[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6348114,"mediaKeyId","2243259-357f5ff15f40e40f382a3d90ed8a2c08","parentId",2243259,"title","Senate committee moves to executive session after staff briefings on multiple transportation-related bills","audioSeconds",423,"startMs",474000,"endMs",897000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243259-357f5ff15f40e40f382a3d90ed8a2c08&start=474&end=897","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243259-357f5ff15f40e40f382a3d90ed8a2c08/thumbnail_474000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6348114/Washington/Senate-committee-moves-to-executive-session-after-staff-briefings-on-multiple-transportation-related-bills","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348114-8c8fb5235067b765712df01e97e2b6e7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148263&Signature=fSEdCp4UnHocOfAtgvJmiUQ6cLQVmC4zPE54R7luTWUnBjWP0DcZt8npjJV-gRu7JOWbHUZHmcFrn3H2Wdb5m7eq5R71DsNBW1Erksj4I1U5ZCuLaB3Xbw0fd4F08ddIUfuCNQJmhzW~pZN-UCdan1gO2My9XAWuwf0RqNuVxYygtrhGYw1I7iYTjFAdTtQtXvjH5GdwwnS1XpN0bDx6NATXkgymOUHWJSavjNvZYmPdkOwqqz73gkzyaoezsXRxXvZj76oeNA5zT9l1zvZbutDIEKsoA4o8Q4f4O3yNPFbgZ5-WIf-bGqA8DKrR-GtdGOTfTtTppYcieqrDABJjow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","After closing the public hearing on Senate Bill 5484, the Senate Transportation Committee moved into executive session for staff to brief members on several bills and pending amendments.

Brian Moore, committee staff, summarized Senate Bill 5127, agency-request legislation addressing collector vehicles. Moore said SB 5127 would require collector vehicle insurance and proof of a second vehicle registration beginning Jan. 15, 2026; he noted two amendments: one from Senator MacKuhan that removes the second-vehicle proof and eliminates certain exception provisions, and a second from Senator Wilson that limits the insurance requirement to times when a collector vehicle is operated on a public highway.

Moore also summarized Senate Bill 5462, which, he said, would exempt certain all-terrain and utility-type wheeled vehicles from most VIN inspection requirements.

A separate briefing covered Senate Bill 5624, which directs the State Fire Marshal (within Washington State Patrol) and other entities to develop multidisciplinary best practices and training for responding to electric-vehicle fires.

Danny Masterson briefed Senate Bill 5203, a wildlife-connectivity measure that would require the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to develop an integrated strategy to implement WDFW’s Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Action Plan. Masterson said the bill creates two accounts to support the effort but does not appropriate money; he described a proposed substitute from Senator Shoemake that would, among other changes, make plan updates subject to appropriations and remove certain reporting and easement-purchase directives.

Brandon Popovac reminded members that Senate Bill 5410 would authorize special parking privileges for veterans who have at least a 70% disability rating from the U.S. armed forces or the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and who have a federally defined service animal. Popovac said a proposed substitute clarifies eligibility and sets an effective date of Oct. 1, 2025.

Popovac also summarized Senate Bill 5464, which would require the Department of Licensing to clarify how federal standards affect commercial driver’s license applicants based on domicile or immigration status and to provide training and informational materials for staff, schools, and applicants.

Kelly Simpson briefed Senate Bill 5281, which would raise the maximum vessel length allowed on a temporary nonresident vessel permit from 200 feet to 300 feet. The transcript records two draft amendments: one would require Department of Licensing permit rules to include education and compliance with the Quiet Sound Program and Fish and Wildlife safe-whale-distance guidelines; another, offered by Senator Chapman, would extend the effective date to September 2025. Senator Lovelitt told the committee she would withdraw an incorrectly drafted amendment and perfect it for the floor.

