HB2588 • 2026

County ferry districts

Concerning county ferry district authority.

Elections Taxes

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Timmons, Representative Ramel, Representative Lekanoff
Last action: 2026-03-24
Official status: C 187 L 26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

County ferry districts

What This Bill Does

County ferry districts

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

2588.E AMS ENGR S5883.E

ADOPTED AND ENGROSSED

Plain English: 2588.E AMS ENGR S5883.E EHB 2588 - S COMM AMD By Committee on Transportation ADOPTED AND ENGROSSED 03/06/2026 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "Sec.

2588.E AMS ENGR S5883.E EHB 2588 - S COMM AMD By Committee on Transportation ADOPTED AND ENGROSSED 03/06/2026 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "Sec.
1.
RCW 36.54.110 and 2007 c 223 s 5 are each amended to 3 read as follows: 4 (1) The legislative authority of a county may adopt an ordinance 5 creating a ferry district in all ((or a portion )) of the area of the 6 county, including the area within the corporate limits of any city or 7 town within the county.
The ordinance may be adopted only after a 8 public hearing has been held on the creation of a ferry district, and 9 the county legislative authority makes a finding that it is in the 10 public interest to create the district.

2588.E AMS TRAN S5883.1

0 • Transportation

ADOPTED AS AMENDED

Plain English: 2588.E AMS TRAN S5883.1 EHB 2588 - S COMM AMD By Committee on Transportation ADOPTED AS AMENDED 03/06/2026 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "Sec.

2588.E AMS TRAN S5883.1 EHB 2588 - S COMM AMD By Committee on Transportation ADOPTED AS AMENDED 03/06/2026 Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the 1 following: 2 "Sec.
1.
RCW 36.54.120 and 2003 c 83 s 302 are each amended to 3 read as follows: 4 ((A)) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this 5 section, a ferry district may construct, purchase, operate, and 6 maintain passenger-only ferries or wharves at any unfordable stream, 7 lake, estuary, or bay within or bordering the ferry district, or 8 between portions of the ferry district, or between the ferry district 9 and other ferry districts, together with all the necessary boats, 10 grounds, roads, approaches, and landings appertaining thereto under 11 the direction and control of the governing body of the ferry 12 district, free or for toll as the governing body determines by 13 resolution.
14 (2) A county west of the crest of the Cascade mountains that has 15 within its boundaries an international border crossing may construct, 16 purchase, operate, and maintain passenger-only ferries or auto 17 ferries.18 Sec.

2588 AMH BARK WRIK 451

1672 • Barkis

ADOPTED

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2588 AMH BARK WRIK 451 1 - Official Print By Representative Barkis EFFECT: Requires that ferry districts created after the bill's effective date receive voter approval before imposing a property tax levy within the district.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2588 AMH BARK WRIK 451 1 - Official Print By Representative Barkis EFFECT: Requires that ferry districts created after the bill's effective date receive voter approval before imposing a property tax levy within the district.
2588 AMH BARK WRIK 451 HB 2588 - H AMD 1672 ADOPTED 02/13/2026 On page 2, line 8, after "(2)" insert "No tax may be imposed under this section by a ferry district created after the effective date of this section unless the imposition of the tax is first approved by a majority of voters within the ferry district voting at the next general election occurring at least 60 days after the governing body of the ferry district adopts a resolution to impose the levy, or at any special election prior to this general election called for this purpose by the county legislative authority.
(3)" On page 2, line 28, after "36.54.130" insert ", if approved by voters," --- END

