Today, Government Affairs Senior Manager Nick Rudowich will be testifying at the Washington State Capitol Building in support of an amendment that would enhance the RV plan approval process.
Washington is one of only two states that regulate the manufacturing of RVs and the approval process of RV plans. Manufacturers submit model plans to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, pay a fee for each plan, and the department either approves or denies the plans.
Approval is necessary for manufacturers to purchase the Washington RV insignia, which is required for selling RVs to dealers and, ultimately, to consumers in the state, as per the News & Insights report of the RV Industry Association (RVIA).
However, the RV industry experienced significant delays in RV plan reviews in 2021 and 2022 due to staffing issues at the Department of Labor and Industries, Factory Assembled Structures Division, causing a backlog of RV plans and disrupting RV commerce.
As a result, RV manufacturers were unable to purchase and ship RVs to Washington dealers in a timely manner, leading to lost business for the dealers and forcing consumers to go out of state for products.
To resolve the issue, Rudowich will be testifying in support of the amendment (RCW 43.22.350) to the Washington RV plan approval process (HB 1514).
This amendment would make the current process permanent, allowing RV manufacturers to purchase insignias on submission of plans to the state, as long as they have a state-approved quality control program and pay the required fees to the Department of Labor and Industries.
This year, the RVIA will also host quarterly webinars in conjunction with the Department of Labor and Industries to transition the RV industry from physical plan submission to digital, as digital submission has become the cheaper option with recent fee changes.
The RV Industry Association and the State of Washington have collaborated to ensure commerce will continue in the future without any fault of the industry,” Rudowich said.
“We appreciate the state, especially the Department of Labor and Industries, for working with the RV Industry Association and our members to find a solution to this critical problem. We look forward to a continued relationship with the state of Washington.”
Those interested in viewing the hearing can visit the Washington Department of Labor and Industries website, with the link to be posted when available. For any questions on the issue, contact Nick Rudowich at [email protected].
The Washington State RV industry is modernizing the plan approval process, aiming to resolve delays and streamline procedures. The shift to digital submission through webinars with the Department of Labor and Industries shows the industry’s proactive stance toward embracing technology for the benefit of all involved.