Committee members did not take recorded votes on these items during the briefing; the transcript ends with the committee moving to caucus.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development - 2/6/2025 1:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","After concluding public testimony on SB 5484, committee staff gave quick reminders about several bills (collector-vehicle rules, VIN inspection exemptions, EV fire response, wildlife connectivity, veterans parking, CDL rule clarifications, and nonresident vessel permits) before caucusing; no committee votes were recorded in the transcript.","taxTitle","Higher Education & Workforce Development, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20504,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6348118,"Towing industry urges support for bill to use excess auction funds to help owners and operators",400,63000,463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2243259-357f5ff15f40e40f382a3d90ed8a2c08&start=63&end=463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2243259-357f5ff15f40e40f382a3d90ed8a2c08/thumbnail_63000.jpg","/articles/6348118/Washington/Towing-industry-urges-support-for-bill-to-use-excess-auction-funds-to-help-owners-and-operators","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6348118-8f15c788ed5a440678af1dd5dafdbda1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148263&Signature=mjjy7bJhIkqfQoHVVvo-0xlU-JuUBXHAJw543lPUOGQR~KceVNc2HgbgZkcEjzM9vSJnETr1dEDxLYCsPo2RRLBUYUnaZm45X07iHUBT-AxMjKkkcertbbECJ0yBJ0Si9GGHtckJsfsZWmdX7k9Ekkci52j08OXdrjMeCvjr6siIqMvQR5EfhtymzP1zblSue2VeDpZBB5PIvlq7pbYpFZ-5rI-wpUqDdZcV8UbN4KZ7lPmGinR6lX5HS1ybrYSEIDdMGx4y0-x~CEBE53rIUJWEznqXXVU-kH0YHUcbpJi9yYnXT3D1oG1BPnh59txxZsAK1jO~41VzuEEf-lRf-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Towing business owners and industry representatives told the Senate Transportation Committee on Wednesday they back Senate Bill 5484, a measure to let the state use excess funds generated at abandoned-vehicle auctions to help vehicle owners retrieve impounded cars and to offset towing operators’ costs.

In a public hearing, Emily Wade, owner and operator of Jim’s Northgate Towing, Day and Night Towing and Big D Towing in King County, said the current system often forces owners who are victims of car theft or who face sudden expenses to let their vehicles be declared abandoned and sold. “This bill could help change that result and do so in a positive way,” Wade said.

The bill would create an avenue of assistance, Wade said, paid from funds identified in the bill that are generated at abandoned-vehicle auctions by registered tow operators. “It’s a win for consumers and tow operators,” she said, adding that tow firms work “24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year” and face high overhead.

Holly Crowley, office manager at Jean Mayer Towing and Bankers Towing in Arenton, Washington, told the committee that typical tow-and-storage fees range from $500 to $1,200 and can force customers to choose between retrieving a vehicle and buying groceries or paying rent. “That should not happen,” Crowley said, arguing the proposed program would free storage space at tow yards and speed vehicle releases.

Peter Lukovich, a lobbyist for the Towing and Recovery Association, said the bill would use “excess funds” from auction accounts rather than require new taxes. “There isn’t any surplus, but in this case, there are, from time to time, excess funds that make up that account,” Lukovich said. He also noted the measure would help people who use vehicles for shelter to retrieve them sooner.

Committee staff and the chair did not take a recorded vote during the public hearing; the committee moved into executive session after the testimony. Drew Zachary was invited to testify but did not appear during the hearing.

Supporters asked the committee to pass the bill; no formal action was recorded in the transcript. The proponents emphasized three points: (1) impound fees often exceed what struggling residents can pay, (2) faster vehicle release frees limited tow-yard storage, and (3) the program would be funded from auction-generated funds paid by registered tow operators rather than new statewide taxes.

If advanced, the bill would amend how the state uses funds produced at abandoned-vehicle auctions; the transcript records supporters thanking the bill’s prime sponsor, Senator Chapman, and cosponsor, Senator King, for bringing the measure forward.

The hearing also included a brief roll call of registered positions (the clerk noted 14 pro and 18 con on the sign-in list) before the committee moved to executive session for staff briefings on other bills.","Towing operators testified before the Senate Transportation Committee in favor of Senate Bill 5484, which would create a program using excess funds from abandoned-vehicle auctions to help customers retrieve impounded cars and compensate tow operators; no committee vote was recorded.","actionData","errors"]

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Senate committee moves to executive session after staff briefings on multiple transportation-related bills

Towing industry urges support for bill to use excess auction funds to help owners and operators