CERTIFICATION OF ENROLLMENT

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2199

69TH LEGISLATURE

2026 REGULAR SESSION

SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 2199

ByHouse Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Richards, Leavitt, Ryu, Ramel, Simmons, Reed, Parshley, Zahn, Nance, Bronoske, Morgan, and Bernbaum)

AN ACT Relating to reducing impacts from derelict vessels; and reenacting and amending RCW 79.100.010.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. RCW 79.100.010 and 2014 c 195 s 604 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.

(1) "Abandoned vessel" means a vessel that has been left, moored, or anchored in the same area without the express consent, or contrary to the rules of, the owner, manager, or lessee of the aquatic lands below or on which the vessel is located for either a period of more than ((thirty))30 consecutive days or for more than a total of ((ninety))90 days in any ((three hundred sixty-five-day))365-day period, and the vessel's owner is: (a) Not known or cannot be located; or (b) known and located but is unwilling to take control of the vessel. For the purposes of this subsection (1) only, "in the same area" means within a radius of five miles of any location where the vessel was previously moored or anchored on aquatic lands.

(2) "Aquatic lands" means all tidelands, shorelands, harbor areas, and the beds of navigable waters, including lands owned by the state and lands owned by other public or private entities.

(3) "Authorized public entity" includes any of the following: The department of natural resources; the department of fish and wildlife; the parks and recreation commission; a metropolitan park district; a port district; and any city, town, or county with ownership, management, or jurisdiction over the aquatic lands where an abandoned or derelict vessel is located.

(4) "Department" means the department of natural resources.

(5) "Derelict vessel" means ((the vessel's owner is known and can be located, and exerts control of)) a vessel that:

(a) Has been moored, anchored, or otherwise left in the waters of the state or on public property contrary to RCW 79.02.300 or rules adopted by an authorized public entity;

(b) Has been left on private property without authorization of the owner; ((or))

(c) Has been left for a period of seven consecutive days, and:

(i) Is sunk or in danger of sinking;

(ii) Is obstructing a waterway; or

(iii) Is endangering life or property; or

(d) Has been in violation of state registration requirements under RCW 88.02.550 for at least two full annual registration periods and is prioritized for removal by the department or by an authorized public entity.

(6) "Owner" means any natural person, firm, partnership, corporation, association, government entity, or organization that has a lawful right to possession of a vessel by purchase, exchange, gift, lease, inheritance, or legal action whether or not the vessel is subject to a security interest.

(7) "Ship" means every species of watercraft or other mobile artificial contrivance, powered or unpowered, intended to be used for transporting people or goods on water or for floating marine construction or repair and that exceeds ((two hundred))200 feet in length.

(8) "Vessel" means every species of watercraft or other mobile artificial contrivance, powered or unpowered, intended to be used for transporting people or goods on water or for floating marine construction or repair and which does not exceed ((two hundred))200 feet in length. "Vessel" includes any trailer used for the transportation of watercraft, or any attached floats or debris.

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