This bill amends existing law (RCW 53.58.010) to specify what port district and port development authority moneys may and may not be used for. It permits those moneys to be used to purchase zero and near-zero emissions cargo handling equipment and the infrastructure supporting that equipment for use by the port district, the port development authority, or their tenants or lessees. It prohibits using those moneys to purchase fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment. The amendment removes a prior expiration clause that would have ended the section on December 31, 2031, effectively eliminating the sunset in the text shown. The bill defines “fully automated marine container cargo handling equipment” as equipment that is remotely operated or remotely monitored, with or without human intervention or control, and it identifies “port development authority” as a port public development authority created under RCW 53.57.020. Affected entities include port districts, port development authorities, and their tenants and lessees. The bill text cites RCW 53.58.010 (amended), RCW 53.57.020, and 2021 c 88 s 1. It was read the first time on 02/02/26 and was referred to the House Committee on Local Government; sponsors are Representatives Parshley, Low, Ormsby, Walsh, Pollet, and Abbarno. This is a modification of an existing statute that creates new permitted uses of funds, adds a specific prohibition, and removes a sunset provision. The extracted text does not include the full RCW 53.57.020 language, broader legislative history or intent, or any related implementation details outside RCW 53.58.010.

If enacted, ports and port development authorities will be able to use their existing moneys to buy zero‑ and near‑zero emissions cargo handling equipment and the infrastructure needed to run that equipment for themselves or for tenants and lessees. That likely makes it easier for ports to invest in cleaner handling gear now, which could increase upfront capital spending on low‑emission technology but reduce emissions and possibly operating fuel costs over time; tenants may see more access to low‑emission equipment if ports buy it for shared use or lease it. At the same time, the change blocks those same port funds from being used to purchase fully automated marine container handling equipment, so ports will have to find other funding sources or delay automation plans, which affects capital planning, potential labor impacts, and automation-related vendor contracts. The amendment also removes the prior December 31, 2031 expiration, making this authority ongoing rather than temporary. The text does not define "near‑zero" emissions thresholds or explain how other related rules or funding sources interact, and the exact scope of port development authority roles is tied to RCW 53.57.020, which isn’t included here.