2588 AMH GRIF WRIK 452

1696 • Griffey

WITHDRAWN

Plain English: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2588 AMH GRIF WRIK 452 1 - Official Print By Representative Griffey EFFECT: Provides that the imposition of a property tax levy by the governing body of a ferry district is subject to referendum, and that, if the tax is not approved by the referendum, it may not be imposed again for a period of five years.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2588 AMH GRIF WRIK 452 1 - Official Print By Representative Griffey EFFECT: Provides that the imposition of a property tax levy by the governing body of a ferry district is subject to referendum, and that, if the tax is not approved by the referendum, it may not be imposed again for a period of five years.
2588 AMH GRIF WRIK 452 HB 2588 - H AMD 1696 WITHDRAWN 02/13/2026 On page 1, line 18, after "(1)" insert "(a)" On page 2, after line 7, insert the following: "(b) The resolution or other action of the governing body of a ferry district that initially imposes this levy is subject to referendum for 60 days after passage.
Upon the filing of a timely and sufficient referendum petition with the county legislative authority, signed by registered voters in number equal to not less than 10 percent of the votes cast in the last general state election in the ferry district, the question of the imposition of the levy shall be submitted to the voters of the ferry district in a general election if one is to be held within 90 days or at a special election called for that purpose.
Notice of the election must be as required by general election law.

2588.E AMS LOVE S5965.1

888 • Lovelett

PULLED

Plain English: 2588.E AMS LOVE S5965.1 EHB 2588 - S AMD TO TRAN COMM AMD (S-5883.1/26) 888 By Senator Lovelett PULLED 03/06/2026 On page 1, after line 2, insert the following: 1 "Sec.

2588.E AMS LOVE S5965.1 EHB 2588 - S AMD TO TRAN COMM AMD (S-5883.1/26) 888 By Senator Lovelett PULLED 03/06/2026 On page 1, after line 2, insert the following: 1 "Sec.
1.
RCW 36.54.110 and 2007 c 223 s 5 are each amended to 2 read as follows: 3 (1) The legislative authority of a county may adopt an ordinance 4 creating a ferry district in all ((or a portion )) of the area of the 5 county, including the area within the corporate limits of any city or 6 town within the county.
The ordinance may be adopted only after a 7 public hearing has been held on the creation of a ferry district, and 8 the county legislative authority makes a finding that it is in the 9 public interest to create the district.

2588.E AMS SHEW S5965.4

924 • Shewmake

ADOPTED

Plain English: 2588.E AMS SHEW S5965.4 EHB 2588 - S AMD TO TRAN COMM AMD (S-5883.1/26) 924 By Senator Shewmake ADOPTED 03/06/2026 On page 1, after line 2, insert the following: 1 "Sec.

2588.E AMS SHEW S5965.4 EHB 2588 - S AMD TO TRAN COMM AMD (S-5883.1/26) 924 By Senator Shewmake ADOPTED 03/06/2026 On page 1, after line 2, insert the following: 1 "Sec.
1.
RCW 36.54.110 and 2007 c 223 s 5 are each amended to 2 read as follows: 3 (1) The legislative authority of a county may adopt an ordinance 4 creating a ferry district in all ((or a portion )) of the area of the 5 county, including the area within the corporate limits of any city or 6 town within the county.
The ordinance may be adopted only after a 7 public hearing has been held on the creation of a ferry district, and 8 the county legislative authority makes a finding that it is in the 9 public interest to create the district.

Bill History

2026-03-24 House
Effective date 6/11/2026.

