WashingtonWashington public ports can fund cleaner cargo equipment with limits
Washington public ports can use available money for cargo equipment with zero or near-zero emissions, including equipment for their tenants, but purchases face limits on remote operation and monitoring.
What it does
Public ports can spend available money on cargo equipment with zero or near-zero emissions and supporting infrastructure. The equipment can serve ports or their tenants.
Public ports cannot spend available money on marine container handling equipment operated or monitored remotely. This restriction applies even when people remain involved or in control.
Argument forAllowing ports to fund cleaner cargo equipment and supporting infrastructure could help ports and their tenants reduce equipment emissions.
Argument againstThe spending restriction could limit ports’ equipment choices because it covers remotely monitored container equipment even when people remain in control.
More detail
Public ports can use available money to buy cargo equipment with zero or near-zero emissions and infrastructure that supports it. The equipment can serve port districts, public development authorities created by one or two port districts, or their tenants and leaseholders. The permission applies to money available to a port district or port development authority; it does not set aside additional money. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
Port districts and port development authorities cannot use available money to buy fully automated equipment for handling marine cargo containers. The restriction covers purchases by port districts and public development authorities created by one or two port districts. The law defines fully automated equipment as equipment operated or monitored remotely, whether or not people intervene or control it. The law took effect June 11, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 16Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 16Chapter 75, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 16Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 9Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 5President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 77; nays, 17; absent, 0; excused, 4.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#27). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 27Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Feb 25Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 20Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 20LG - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 20Executive action taken in the House Committee on Local Government at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 18Public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government at 8:30 AM.
- Feb 14First reading, referred to Local Government.Minor
- Feb 11Third reading, passed; yeas, 31; nays, 18; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#26). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 4Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Jan 23Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Jan 22Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Jan 22LGV - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Jan 22Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 15Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Local Government at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Local Government.Minor
- Jan 6Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
TransportationEnvironment & Energy