ESSB 5371 — Protecting southern resident orcas from vessels.

What this bill does

Increases the distance that vessels and other objects must keep from southern resident orcas and provides additional exemptions from the distance restrictions. Reduces the natural resource infraction fine amount for violating the vessel distance and speed restrictions. Modifies the commercial whale watching business license fees by removing fee structures for each vessel based on the number of passengers and eliminating certain other fees. Creates paddle tour business and paddle guide licenses with associated fees in place of kayak guide licenses and distinct from commercial whale watching business licenses. Modifies enforcement provisions regarding commercial whale watching in the first degree. Creates enforcement provisions regarding conducting paddle tours.

From the Washington State Legislature's nonpartisan staff bill analysis. Read the full analysis ↗

Floor votes

• House — Final Passage as Amended by the House · April 11, 2023
  95 yea · 2 nay · 1 not voting
• Senate — Final Passage as Amended by the House · April 17, 2023
  30 yea · 18 nay · 1 not voting
• Senate — 3rd Reading & Final Passage · February 28, 2023
  29 yea · 18 nay · 2 not voting

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Other bills sponsored by Lovelett

• SB 5310 — Defining attending provider and clarifying other provider functions for workers' compensation claims, and adding psychologists as attending providers for mental health only claims.
• ESSB 5334 — Providing a local government option for the funding of essential affordable housing programs.
• SB 5553 — Authorizing standards for temporary emergency shelters for local adoption.
• ESSB 6039 — Promoting the development of geothermal energy resources.
• ESSB 6061 — Concerning exemptions for housing development under the state environmental policy act.