Official Summary Text

County ferry districts

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

AN ACT Relating to county ferry district authority; amending RCW 1
36.54.120, 36.54.130, and 36.54.135; and reenacting and amending RCW 2
47.60.120. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 36.54.120 and 2003 c 83 s 302 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
A ferry district may construct, purchase, operate, and maintain 7
((passenger-only)) ferries or wharves at any unfordable stream, lake, 8
estuary, or bay within or bordering the ferry district, or between 9
portions of the ferry district, or between the ferry district and 10
other ferry districts, together with all the necessary boats, 11
grounds, roads, approaches, and landings appertaining thereto under 12
the direction and control of the governing body of the ferry 13
district, free or for toll as the governing body determines by 14
resolution. 15
Sec. 2. RCW 36.54.130 and 2009 c 551 s 4 are each amended to 16
read as follows: 17
(1) To carry out the purposes for which ferry districts are 18
created, the governing body of a ferry district may levy each year an 19
ad valorem tax on all taxable property located in the district not to 20
H-3009.1
HOUSE BILL 2588
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Timmons, Ramel, and Lekanoff
Read first time 01/20/26. Referred to Committee on Local Government.
p. 1 HB 2588
exceed ((seventy-five)) 75 cents per thousand dollars of assessed 1
value, except a ferry district in a county with a population of ((one 2
million five hundred thousand )) 1,500,000 or more may not levy at a 3
rate that exceeds seven and one-half cents per ((thousand dollars )) 4
$1,000 of assessed value. The levy must be sufficient for the 5
provision of ferry services as shown to be required by the budget 6
prepared by the governing body of the ferry district.7
(2) A tax imposed under this section may be used only for:8
(a) Providing ferry services, including the purchase, lease, or 9
rental of ferry vessels and dock facilities; 10
(b) The operation, maintenance, and improvement of ferry vessels 11
and dock facilities; 12
(c) Providing shuttle services between the ferry terminal and 13
passenger parking facilities, and other landside improvements 14
directly related to the provision of ((passenger-only)) ferry 15
service; and 16
(d) Related personnel costs. 17
Sec. 3. RCW 36.54.135 and 2007 c 223 s 7 are each amended to 18
read as follows: 19
(1) A county ferry district may incur general indebtedness, and 20
issue general obligation bonds, to finance the construction, 21
purchase, and preservation of ((passenger-only)) ferries and 22
associated terminals and retire the indebtedness in whole or in part 23
from the revenues received from the tax levy authorized in RCW 24
36.54.130. 25
(2) The ordinance adopted by the county legislative authority 26
creating the county ferry district and authorizing the use of 27
revenues received from the tax levy authorized in RCW 36.54.130 must 28
indicate an intent to incur this indebtedness and the maximum amount 29
of this indebtedness that is contemplated. 30
Sec. 4. RCW 47.60.120 and 2003 c 83 s 204 and 2003 c 373 s 2 are 31
each reenacted and amended to read as follows: 32
(1) If the department acquires or constructs, maintains, and 33
operates any ferry crossings upon or toll bridges over Puget Sound or 34
any of its tributary or connecting waters, there shall not be 35
constructed, operated, or maintained any other ferry crossing upon or 36
bridge over any such waters within ((ten)) 10 miles of any such 37
crossing or bridge operated or maintained by the department excepting 38
p. 2 HB 2588
such bridges or ferry crossings in existence, and being operated and 1
maintained under a lawfully issued franchise at the time of the 2
location of the ferry crossing or construction of the toll bridge by 3
the department. 4
(2) The ((ten-mile)) 10-mile distance in subsection (1) of this 5
section means ((ten)) 10 statute miles measured by airline distance. 6
The ((ten-mile)) 10-mile restriction shall be applied by comparing 7
the two end points (termini) of a state ferry crossing to those of a 8
private ferry crossing. 9
(3) The Washington utilities and transportation commission may, 10
upon written petition of a commercial ferry operator certificated or 11
applying for certification under chapter 81.84 RCW, and upon notice 12
and hearing, grant a waiver from the ((ten-mile)) 10-mile 13
restriction. The waiver must not be detrimental to the public 14
interest. In making a decision to waive the ((ten-mile)) 10-mile 15
restriction, the commission shall consider, but is not limited to, 16
the impact of the waiver on transportation congestion mitigation, air 17
quality improvement, and the overall impact on the Washington state 18
ferry system. The commission shall act upon a request for a waiver 19
within ((ninety)) 90 days after the conclusion of the hearing. A 20
waiver is effective for a period of five years from the date of 21
issuance. At the end of five years the waiver becomes permanent 22
unless appealed within ((thirty)) 30 days by the commission on its 23
own motion, the department, or an interested party.24
(4) The department shall not maintain and operate any ferry 25
crossing or toll bridge over Puget Sound or any of its tributary or 26
connecting waters that would infringe upon any franchise lawfully 27
issued by the state and in existence and being exercised at the time 28
of the location of the ferry crossing or toll bridge by the 29
department, without first acquiring the rights granted to such 30
franchise holder under the franchise. 31
(5) This section does not apply to the operation of passenger-32
only ferry service by public transportation benefit areas meeting the 33
requirements of RCW 36.57A.200 or to the operation of ((passenger-34
only)) ferry service by ferry districts. 35
--- END ---
p. 3 HB 2588