H-0087.3
HOUSE BILL 1377
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Caldier, Barkis, Eslick, Couture, Richards, Jacobsen, Corry, Ley, and Connors
Read first time 01/17/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
AN ACT Relating to declaring the ferry system to be in a state of emergency to authorize expedient actions; amending RCW 47.56.030 , 47.60.010 , 47.60.810 , 47.60.315 , and 47.60.826 ; adding a new section to chapter 47.60 RCW; creating a new section; repealing RCW 47.60.838 ; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that Washington state ferries provides lifeline services to specific communities. The transition to the use of hybrid electric ferries derailed the procurement of five new ferries that were to be constructed starting in 2019. Washington state ferries has been in the process of procuring new electric ferries since that time. The legislature has been given procurement schedules that continue to get revised and delayed. The date for when Washington state ferries will announce whether there is a qualified shipyard that is willing to build the first electric ferry is scheduled to occur in April 2025, with the hope that the ferry may be delivered in 2028.
This act puts in place a contingency option in the event the bid procurement to contract for the construction of the hybrid electric ferry that is to be awarded spring 2025 is unsuccessful.