H.B. 1923 “Mosquito Fleet Act” clears WA House of Reps – headed to Senate Transpo Committee

Byjnoedel

by Jeff Noedel
Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 11:00 a.m.

A link to a CNL3 YouTube video interviewing fast ferry expert Peter Philips is at the bottom of this page.

Washington supporters of H.B. 1923, the “Mosquito Fleet Act,” are determined to pass the bill into law on their second annual attempt. The bill sailed through the Washington State House in the 2025 biennial session, only to stall in the Senate Transportation Committee (Sen. Marko Liias, Chair). The bill died in mid-2025 when the Senate Transportation Committee did not schedule the bill for an “executive session,” where it would have been voted on by Senate Transportation Committee members.

The Mosquito Fleet Act would allow Grays Harbor and the seaside communities around the widest definition of Puget Sound — including Bellingham and the San Juans — to create “passenger-only ferry service districts” with the power to tax, charge fares, hire employees, buy or lease boats, and/or contract expert operators of a passenger-only ferry system.

The stated first priority H.B. 1923 is to backstop Washington State Ferries (WSF) while it is restoring system reliability. The bill’s opening line is: “Passenger-only ferry service is the fastest way to get boats on the water and build the capacity necessary to respond to Washington state ferries’ service disruptions, which will alleviate the negative impacts that those disruptions and cancellations have on the people of Washington state.” It continues:

“Increased passenger-only ferry service will also ensure reliable access to health care, education, and work for communities that are dependent on ferry service… Bolstering passenger-only ferry capacity will help tourism-dependent small businesses across the state, while honoring our state’s commitment to environmental progress and helping Washingtonians travel and connect without driving. Increased passenger-only ferry service will also support workforce development…”

In the bill’s 2025 hearing in the House Transportation Committee, dozens and dozens of witnesses advocated for the potential for new passenger-only routes, using smaller, faster foot ferries to make connections between communities that WSF will likely never serve, such as new small ferry services that might connect:

  • The San Juan Islands and Bellingham
  • Everett and Langley, and Oak Harbor
  • Everett and Port Townsend
  • Port Townsend and Port Ludlow, and Seattle
  • Des Moines and Vashon Island
  • Des Moines and Olympia
  • many more routes where the economics, including rider demand, make sense

If passed, the new law would take effect on July 1, 2026.

H.B. 1923 has gone through several iterations since its introduction in 2025 by 10 original sponsors, including State Rep. Greg Nance (a Democrat from LD 23’s Bainbridge Island). Changes have included stripping $50 million in seed money that would have helped set-up new small passenger-only ferry districts, and adding protections for southern resident killer whales.

Now, in the 2026 Supplemental session, the bill is gaining steam, again.

Last week, on Fri., Feb. 6, H.B. 1923 passed its first test of the 2026 Supplemental session, when it cleared the House Transportation Committee (Rep. Jake Fey, Chair) with 23 ayes and 4 nays. In the 2025 session, the same House committee passed the bill by a 20-7 margin.

A video recording of the recent Feb. 6 House Transportation Committee hearing is here. Shuttle ahead in the recording to 1:21:17 (one hour, 21 minutes, 17 seconds).

Saturday’s passage on the House floor is similar to last year’s bipartisan passage.

The next step in the legislative process for H.B. 1923 will be the Senate Transportation Committee. The 19 members of the Transportation Committee are as follows. Click on the hotlink for contact details.

Sen. Emily Alvarado (Democrat, LD 34, Chinatown, SODO, West Seattle, Georgetown, Fauntleroy, Vashon Island)
Sen. Mike Chapman (Democrat, LD 24, Olympic Peninsula, Ocean Shores, Grays Harbor)
Sen. Leonard Christian (Republican, LD 4, Spokane Valley)
Sen. Adrian Cortes (Democrat, LD 18, Vancouver)
Sen. Phil Fortunato (Republican, LD 31, Sumner – Bonney Lake)
Sen. Keith Goehner (Republican, LD 12, Monroe, Index, Leavenworth, Wenatchee)
Sen. Paul Harris (Republican, LD 17, Vancouver)
Sen. Jeff Holy (Republican, LD 6, Spokane)
Sen. Victoria Hunt (Democrat, LD 5, Issaquah, Snoqualmie, Enumclaw)
Sen. Curtis King (Republican, LD 14, Yakima, Pasco)
Sen. Deborah Krishnadasan, Committee Vice-Chair (Democrat, LD 26, Bremerton, Port Orchard, Gig Harbor)
Sen. Marko Liias, Committee Chair (Democrat, LD 21, Mukilteo, North Lynnwood, Edmonds)
Sen. Liz Lovelett (Democrat, LD 40, Fairhaven (Bellingham), Burlington/Mount Vernon, Anacortes, San Juan Islands)
Sen. John Lovick (Democrat, LD 44, Snohomish, Mill Creek)
Sen. Drew MacEwen (Republican, LD 35, Seabeck, Hoodsport, Shelton, Rochester)
Sen. T’wina Nobles (Democrat, LD 28, Lakewood, DuPont)
Sen. Sharon Shewmake (Democrat, LD 42, Blaine, Ferndale, Bellingham)
Sen. Javier Valdez (Democrat, LD 46, Lake City, Northgate, Green Lake, Ravenna)
Sen. Jeff Wilson (Republican, LD 19, Hoquiam, Westport, Centralia, Longview)

When addressing legislators in writing, it is customary to address them as “The Honorable,” and in “The Hon. Liz Lovelett.”


Interested in hearing more of Peter Philips ideas on fast ferry services? Watch his keynote address at the “Fix Our Ferries” summit on Sat., Nov. 16, 2024 in Mukilteo, WA below.

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