S-0221.1
SENATE BILL 5028
State of Washington 67th Legislature 2021 Regular Session
By Senators Fortunato and Holy
Prefiled 12/22/20. Read first time 01/11/21. Referred to Committee
on Transportation.
1 AN ACT Relating to limiting state and local taxes, fees, and
2 other charges relating to vehicles; amending RCW 46.17.355 and
3 46.17.323; reenacting and amending RCW 46.17.350; adding a new
4 section to chapter 46.17 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW
5 46.17.365 and 46.68.415; and declaring an emergency.
6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
7
8 LIMITING ANNUAL MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FEES TO $30
9 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 46.17
10 RCW to read as follows:
11 (1) State and local motor vehicle license fees may not exceed $30
12 per year for motor vehicles, regardless of year, value, make, or
13 model.
14 (2) For the purposes of this section, "state and local motor
15 vehicle license fees" means the general license tab fees paid
16 annually for licensing motor vehicles, including but not limited to
17 cars, sport utility vehicles, light trucks under RCW 46.17.355,
18 motorcycles, and motor homes, and do not include charges approved by
19 voters after the effective date of this section. This annual fee must
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1 be paid and collected annually and is due at the time of initial and
2 renewal vehicle registration.
3 Sec. 2. RCW 46.17.350 and 2019 c 44 s 4 are each reenacted and
4 amended to read as follows:
5 (1) Before accepting an application for a vehicle registration,
6 the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed
7 by the director shall require the applicant, unless specifically
8 exempt, to pay the following vehicle license fee by vehicle type:
9 VEHICLE TYPE INITIAL RENEWAL DISTRIBUTED
10 FEE FEE UNDER
11 (a) Auto stage, six seats or $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
12 less
13 (b) Camper $ 4.90 $ 3.50 RCW 46.68.030
14 (c) Commercial trailer $ ((34.00)) $ ((34.00)) RCW 46.68.035
15 30.00 30.00
16 (d) For hire vehicle, six $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
17 seats or less
18 (e) Mobile home (if $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
19 registered)
20 (f) Moped $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
21 (g) Motor home $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
22 (h) Motorcycle $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
23 (i) Off-road vehicle $ 18.00 $ 18.00 RCW 46.68.045
24 (j) Passenger car $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
25 (k) Private use single-axle $ 15.00 $ 15.00 RCW 46.68.035
26 trailer
27 (l) Snowmobile $ ((50.00)) $ ((50.00)) RCW 46.68.350
28 30.00 30.00
29 (m) Snowmobile, vintage $ 12.00 $ 12.00 RCW 46.68.350
30 (n) Sport utility vehicle $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
31 (o) Tow truck $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
32 (p) Trailer, over 2000 $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
33 pounds
34 (q) Travel trailer $ 30.00 $ 30.00 RCW 46.68.030
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 1 (r) Wheeled all-terrain $ 12.00 $ 12.00 RCW 46.09.540
2 vehicle, on-road use
3 (s) Wheeled all-terrain $ 18.00 $ 18.00 RCW 46.09.510
4 vehicle, off-road use
5 (2) The vehicle license fee required in subsection (1) of this
6 section is in addition to the filing fee required under RCW
7 46.17.005, and any other fee or tax required by law.
8 Sec. 3. RCW 46.17.355 and 2015 3rd sp.s. c 44 s 201 are each
9 amended to read as follows:
10 (1)(a) For vehicle registrations that are due or become due
11 before July 1, 2016, in lieu of the vehicle license fee required
12 under RCW 46.17.350 and before accepting an application for a vehicle
13 registration for motor vehicles described in RCW 46.16A.455, the
14 department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by
15 the director shall require the applicant, unless specifically exempt,
16 to pay the following license fee by weight:
17 WEIGHT SCHEDULE SCHEDULE
18 A B
19 4,000 pounds $ 38.00 $ 38.00
20 6,000 pounds $ 48.00 $ 48.00
21 8,000 pounds $ 58.00 $ 58.00
22 10,000 pounds $ 60.00 $ 60.00
23 12,000 pounds $ 77.00 $ 77.00
24 14,000 pounds $ 88.00 $ 88.00
25 16,000 pounds $ 100.00 $ 100.00
26 18,000 pounds $ 152.00 $ 152.00
27 20,000 pounds $ 169.00 $ 169.00
28 22,000 pounds $ 183.00 $ 183.00
