WASHINGTON, May 8, 2025 – The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas (MRAA), alongside its industry partners, is celebrating a monumental advocacy victory as the Washington State Legislature has officially tabled a proposed “luxury” tax on vessels (SB5801), protecting marine industry jobs and saving an estimated $70 million over the next six years — a coalition effort that ultimately sinks Washington State luxury tax.
This decision comes after sustained and strategic advocacy efforts led by the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) and supported by MRAA and a strong coalition of local stakeholders. The proposed tax would have unfairly targeted recreational boats throughout the Evergreen State, ultimately extracting $13 million annually from the marine sector — an industry vital to Washington’s economy and workforce.
“I am deeply grateful for MRAA’s swift response, strategic support, and the national credibility it brought to our advocacy efforts,” said Jay Jennings, Vice President and Director of Government Affairs at the NMTA. “In a campaign where demonstrating nationwide industry alignment was essential, MRAA’s involvement elevated our message and significantly strengthened the size and influence of our coalition. Their engagement was instrumental in achieving this outcome, and we look forward to future collaboration.”
Due to the leadership of the NMTA, more than 1,300 individual actions were taken in response to the coalition’s Call to Action, helping amplify the concerns of industry and the Washington boating public directly to lawmakers. The groundswell of support underscored the critical role the marine industry plays in the state’s economy and the importance of fair, balanced taxation. To see an example of how the MRAA engaged, click here to see a coalition letter.
“This is a powerful example of what can be accomplished when our industry speaks with one voice,” said Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager. “Our collective efforts not only protected thousands of jobs and small businesses in the recreational marine industry, but also preserved the vibrancy of recreational boating in Washington State.”
While the coalition sinking the Washington State luxury tax marks a significant victory for the Washington State recreational marine industry, it is worth noting that luxury taxes on airplanes, cars and motorhomes remain under consideration. In addition, due to the outreach and input from the coalition, the legislature introduced a new, more modest tax measure: beginning in July 2026, an additional half-cent sales tax will apply to recreational vessels sold and registered in the state. With this adjustment, the projected tax burden for the industry has been reduced from $78 million to just $7 million over six years. The fact that luxury taxes remain on airplanes, cars and motorhomes further underscores the effectiveness of coalition advocacy efforts.
This victory highlights the importance of the relationships and collaboration between National and State Marine Trade Associations (MTA), as without the leadership and on-the-ground expertise of the NMTA, this would have been a more strenuous uphill battle for national groups to face alone. The MRAA seeks to build relationships with MTAs as these partnerships are oftentimes the key to success in shared advocacy battles. The MRAA-led Advisory Council of Marine Associations (ACMA) provides an opportunity for state and national MTAs to discuss policy issues in their respective states and regions, share engagement strategies and keep up to date with legislative and regulatory activity impacting the recreational marine industry at a state level. Stay tuned for additional stories about how the MRAA and SMTAs are working together on overlapping policy and regulatory issues.
This win — when a coalition sinks Washington State luxury tax — stands as a model for future advocacy efforts. MRAA extends its deepest gratitude to all members, partners and advocates who lent their voices in this fight. Together we’ve preserved not only our economic impact but the ability of consumers to enjoy life on the water. Should you have any questions or are interested in getting more involved in MRAA advocacy efforts, reach out to Chad Tokowicz, MRAA Government Relations Manager, at Chad@mraa.com.
About the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
At the Marine Retailers Association of the Americas, we believe that for the marine industry to thrive, the retail organizations that interact with the boaters in their community must thrive. With that in mind, MRAA works to create a strong and healthy boating industry by uniting those retailers, providing them with opportunities for improvement and growth, and representing them with a powerful voice. For more information, visit MRAA.com or contact us at 763-315-8043.
