SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6083
This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent. |
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Transportation, January 27, 2020
Title: An act relating to travel trailers.
Brief Description: Concerning travel trailers.
Sponsors: Senators Zeiger, Saldaña, Hobbs, King, Warnick, Becker and Sheldon.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/22/20, 1/27/20 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill |
|
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION |
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Hobbs, Chair; Saldaña, Vice Chair; King, Ranking Member; Sheldon, Assistant Ranking Member; Cleveland, Das, Fortunato, Lovelett, Nguyen, O'Ban, Padden, Randall, Takko, Wilson, C. and Zeiger.
Staff: Kim Johnson (786-7472)
Background: No person may operate on the public highways any vehicle with an overall length, with or without load, in excess of 40 feet.
This restriction does not apply to:
a municipal transit vehicle;
an auto stage, private carrier bus, school bus, or motor home with an overall length not to exceed 46 feet;
an articulated auto stage with an overall length not to exceed 61 feet, excluding a back rack up to 4 feet in length; or
an auto recycling carrier up to 42 feet in length manufactured prior to 2005.
Summary of Bill: A person may operate a travel trailer having an overall length of up to 46 feet on a public highway.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: This is truly a "trailer" bill. Travel trailers over 40 feet long have been out on our highways for years with no problems. This will just address a small issue that was discovered this interim by the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) during a review of the manufacturing plan approval process for travel trailer plans. We were told L&I would not be approving any plans for travel trailers over 40 feet because state law does not allow for operation of the trailer over 40 feet. Even though this has been the state of the law for years, the plans were not going to be approved. This would be a huge impact financially to both dealers who have existing inventory and those that will lose future sales of trailers over 40 feet. Many states already allow travel trailers to be over 40 feet long or allow enforcement of vehicle combination lengths that would allow for these travel trailers to legally be on the roads.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Hans Zeiger, Prime Sponsor; Grant Nelson, RV Industry Association; Nick Rudowich, RV Industry Association; Michael Kummerfeldt, Tacoma RV, Sales Manager.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.