Washington legislation · 2025-26 Regular Session
Washington HB2588: County ferry districts
Status: Signed into law, March 24, 2026
Concerning county ferry district authority.
What the bill says
An act Relating to county ferry district authority; amending RCW 36.54.110, 36.54.120, 36.54.130, and 36.54.135; reenacting and amending RCW 47.60.120; and adding a new section to chapter 36.54 RCW.
From the enrolled text:
AN ACT Relating to county ferry district authority; amending RCW 36.54.110, 36.54.120, 36.54.130, and 36.54.135; reenacting and amending RCW 47.60.120; and adding a new section to chapter 36.54 RCW. Sec. 1. RCW 36.54.110 and 2007 c 223 s 5 are each amended to read as follows: (1) The legislative authority of a county may adopt an ordinance creating a ferry district in all ((or a portion)) of the area of the county, including the area within the corporate limits of any city or town within the county. The ordinance may be adopted only after a public hearing has been held on the creation of a ferry district, and the county legislative authority makes a finding that it is in the public interest to create the district. (2) A ferry district is a municipal corporation, an independent taxing "authority" within the meaning of Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution, and a "taxing district" within the meaning of Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution. (3) A ferry district is a body corporate and possesses all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes as well as all other powers that may now or hereafter be specifically conferred by statute, including, but not limited to, the authority to hire employees, staff, and services, to enter into contracts, and …
Sponsors
- Joe Timmons (D) · primary sponsor
- Alex Ramel (D)
- Debra Lekanoff (D)
Latest actions
- : Effective date 6/11/2026.
- : Chapter 187, 2026 Laws.
- : Governor signed.
- : Delivered to Governor.
- : President signed.
- : Speaker signed.
- : Passed final passage; yeas, 56; nays, 40; absent, 0; excused, 2.
- : House concurred in Senate amendments.
- : Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 17; absent, 1; excused, 1.
- : Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
Votes
- Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 11, 2026): 56 yea, 40 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (March 6, 2026): 30 yea, 17 nay, passed
- Senate Committee on Transportation: Do pass as amended (March 2, 2026): 12 yea, 2 nay, passed
- 3rd Reading & Final Passage (February 13, 2026): 73 yea, 19 nay, passed
- House Committee on Transportation: Do pass (February 9, 2026): 16 yea, 5 nay, passed
- House Committee on Local Government: Do pass (February 3, 2026): 4 yea, 1 nay, passed
Subjects: FERRIES
Common questions
- What is HB2588?
- HB2588 is a bill in the Washington Legislature (2025-26 Regular Session): County ferry districts.
- What does HB2588 do?
- In its own words: An act Relating to county ferry district authority; amending RCW 36.54.110, 36.54.120, 36.54.130, and 36.54.135; reenacting and amending RCW 47.60.120; and adding a new section to chapter 36.54 RCW.
- What is the status of HB2588?
- Signed into law as of March 24, 2026. Latest action: Effective date 6/11/2026. (March 24, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB2588?
- Joe Timmons (D), with 2 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB2588?
- On the Washington Legislature website: https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2588&Year=2025
Source: official Washington record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.