SB 6262

ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 6262
State of Washington  69th Legislature     2026 Regular Session
By Senate Transportation (originally sponsored by Senator Valdez)
READ FIRST TIME 02/06/26.
1      AN ACT Relating to increasing the maximum weight of certain
2  vehicles subject to transportation benefit district vehicle fees;
3  amending RCW 82.80.140; and providing an effective date.
4  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
5     Sec. 1.   RCW 82.80.140 and 2015 3rd sp.s. c 44 s 310 are each
6 amended to read as follows:
7     (1) Subject to the provisions of RCW 36.73.065, a transportation
8 benefit district under chapter 36.73 RCW may fix and impose an annual
9 vehicle fee, not to exceed ((one hundred dollars)) $100 per vehicle
10 registered in the district, for each vehicle subject to vehicle
11 license fees under RCW 46.17.350(1) (a), (c), (d), (e), (g), (h),
12 (j), or (n) through (q) and for each vehicle subject to gross weight
13 license fees under RCW 46.17.355 with a scale weight of ((six
14 thousand)) 9,000 pounds or less.
15     (2)(a) A district that includes all the territory within the
16 boundaries of the jurisdiction, or jurisdictions, establishing the
17 district may impose by a majority vote of the governing board of the
18 district up to: (i) ((Twenty dollars)) $20 of the vehicle fee
19 authorized in subsection (1) of this section, (ii) ((forty dollars))
20 $40 of the vehicle fee authorized in subsection (1) of this section
21 if a ((twenty dollar)) $20 vehicle fee has been imposed for at least
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1 ((twenty-four)) 24 months, or (iii) ((fifty dollars)) $50 of the
2 vehicle fee authorized in subsection (1) of this section if a vehicle
3 fee of ((forty dollars)) $40 has been imposed for at least ((twenty-
4 four)) 24 months and a district has met the requirements of RCW
5 36.73.065(6).
6     If the district is countywide, the revenues of the fee must be
7 distributed to each city within the district by interlocal agreement.
8 The interlocal agreement is effective when approved by the district
9 and ((sixty)) 60 percent of the cities representing ((seventy-five))
10 75 percent of the population of the cities within the district in
11 which the countywide fee is collected.
12     (b) A district may not impose a fee under this subsection (2):
13     (i) For a passenger-only ferry transportation improvement unless
14 the vehicle fee is first approved by a majority of the voters within
15 the jurisdiction of the district; or
16     (ii) That, if combined with the fees previously imposed by
17 another district within its boundaries under RCW 36.73.065(4)(a)(i),
18 exceeds ((fifty dollars)) $50.
19     If a district imposes or increases a fee under this subsection
20 (2) that, if combined with the fees previously imposed by another
21 district within its boundaries, exceeds ((fifty dollars)) $50, the
22 district shall provide a credit for the previously imposed fees so
23 that the combined vehicle fee does not exceed ((fifty dollars)) $50.
24     (3) The department of licensing shall administer and collect the
25 fee. The department shall deduct a percentage amount, as provided by
26 contract, not to exceed one percent of the fees collected, for
27 administration and collection expenses incurred by it. The department
28 shall remit remaining proceeds to the custody of the state treasurer.
29 The state treasurer shall distribute the proceeds to the district on
30 a monthly basis.
31     (4) No fee under this section may be collected until six months
32 after approval under RCW 36.73.065.
33     (5) The vehicle fee under this section applies only when renewing
34 a vehicle registration, and is effective upon the registration
35 renewal date as provided by the department of licensing.
36     (6) The following vehicles are exempt from the fee under this
37 section:
38     (a) Campers, as defined in RCW 46.04.085;
39     (b) Farm tractors or farm vehicles, as defined in RCW 46.04.180
40 and 46.04.181;
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1     (c) Mopeds, as defined in RCW 46.04.304;
2     (d) Off-road and nonhighway vehicles, as defined in RCW
3 46.04.365;
4     (e) Private use single-axle trailer, as defined in RCW 46.04.422;
5     (f) Snowmobiles, as defined in RCW 46.04.546; and
6     (g) Vehicles registered under chapter 46.87 RCW and the
7 international registration plan.
8    NEW SECTION.   Sec. 2.   This act takes effect July 1, 2026.
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