29 24,000 pounds $ 198.00 $ 198.00
30 26,000 pounds $ 209.00 $ 209.00
31 28,000 pounds $ 247.00 $ 247.00
32 30,000 pounds $ 285.00 $ 285.00
33 32,000 pounds $ 344.00 $ 344.00
34 34,000 pounds $ 366.00 $ 366.00
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1 36,000 pounds $ 397.00 $ 397.00
2 38,000 pounds $ 436.00 $ 436.00
3 40,000 pounds $ 499.00 $ 499.00
4 42,000 pounds $ 519.00 $ 609.00
5 44,000 pounds $ 530.00 $ 620.00
6 46,000 pounds $ 570.00 $ 660.00
7 48,000 pounds $ 594.00 $ 684.00
8 50,000 pounds $ 645.00 $ 735.00
9 52,000 pounds $ 678.00 $ 768.00
10 54,000 pounds $ 732.00 $ 822.00
11 56,000 pounds $ 773.00 $ 863.00
12 58,000 pounds $ 804.00 $ 894.00
13 60,000 pounds $ 857.00 $ 947.00
14 62,000 pounds $ 919.00 $ 1,009.00
15 64,000 pounds $ 939.00 $ 1,029.00
16 66,000 pounds $ 1,046.00 $ 1,136.00
17 68,000 pounds $ 1,091.00 $ 1,181.00
18 70,000 pounds $ 1,175.00 $ 1,265.00
19 72,000 pounds $ 1,257.00 $ 1,347.00
20 74,000 pounds $ 1,366.00 $ 1,456.00
21 76,000 pounds $ 1,476.00 $ 1,566.00
22 78,000 pounds $ 1,612.00 $ 1,702.00
23 80,000 pounds $ 1,740.00 $ 1,830.00
24 82,000 pounds $ 1,861.00 $ 1,951.00
25 84,000 pounds $ 1,981.00 $ 2,071.00
26 86,000 pounds $ 2,102.00 $ 2,192.00
27 88,000 pounds $ 2,223.00 $ 2,313.00
28 90,000 pounds $ 2,344.00 $ 2,434.00
29 92,000 pounds $ 2,464.00 $ 2,554.00
30 94,000 pounds $ 2,585.00 $ 2,675.00
31 96,000 pounds $ 2,706.00 $ 2,796.00
32 98,000 pounds $ 2,827.00 $ 2,917.00
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 1 100,000 pounds $ 2,947.00 $ 3,037.00
2 102,000 pounds $ 3,068.00 $ 3,158.00
3 104,000 pounds $ 3,189.00 $ 3,279.00
4 105,500 pounds $ 3,310.00 $ 3,400.00
5 (b) For vehicle registrations that are due or become due on or
6 after July 1, 2016, in lieu of the vehicle license fee required under
7 RCW 46.17.350 and before accepting an application for a vehicle
8 registration for motor vehicles described in RCW 46.16A.455, the
9 department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by
10 the director shall require the applicant, unless specifically exempt,
11 to pay the following license fee by gross weight:
12 WEIGHT SCHEDULE SCHEDULE
13 A B
14 4,000 pounds $ ((53.00)) $ ((53.00))
15 30.00 30.00
16 6,000 pounds $ ((73.00)) $ ((73.00))
17 30.00 30.00
18 8,000 pounds $ ((93.00)) $ ((93.00))
19 30.00 30.00
20 10,000 pounds $ ((93.00)) $ ((93.00))
21 30.00 30.00
22 12,000 pounds $ 81.00 $ 81.00
23 14,000 pounds $ 88.00 $ 88.00
24 16,000 pounds $ 100.00 $ 100.00
25 18,000 pounds $ 152.00 $ 152.00
26 20,000 pounds $ 169.00 $ 169.00
27 22,000 pounds $ 183.00 $ 183.00
28 24,000 pounds $ 198.00 $ 198.00
29 26,000 pounds $ 209.00 $ 209.00
30 28,000 pounds $ 247.00 $ 247.00
31 30,000 pounds $ 285.00 $ 285.00
32 32,000 pounds $ 344.00 $ 344.00
33 34,000 pounds $ 366.00 $ 366.00
34 36,000 pounds $ 397.00 $ 397.00
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1 38,000 pounds $ 436.00 $ 436.00
2 40,000 pounds $ 499.00 $ 499.00
3 42,000 pounds $ 519.00 $ 609.00
4 44,000 pounds $ 530.00 $ 620.00
5 46,000 pounds $ 570.00 $ 660.00
6 48,000 pounds $ 594.00 $ 684.00
7 50,000 pounds $ 645.00 $ 735.00
8 52,000 pounds $ 678.00 $ 768.00
9 54,000 pounds $ 732.00 $ 822.00
10 56,000 pounds $ 773.00 $ 863.00
11 58,000 pounds $ 804.00 $ 894.00
12 60,000 pounds $ 857.00 $ 947.00
13 62,000 pounds $ 919.00 $ 1,009.00
14 64,000 pounds $ 939.00 $ 1,029.00
15 66,000 pounds $ 1,046.00 $ 1,136.00
16 68,000 pounds $ 1,091.00 $ 1,181.00
17 70,000 pounds $ 1,175.00 $ 1,265.00
18 72,000 pounds $ 1,257.00 $ 1,347.00
19 74,000 pounds $ 1,366.00 $ 1,456.00
20 76,000 pounds $ 1,476.00 $ 1,566.00
21 78,000 pounds $ 1,612.00 $ 1,702.00
22 80,000 pounds $ 1,740.00 $ 1,830.00
23 82,000 pounds $ 1,861.00 $ 1,951.00
24 84,000 pounds $ 1,981.00 $ 2,071.00
25 86,000 pounds $ 2,102.00 $ 2,192.00
26 88,000 pounds $ 2,223.00 $ 2,313.00
27 90,000 pounds $ 2,344.00 $ 2,434.00
28 92,000 pounds $ 2,464.00 $ 2,554.00
29 94,000 pounds $ 2,585.00 $ 2,675.00
30 96,000 pounds $ 2,706.00 $ 2,796.00
31 98,000 pounds $ 2,827.00 $ 2,917.00
32 100,000 pounds $ 2,947.00 $ 3,037.00
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 1 102,000 pounds $ 3,068.00 $ 3,158.00
2 104,000 pounds $ 3,189.00 $ 3,279.00
3 105,500 pounds $ 3,310.00 $ 3,400.00
4 (2) Schedule A applies to vehicles either used exclusively for
5 hauling logs or that do not tow trailers. Schedule B applies to
6 vehicles that tow trailers and are not covered under Schedule A.
