The RV industry in Washington state is set to receive a much-needed boost following the unanimous passage of House Bill 1514 in the Washington State House of Representatives.
The bill amends the statewide RV plan approval process. It addresses significant delays in RV plan reviews that have been plaguing the industry, as per the News & Insights report of the RV Industry Association (RVIA).
The delays were caused by staffing issues at the Washington Department of Labor and Industries, Factory Assembled Structures Division. As a result, RV manufacturers were unable to purchase Washington state RV insignias, which are required to sell an RV in the state of Washington.
The delays caused disruption to RV commerce, leading to lost business for Washington RV dealers and frustration for consumers.
To resolve this issue, the RVIA has been working with the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries’ plan review division to implement an all-electronic plan submission process for RVs and Park Model RVs.
Previously, the RV industry did not use digital plan submission because it was more expensive than physical submission. However, recent fee changes have made digital submission the cheaper option.
Senior Manager Nick Rudowich testified at the February 1st public hearing in support of an amendment (Revised Code of Washington 43.22.350) to the Washington RV plan approval process (House Bill 1514) that would make improvements to the process that is already in place permanent.
During his testimony, Rudowich announced that RV manufacturers could purchase insignias on submission of plans to the state, provided they have a state-approved quality control program and pay the required fees of plan submission to the Department of Labor and Industries.
House Bill 1514 passed unanimously through the Washington State House of Representatives with a vote of 95-0. The bill now moves to the Senate, where it awaits committee assignment.
“We thank Prime Sponsor Robertson for his work in expeditiously moving House Bill 1514,” said Rudowich.
The RVIA will be hosting quarterly webinars in conjunction with the Department of Labor and Industries to assist the RV industry in moving from physical plan submission to electronic submission.
The association is optimistic that the new process will streamline RV plan reviews and reduce the backlog of RV plans.
While the delays have been a significant issue for the RV industry in Washington state, the unanimous passage of House Bill 1514 is a promising development.
The all-electronic plan submission process and the ability to purchase insignias on plan submission will help RV manufacturers and dealers operate more efficiently, ultimately benefiting consumers.
For more information on House Bill 1514 and the RV industry in Washington state, visit the Washington Legislature’s website or contact Nick Rudowich at [email protected].
The unanimous passing of House Bill 1514 is a game-changer for the RV world in Washington! This means smoother processes for all of us – manufacturers, dealers, and customers. Exciting times ahead!