Bill requiring classes for kayakers, paddleboarders may be scuttled

OLYMPIA – A bill that would've required boating classes for kayakers, canoeists, paddleboarders and even some surfers appears to have been scuttled.

House Bill 1018 is the subject of an online petition that had drawn 18,450 protest signatures as of this morning, Feb. 11. The bill would have required nearly everyone piloting a vessel – even human-powered boats like kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and some surfboards – on state waters to complete a boater education course. In addition, the bill would have eliminated the exception for boaters born before Jan. 1, 1955.

The state already requires boating classes to operate a motorized watercraft, such as boats and Jet Skis.

The measure was another run by Western Washington lawmakers to collect additional fees from residents and visitors. The current boating class costs an average of $35 to take and the state collects an addition $10.50 processing fee.

House Bill 1018 was sponsored by Democratic Reps. John Lovick of Mill Creek, Cindy Ryu of Shoreline, Lillian Ortiz-Self of Mulkiteo, Roger Goodman of Kirkland and Tina L. Orwall of Des Moines. Sen. Kevin Van de Wege, D-Sequim, sponsored a companion bill in the Senate.

But pressure from the online petition started by Eddyline Kayaks President Scott Holley may have scuttled the attempt to require watercraft users to pay for and pass a licensing class for kayaks, canoes, paddleboards and some surfboards.

The petition remains online at https://www.change.org/p/kayakers-no-to-hb1018-boater-education-card-for-kayakers-sup?signed=true.

During a Jan. 20 hearing of the House Community and Economic Development Committee, Rep. Lovick said the measure would help address the number of boating deaths, specifically those relating to paddleboards.

The bill remained in committee as of Feb. 11; however, it had been pulled from the executive session calendar. The Senate companion bill has also been pulled from the calendar.

"Which essentially means that the bills will not be proceeding this session in their current for," Holley wrote on an update to his change.org petition. "Thanks for making your voices heard."

Author Bio

Roger Harnack, Publisher

Roger Harnack is the co-owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.

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