The Senate Transportation Committee heard public testimony Jan. 27, 2025 on Senate Bill 5281, which would increase the allowable maximum length for certain nonresident commercially owned or charter vessels operating in Washington waters.

Committee staff summarized the bill: under current law nonresident vessels temporarily operating beyond 60 days must obtain a nonresident vessel permit and commercially owned or charter vessels may not exceed 200 feet. SB 5281 would raise that maximum to 300 feet and establish a permit fee scaling to $100 per foot beginning May 1, 2026. Staff said permit fee proceeds would fund a new grant program supporting youth swim lessons in overburdened communities. The Department of Licensing fiscal note cited an estimated $26,000 cost to update systems to accommodate the new permit and fee structures.

Supporters from the maritime industry testified in favor, saying larger transient charter and recreational vessels deliver economic benefits to ports and coastal communities through berth fees, provisioning, tourism spending and local services. Roman Daniels Brown of the Northwest Marine Trade Association told the committee recreational boating creates roughly $8 billion in statewide economic impact and urged the Legislature to keep those vessels and their spending in Washington rather than losing transient visits to other jurisdictions.

James Coburn of the Washington Public Ports Association said the bill supports jobs on working waterfronts and would channel some fee proceeds into water-safety programming for youth. Port witnesses described examples of charter revenue and one-week charter use tax dollars that could be generated by larger vessels.

Committee members asked about fee levels and specific impacts for small charter operators; staff and witnesses said fee amounts scale by vessel length and that some testimony will be used to refine implementation language. No committee vote was taken on SB 5281 at the hearing.