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Committee approves bill to expand passenger‑only ferry districts and create local grant program
Summary
The committee moved a substitute to House Bill 19 23 that expands entities able to form passenger‑only ferry districts, creates a local account and establishes a grant program for capital, operating and feasibility grants; the substitute passed 20‑7.
A House committee on March 1 advanced substitute House Bill 19 23, the so‑called Mosquito Fleet Act, to expand which entities may form passenger‑only ferry (PoF) service districts and where they can be formed, and to create a local PoF account and grant program.
Representative Nance, who moved the substitute, described the bill as empowering local communities to deliver passenger‑only ferry service quickly and affordably, citing service disruptions in Washington State Ferries. "We can honor our maritime history and heritage while building a healthier, more prosperous, more connected future," Nance said.
The substitute creates a local PoF grant program to provide capital grants, operating grants and feasibility study grants to PoF service districts; the briefing said the program would be administered by "Scribe" (as presented to the committee) and created a local PoF account to retain earnings for the program. Debate included concerns about potential stacking of local taxing authorities and other local revenue mechanisms. Representative Orcutt said overlapping districts and multiple local taxes could lead to excessive local tax burdens and said he would vote no. Representative Lowe said he supported the bill after negotiations made improvements.
The clerk recorded 20 ayes and 7 nays on the substitute; the committee reported the substitute out of committee with a due pass recommendation.
Why it matters: the bill would enable more local control and local funding mechanisms for passenger‑only ferry services, including grants for capital and operations, and could affect local tax and permitting choices.
