BREAKING NEWS: “Mosquito Fleet Act” passed House Committee with bipartisan support (updated)
ORIGINAL: Thursday, February 27, 2025 at 4:15 p.m.
UPDATED: 5:25 p.m.
by Jeff Noedel
The “Mosquito Fleet Act” (HB 1923) has passed the Washington State House Transportation Committee by a wide margin, 20 yeas and 7 nays. All Democrats on the committee — including 40th District Rep Alex Ramel (D-Bellingham) — voted for the bill, as well as the Republican leadership of the committee.
The bill’s sponsor, State Rep. Greg Nance (D-23, Bainbridge Island) told SanJuans.Today moments after Committee passage, “We’ve got a path for bipartisan alignment in the House.”
To get the Transportation Committee to a yes, the bill had to be amended to remove underlying state funding. Nance had proposed $50 million over two years, which appeared to be a non-starter, even for some key Democrats. On the day HB 1923 passed, Governor Bob Ferguson announced the State’s budget deficit is not just $12 billion, but $15 billion. The reality of the State’s budget crisis made the notion of an incremental spend of $50 million for a service that is partially redundant to WSF extremely politically challenging.
Even without underlying funding, some ferry activists were buoyed by the committee’s passage because the bill would administratively blaze new trails for local ferry services. It would make a new Mosquito Fleet state policy.
Amy Drayer is the Vashon Island organizer of the “Fix Our Ferries Coalition.” She has brought lobbying forces together from Vashon to Bremerton to the San Juans. After today’s vote, she told SanJuans.Today, “HB 1923 is a critical step forward in securing a more resilient future for Puget Sound marine highways, and we want to thank supportive legislators – particularly Representative Nance for his vision and leadership for all ferry-dependent communities. Islanders for Ferry Action is thrilled to see HB 1923 advance out of committee, though disappointed funding wasn’t included. We do understand it’s an incredibly tough budget year. We will continue to advocate for solutions and more reliable alternatives, particularly for communities where ferries aren’t just transit; they’re lifelines.”
It may have been hard for Committee members to ignore the support that lined-up in the public. Approximately 30 citizens, activists, small business owners, chamber of commerce leaders, and local elected officials testified in favor of the bill. A single witness testified against the bill, on the grounds it would disturb the region’s beloved whale population.
The next steps for HB 1923 include a stop at the House Rules Committee and possible floor amendments ahead of a debate and vote on the House Floor.
For those following the bill through the legislature, the amended bill will now be known as “2ESHB1923,” which stands for “2nd Engrossed Substitute” HB 1923.
Check back. This is a developing story.