7 (3) If the resultant gross weight is not listed in the table
8 provided in subsection (1) of this section, it must be increased to
9 the next higher weight.
10 (4) The license fees provided in subsection (1) of this section
11 and the freight project fee provided in subsection (((6))) (7) of
12 this section are in addition to the filing fee required under RCW
13 46.17.005 and any other fee or tax required by law.
14 (5) The license fees provided in subsection (1) of this section
15 for light trucks weighing 10,000 pounds or less are limited to $30.
16 (6) The license fee based on declared gross weight as provided in
17 subsection (1) of this section must be distributed under RCW
18 46.68.035.
19 (((6))) (7) For vehicle registrations that are due or become due
20 on or after July 1, 2016, in addition to the license fee based on
21 declared gross weight as provided in subsection (1) of this section,
22 the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed
23 by the director must require an applicant with a vehicle with a
24 declared gross weight of more than 10,000 pounds, unless specifically
25 exempt, to pay a freight project fee equal to ((fifteen)) 15 percent
26 of the license fee provided in subsection (1) of this section,
27 rounded to the nearest whole dollar, which must be distributed under
28 RCW 46.68.035.
29 (((7))) (8) For vehicle registrations that are due or become due
30 on or after July 1, 2022, in addition to the license fee based on
31 declared gross weight as provided in subsection (1) of this section,
32 the department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed
33 by the director must require an applicant with a vehicle with a
34 declared gross weight of less than or equal to 12,000 pounds, unless
35 specifically exempt, to pay an additional weight fee of ((ten
36 dollars)) $10, which must be distributed under RCW 46.68.035.
37 Sec. 4. RCW 46.17.323 and 2015 3rd sp.s. c 44 s 203 are each
38 amended to read as follows:
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 1 (1) Before accepting an application for an annual vehicle
2 registration renewal for a vehicle that both (a) uses at least one
3 method of propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an
4 external source of electricity and (b) is capable of traveling at
5 least ((thirty)) 30 miles using only battery power, the department,
6 county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director
7 must require the applicant to pay a ((one hundred dollar fee in
8 addition to any other fees and taxes required by law)) $30 fee. The
9 ((one hundred dollar)) $30 fee is due only at the time of annual
10 registration renewal.
11 (2) This section only applies to a vehicle that is designed to
12 have the capability to drive at a speed of more than ((thirty-five))
13 35 miles per hour.
14 (3)(((a) The fee under this section is imposed to provide funds
15 to mitigate the impact of vehicles on state roads and highways and
16 for the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of transitioning from a
17 revenue collection system based on fuel taxes to a road user
18 assessment system, and is separate and distinct from other vehicle
19 license fees. Proceeds from the fee must be used for highway
20 purposes, and must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund created in
21 RCW 46.68.070, subject to (b) of this subsection.
22 (b))) If in any year the amount of proceeds from the fee
23 collected under this section exceeds ((one million dollars))
24 $1,000,000, the excess amount over ((one million dollars)) $1,000,000
25 must be deposited as follows:
26 (((i))) (a) Seventy percent to the motor vehicle fund created in
27 RCW 46.68.070;
28 (((ii))) (b) Fifteen percent to the transportation improvement
29 account created in RCW 47.26.084; and
30 (((iii))) (c) Fifteen percent to the rural arterial trust account
31 created in RCW 36.79.020.
32 (((4)(a) In addition to the fee established in subsection (1) of
33 this section, before accepting an application for an annual vehicle
34 registration renewal for a vehicle that both (i) uses at least one
35 method of propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an
36 external source of electricity and (ii) is capable of traveling at
37 least thirty miles using only battery power, the department, county
38 auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director must
39 require the applicant to pay a fifty dollar fee.
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 1 (b) The fee required under (a) of this subsection must be
2 distributed as follows:
3 (i) The first one million dollars raised by the fee must be
4 deposited into the multimodal transportation account created in RCW
5 47.66.070; and
6 (ii) Any remaining amounts must be deposited into the motor
7 vehicle fund created in RCW 46.68.070.
8 (5) This section applies to annual vehicle registration renewals
9 until the effective date of enacted legislation that imposes a
10 vehicle miles traveled fee or tax.))
11 NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The following acts or parts of acts are
12 each repealed:
13 (1) RCW 46.17.365 (Motor vehicle weight fee—Motor home vehicle
14 weight fee) and 2015 3rd sp.s. c 44 s