Last summer, Washington state decided to stop approving plans for travel trailers longer than 40 feet in length. Such vehicles have been built, sold and registered in the state for decades. Yesterday, legislation (WA HB 2242) that would fix this issue and allow travel trailers up to 46 feet in length, passed out of the Senate Transportation Committee and heads to the full state Senate for consideration.
Nick Rudowich from the RVIA’s state affairs team previously testified in favor of this bill. He has been working with legislators and regulators in search of a solution.
“We feel confident that this bill will successfully pass and be signed into law,” Rudowich said. “State legislators as well as Washington State Department of Labor and Industries understand the issue at stake and have worked with us to ensure travel trailers up to 46 feet in length will continue to be approved until this matter is settled legislatively.”
The decision to stop approving travel trailer plans for units longer than 40 feet would have negatively impacted dealers in the state. Dealers would have experienced an immediate loss of product and considerable revenue to their businesses if this matter was not remedied.
Adding further complication to the issue, Washington is one of only two states to regulate the manufacturing of RVs. RV manufacturers submitting model plans to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries and pay a fee for each plan submittal. Then, Labor and Industries approves or denies the plans. After the model plan is approved, RV manufacturers purchase a Washington RV seal which is attached to the vehicle, indicating the RV may be sold to a consumer in Washington.
When the bill is passed and signed into law, Labor and Industries will have the statutory clarity to approve plans of travel trailers up to 46 feet in overall length going forward. If the legislation is unsuccessful, Labor and Industries has confirmed it will cease approving plans for such travel trailers.
For more information, contact Nick Rudowich at [email protected].
