HB 2588 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning county ferry district authority.

HB 2588 updates Washington's rules for county-operated ferry districts. It clarifies that districts may operate passenger-only ferry services, adjusts property tax limits for funding (capping most districts at $0.75 per $1,000 assessed value, with lower limits for large-county districts), and allows districts to issue bonds for ferry infrastructure using these tax revenues. The bill also revises a 10-mile restriction rule for new ferry routes near state-operated crossings, requiring the state ferry commission to grant waivers for private operators under specific conditions. These changes directly affect county ferry districts and the coordination between county and state ferry systems.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Jan 20, 2026 Signed Mar 24, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed Bill → Passed Legislature · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill updates the legal framework for county ferry districts in Washington State, adding new sections to the code and clarifying tax limits. It expands the list of statutes being amended to include RCW 36.54.110 and 2007 c 223 s 5, ensuring these provisions are included in the final enacted law. The bill also introduces a new advisory committee requirement for ferry districts to include community and tribal representation.

Scope change

The bill's scope is expanded by explicitly including RCW 36.54.110 and 2007 c 223 s 5 in the list of amended statutes, whereas the previous version omitted them. Additionally, a new advisory committee requirement is added for all new ferry districts.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new section requiring ferry districts to appoint a five-member advisory committee with specific representation requirements, including at least one member from a federally recognized Indian tribe.

FISCAL

Clarified tax levy limits by adding a specific provision that districts in counties with populations under 1.5 million cannot levy more than 10 cents per $1,000 without a voter approval.

TECHNICAL

Updated the list of amended statutes in the act title and section headers to explicitly include RCW 36.54.110 and 2007 c 223 s 5, which were missing in the earlier draft.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Feb 13, 2026

How they voted

32–17

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 51

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic31

30 Yea 1

96% Yea

R Republican20

2 Yea 17 Nay 1

85% Nay

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 24, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Mar 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 56; nays, 40; absent, 0; excused, 2.

lower

Mar 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (32-17-2)

senate

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

TRAN - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 2:30 PM.

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

TR - Majority; do pass.

lower

Feb 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Transportation at 1:30 PM.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 10:30 AM.

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Transportation.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

LG - Majority; do pass.

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.

lower

Jan 30, 2026

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.

lower

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors