PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 10542025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Concerning county ferry maintenance and repair contracts.

Sponsored By: Mari Leavitt (Democratic)

Became Law

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Open bidding rules for county projects

Counties with a purchasing department must run competitive bids using written specs that are open to the public. The county must publish an ad at least once at least 13 days before bids are due, showing where, when, and what is being bid. Bids must be filed with the clerk, opened in public, and include a 5% bid deposit by an allowed form. The county awards to the lowest responsible bidder but can reject for good cause. The winner must provide a contractor’s bond. If the winner does not sign and post the bond within 10 days, the county keeps the 5% deposit and may award to the next lowest bidder. Other bidders get deposits back after award and bond acceptance.

Unit-price rules and longer ferry deals

The law sets clear rules for unit-price contracts. If the work is covered by the state prevailing wage law, contractors must pay the prevailing wage. The rate is the one in effect at the start of each contract year, updated yearly. Contractors must file a wage intent and a yearly affidavit for work done in the prior 12 months. Invitations must show estimated quantities and explain how work orders will be issued. The county awards to the lowest responsible bidder and, when possible, invites at least one certified minority- or woman-owned contractor. Unit-price contracts can run up to 1 year with a one-year renewal. For county ferry or county ferry district vessel maintenance or repair, terms can be up to 10 years.

Limits on county crews and penalties

County employees may do no more than 10% of the public works construction budget each budget period; the rest must be contracted out. In counties with 400,000 or more people, county crews also face per-project caps: $90,000 for multi-craft jobs, $45,000 for single-craft, $250,000 for multi-craft riverine or stormwater projects, and $125,000 for single-craft riverine or stormwater projects. Projects cannot be split to avoid these caps. In a declared emergency, counties may use public employees without dollar limits, but must publish a description and cost estimate within 7 days and adopt a resolution within 2 weeks. If a county fails to reduce excess in-house work within two years, the state withholds 10% of its motor vehicle fuel tax distributions until the county shows a reduction. Which projects county employees do is not subject to collective bargaining.

Optional contracting paths and green buying

A county may use the small works roster for smaller jobs and, when possible, must invite at least one certified minority- or woman-owned contractor. Performance-based contracts negotiated under state law are excluded from these limits. Certain contracts, development agreements, and leases with the public stadium authority and a team affiliate are also excluded. Counties may choose to prefer products made from recycled materials, or that can be recycled or reused.

Free Policy Watch

You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.

Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.

Pick a topic to get started

My TaxesMy HealthMy BudgetMy MoneyMy Freedom
Or tell us something more specific

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Mari Leavitt

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Alex Ramel

    Democratic • House

  • April Berg

    Democratic • House

  • Clyde Shavers

    Democratic • House

  • Dan Bronoske

    Democratic • House

  • Dave Paul

    Democratic • House

  • Greg Nance

    Democratic • House

  • Joe Timmons

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 143 • No: 1

Senate vote • 4/2/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 1

House vote • 2/12/2025

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 95 • No: 0 • Other: 3

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025.

    4/11/2025House

  2. Chapter 35, 2025 Laws.

    4/11/2025House

  3. Governor signed.

    4/11/2025legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    4/8/2025legislature

  5. President signed.

    4/7/2025legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    4/4/2025legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.

    4/2/2025House

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    4/2/2025House

  9. Placed on second reading consent calendar.

    3/26/2025House

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    3/19/2025House

  11. LGV - Majority; do pass.

    3/17/2025House

  12. First reading, referred to Local Government.

    2/13/2025House

  13. Third reading, passed; yeas, 95; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 3.

    2/12/2025House

  14. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/12/2025House

  15. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    2/5/2025House

  16. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    1/28/2025House

  17. LG - Majority; do pass.

    1/24/2025House

  18. LG - Executive action taken by committee.

    1/24/2025House

  19. First reading, referred to Local Government.

    1/13/2025House

  20. Introduced

    1/13/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in