SHB 1519
In CommitteeHouse
Vehicle subagent fees
Making adjustments to the service and filing fees for vehicle subagents, county auditors, and other agents.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill raises fees for common vehicle-related services like title changes, registration renewals, and title applications, and redirects the extra revenue to the Capital Vessel Replacement Account. It also updates how filing fees are distributed among local governments.
- Increases the service fee for title changes, ownership updates for non-titled vehicles, and lost title affidavits from $15 to $18.
- Increases the service fee for registration renewals, transit permits, and other similar services from $8 to $11.
- Increases the filing fee for vehicle registration from $4.50 to $6.
- Increases the filing fee for vehicle title applications from $5.50 to $6.50.
- Requires all service fees collected under this law to be deposited into the Capital Vessel Replacement Account.
- Requires filing fees to be distributed according to RCW 46.68.400 (which allocates funds to counties for road and bridge maintenance).
Who is affected
- Vehicle owners and drivers — Drivers and vehicle owners who need to replace lost titles, update ownership info, or renew vehicle registrations will pay higher fees for these services.
- County auditors and vehicle service agents — County auditors and other agents who process vehicle transactions will collect higher fees and deposit them into a specific state account.
- State of Washington (via Department of Licensing and Department of Transportation) — The state will collect more revenue from vehicle-related fees, which will be directed to a fund for replacing damaged or sunken vessels.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for concerns
Potential Benefits (2)
Creates a dedicated funding stream to replace sunken or damaged vessels in the Capital Vessel Replacement Account, which supports safe navigation on state waterways—reducing hazards from submerged vessels that could endanger boaters and harm water quality.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1(2) and RCW 47.60.322Maintains existing filing fee distribution to counties for road and bridge maintenance, preserving a stable local revenue source—though the fee increase is small ($1–$1.50), it adds marginally to local infrastructure funding without requiring new local taxes.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(3) and RCW 46.68.400
Potential Concerns (3)
Increases out-of-pocket costs for routine vehicle transactions—such as title changes, registration renewals, and lost title affidavits—by $3–$3.50 per transaction, which disproportionately affects low- and middle-income drivers who rely on personal vehicles for work and daily life and cannot absorb even small recurring fees.
FinancialPeopleRef: Sec. 1(1)(a) and Sec. 1(1)(b)Shifts service fee revenue (now $18 and $11 per transaction) into a state-controlled account (Capital Vessel Replacement Account), removing those funds from local government budgets that previously received them under prior fee structures; this reduces local flexibility for transportation-related needs, especially in rural counties.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1(2)While filing fees ($6 and $6.50) remain distributed to counties under RCW 46.68.400 for road/bridge maintenance, the bill does not adjust those distributions to account for inflation or increased costs, and the overall fee increase is modest relative to broader infrastructure funding needs—limiting tangible local benefit.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2(3)
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and middle-income drivers face higher recurring costs for essential vehicle services, especially those who frequently need title replacements or registration renewals (e.g., used car buyers, seasonal residents, or those with older vehicles). These households are less able to absorb the $3–$6 increase per transaction.
Rural counties—especially those with limited transportation funding—lose service fee revenue previously retained locally, reducing their ability to fund local road maintenance or public transit; filing fee revenue remains but is insufficient to offset the loss.
The state gains $3–$4 million annually in new revenue (based on ~500,000 title/registration transactions/year), but the funds are earmarked for a narrow purpose (vessel replacement), limiting fiscal flexibility while improving public safety on waterways.
Boating safety organizations and marinas benefit indirectly from reduced hazards from sunken vessels, but the bill does not directly fund their operations—impact is modest and secondary.
Vehicle service agents (e.g., third-party processors, DMV subagents) collect higher fees but do not retain them; their operational revenue is unchanged, so impact is neutral.