HB1502 – Specifies competitive bidding procedures counties may use in designing and procuring electric ferries.
Prime Sponsor – Representative Wiley (D; 49th District; Vancouver) (Co-Sponsors Griffey – R, Ramel, Paul, Lekanoff, Berry, Ortiz-Self, Hackney, Harris-Talley, and Pollet – Ds)
Current status –
In the House – Passed
Referred to the House Committee on Transportation; had a hearing there February 17th. Amended and passed out of committee February 22nd; referred to Rules. Passed the House February 26th.

In the Senate –
Referred to the Committee on Transportation. Had a hearing March 15th, and passed out of committee March 30th. Referred to Rules, and passed by the Senate, unanimously, April 11th.
Next step would be – To the Governor.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.

Summary –
The bill simply lists procedures in detail; they seem to be optional, except for a couple. I’m not sure whether a county already has the legal authority to buy an electric ferry or not, but it sounds as if it does.

The amendment would require the Department of Transportation’s Office of Equal Opportunity to specify a percentage of the contract award amount for county electric ferry procurement that the prime contractor would have to meet by subcontracting with small businesses.