HB 1923 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Increasing the availability of passenger-only ferries by establishing the mosquito fleet act.

House Bill 1923, known as the "Mosquito Fleet Act," aims to increase the availability of passenger-only ferry services in Washington state. The bill expands the types of local governmental entities, such as counties, port districts, and public transportation benefit areas, that can establish passenger-only ferry service districts. These districts would be empowered to establish, finance, and operate passenger-only ferry services, including purchasing or leasing vessels and dock facilities. Before providing service, each district must develop an investment plan detailing proposed services, projected costs, and funding sources, ultimately impacting residents who rely on ferry transportation.

Issues: ✓ Transportation

Bill status passed both 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

Second Substitute Bill → Engrossed Substitute Bill · 4 edits · Mar 6, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a Second Substitute to an Engrossed version, changing the legislative session year from 2026 to 2025 and adding an emergency clause to allow immediate implementation. The text was simplified by removing numbered lists in the findings section and adding a specific reference to preparing for the FIFA World Cup as a reason for expanding ferry capacity. The effective date was moved forward from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2025, and a new section was added to allow city transit systems to establish passenger-only ferry districts.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to explicitly include city transit systems as eligible entities to establish passenger-only ferry service districts, and the urgency of the measure was increased by adding an emergency clause.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was changed from July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2025, and an emergency clause was added to justify the earlier start date.

SCOPE

A specific mention of the FIFA World Cup was added to the findings section to highlight the need for increased ferry capacity before the event.

ELIGIBILITY

City transit systems were added to the list of entities authorized to establish passenger-only ferry service districts.

TECHNICAL

The legislative findings section was reformatted from a numbered list to a series of unnumbered paragraphs, and the session year was updated from 2026 to 2025.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Mar 7, 2025

How they voted

47–3

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 51

Mar 6, 2026

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

16 Yea 3 Nay 1

80% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 11, 2026

Introduced

House refuses to concur in Senate amendments. Asks Senate to recede from amendments.

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended.

upper

Mar 6, 2026

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (47-3-1)

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 9, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

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

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Transportation.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Rules Committee relieved of further consideration.

lower

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

lower

Mar 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Lower · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Minority; do not pass.

lower

Feb 27, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Transportation at 1:00 PM.

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation at 4:00 PM.

lower

1 primary · 10 co-sponsors