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SB5839 • 2026

County ferry districts

Concerning county ferry district authority.

Technology
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Senator Shewmake, Senator J. Wilson, Senator Dozier, Senator Nobles
Last action
2026-02-26
Official status
S Rules X
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

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.

5839-S AMS SHEW S5308.1

712 • Shewmake

NOT CONSIDERED

Plain English: 5839-S AMS SHEW S5308.1 SSB 5839 - S AMD 712 By Senator Shewmake NOT CONSIDERED 03/12/2026 On page 1, at the beginning of line 7, strike "A" and insert 1 "((A)) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this 2 section, a" 3 On page 1, at the beginning of line 8, strike " ((passenger-4 only))" and insert "passenger-only" 5 On page 1, after line 15, insert the following:6 "(2) A county west of the crest of the Cascade mountains that has 7 within its boundaries an international border crossing may construct, 8 purchase, operate, and maintain passenger-only ferries or auto 9 ferries." 10 EFFECT: Allows a ferry district established in Whatcom County to construct, purchase, operate, and maintain passenger-only ferries or auto ferries.

  • 5839-S AMS SHEW S5308.1 SSB 5839 - S AMD 712 By Senator Shewmake NOT CONSIDERED 03/12/2026 On page 1, at the beginning of line 7, strike "A" and insert 1 "((A)) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this 2 section, a" 3 On page 1, at the beginning of line 8, strike " ((passenger-4 only))" and insert "passenger-only" 5 On page 1, after line 15, insert the following:6 "(2) A county west of the crest of the Cascade mountains that has 7 within its boundaries an international border crossing may construct, 8 purchase, operate, and maintain passenger-only ferries or auto 9 ferries." 10 EFFECT: Allows a ferry district established in Whatcom County to construct, purchase, operate, and maintain passenger-only ferries or auto ferries.
  • END --- Code Rev/AI:roy 1 S-5308.1/26

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-26 Senate

    Senate Rules "X" file.

Official Summary Text

County ferry districts

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
AN ACT Relating to county ferry district authority; and amending 1
RCW 36.54.120, 36.54.130, and 36.54.135. 2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
Sec. 1. RCW 36.54.120 and 2003 c 83 s 302 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
A ferry district may construct, purchase, operate, and maintain 6
((passenger-only)) ferries or wharves at any unfordable stream, lake, 7
estuary, or bay within or bordering the ferry district, or between 8
portions of the ferry district, or between the ferry district and 9
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
Sec. 2. RCW 36.54.130 and 2009 c 551 s 4 are each amended to 15
read as follows: 16
(1) To carry out the purposes for which ferry districts are 17
created, the governing body of a ferry district may levy each year an 18
ad valorem tax on all taxable property located in the district not to 19
exceed ((seventy-five)) 75 cents per thousand dollars of assessed 20
S-3417.2
SENATE BILL 5839
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Shewmake, J. Wilson, Dozier, and Nobles
Prefiled 12/05/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Transportation.
p. 1 SB 5839
value, except a ferry district in a county with a population of ((one 1
million five hundred thousand )) 1,500,000 or more may not levy at a 2
rate that exceeds seven and one-half cents per ((thousand dollars )) 3
$1,000 of assessed value. The levy must be sufficient for the 4
provision of ferry services as shown to be required by the budget 5
prepared by the governing body of the ferry district.6
(2) A tax imposed under this section may be used only for:7
(a) Providing ferry services, including the purchase, lease, or 8
rental of ferry vessels and dock facilities; 9
(b) The operation, maintenance, and improvement of ferry vessels 10
and dock facilities; 11
(c) Providing shuttle services between the ferry terminal and 12
passenger parking facilities, and other landside improvements 13
directly related to the provision of ((passenger-only)) ferry 14
service; and 15
(d) Related personnel costs. 16
Sec. 3. RCW 36.54.135 and 2007 c 223 s 7 are each amended to 17
read as follows: 18
(1) A county ferry district may incur general indebtedness, and 19
issue general obligation bonds, to finance the construction, 20
purchase, and preservation of ((passenger-only)) ferries and 21
associated terminals and retire the indebtedness in whole or in part 22
from the revenues received from the tax levy authorized in RCW 23
36.54.130. 24
(2) The ordinance adopted by the county legislative authority 25
creating the county ferry district and authorizing the use of 26
revenues received from the tax levy authorized in RCW 36.54.130 must 27
indicate an intent to incur this indebtedness and the maximum amount 28
of this indebtedness that is contemplated. 29
--- END ---
p. 2 SB 5839