SENATE BILL REPORT
ESSB 5179
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 Passed Senate, February 19, 2008
Title: An act relating to snowmobile registrations.
Brief Description: Modifying snowmobile registration provisions.
Sponsors: Senate Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Senators Kastama and Rasmussen).
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Transportation: 1/23/08, 1/24/08 [DPS].
Passed Senate: 2/19/08, 48-0.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5179 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Marr, Vice Chair; Murray, Vice Chair; Swecker, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Berkey, Delvin, Eide, Holmquist, Jacobsen, Kastama, Kauffman, Kilmer, King, Pflug, Sheldon and Spanel.
Staff: Janice Baumgardt (786-7319)
Background: Snowmobiles must be registered with the Department of Licensing (DOL) if
owned, transported, or operated in Washington State (unless exempted elsewhere in law, e.g.,
snowmobiles owned or operated by a government, or snowmobiles owned by residents of certain
states, or Canadian provinces operating temporarily in Washington State).
Registration fees are to be established by the State Parks and Recreation Commission.
Registration fees are also set in statute at $30 per year for snowmobiles less than 30 years old and
$12 per year for vintage snowmobiles.
Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill: Snowmobiles must be registered with DOL only if
operated in Washington State. A person who owns or transports a snowmobile in Washington,
but does not operate it, is not required to register the snowmobile.
Contradictory language directing the registration fees to be established by the State Parks and
Recreation Commission is deleted.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 21, 2008.
Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony on Recommended Substitute: PRO: Currently snowmobiles are the only vehicles requiring registration even when not operated; this bill will level things so the registration requirements for snowmobiles are similar to the registration requirements of other recreational vehicles.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Kastama, prime sponsor; Stephen Alldridge, Mark Gjurasic, Washington State Snowmobile Association.