee advances three bills to Rules Committee in executive session

‘Mosquito Fleet’ bill wins broad local support in committee hearing for passenger‑only ferries

Senate committee hears testimony for bill to expand salary comparators for Washington State Ferries contracts

Washington State Ferries outlines workforce push, hybrid conversions and summer service returns