SB 5309
In CommitteeSenate
Motorcycles/weight fees
Concerning motor vehicle weight fees applicable to motorcycles.
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 establishes a flat $15 weight fee for motorcycles, keeps a $75 fee for motor homes, and adds a new $10 weight fee for all vehicles starting July 1, 2022. It also clarifies how fee revenue is distributed to state transportation accounts, with conditions tied to environmental rulemaking.
- Sets a flat $15 motorcycle weight fee for all motorcycles, regardless of weight.
- Maintains a $75 flat weight fee for motor homes instead of the standard weight-based fee.
- Adds a new $10 weight fee for all vehicle registrations starting July 1, 2022, unless specific environmental rulemaking occurs before July 1, 2023.
- Requires the Department of Licensing to use manufacturer-provided empty weights (or other sources) to determine vehicle weight for fee calculation.
- Directs fee revenue to specific accounts: standard fees go to the highway account (RCW 46.68.415), the $10 fee goes to the multimodal transportation account (RCW 47.66.070), and in certain environmental rulemaking scenarios, revenue shifts to the connecting Washington account (RCW 46.68.395).
Who is affected
- Motorcycle owners — Motorcycle owners must pay a flat $15 weight fee when registering their motorcycle, regardless of its weight.
- Motor home (RV) owners — Owners of motor homes (RVs) pay a flat $75 weight fee instead of the standard weight-based fee.
- All vehicle registrants — All vehicle registrants (including cars, trucks, and motorcycles) must pay an additional $10 weight fee starting July 1, 2022, unless specific environmental rulemaking occurs.
- State transportation programs — State transportation funds receive revenue from these fees, which are directed to specific accounts depending on circumstances.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for concerns
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill caps the motor home weight fee at $75—regardless of weight—instead of applying the standard tiered weight-based fee, which could otherwise reach $72+ for heavier RVs; this provides cost certainty and modest savings for RV owners, especially those with heavier vehicles.
FinancialPeopleRef: RCW 46.17.365(2)The bill establishes a flat $15 motorcycle weight fee regardless of weight, replacing what could have been a higher tiered fee for heavier motorcycles—providing predictability and modest cost savings for motorcycle owners.
FinancialPeopleRef: RCW 46.17.365(1)(b)The $10 fee is directed to the multimodal transportation account, which funds transit, biking, walking, and other alternatives to driving—potentially improving access to affordable transportation and safety for non-drivers, especially in underserved communities—*if* the revenue is not diverted by the environmental trigger.
TransportationPeopleRef: RCW 47.66.070The bill requires the Department of Licensing to rely on manufacturer-provided empty weights, standardizing fee calculations and reducing administrative burden for small dealers and county auditors—though this benefit is modest and may not offset the new fee burden.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: RCW 46.17.365(4)(a)The bill’s clarification that agencies lack authority to adopt carbon-intensity fuel standards may reduce regulatory uncertainty for fossil fuel producers and large vehicle manufacturers—though this is a policy choice, not a technical improvement, and may conflict with climate goals.
Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: RCW 46.17.365(1)(b)(iii)(C)
Potential Concerns (5)
The bill imposes a $10 weight fee on *all* vehicle registrations (cars, trucks, motorcycles, etc.), effectively creating a regressive user fee that disproportionately impacts low- and middle-income households who rely on personal vehicles for transportation and have limited alternatives.
FinancialIndustryRef: RCW 46.17.365(1)(b)The bill ties revenue allocation to a political trigger mechanism—revenue shifts from multimodal transportation (e.g., transit, biking, walking) to highway funding if the state pursues low-carbon fuel standards—thereby politicizing transportation funding and undermining long-term planning for safer, more equitable mobility systems.
Public SafetyIndustryRef: RCW 46.17.365(1)(b)(iii)(A)-(B)The bill creates a financial disincentive for environmental rulemaking by threatening to divert multimodal transportation revenue to highways if the state adopts carbon-intensity-based fuel standards—effectively penalizing climate action and favoring fossil fuel–dependent transportation.
EnvironmentIndustryRef: RCW 46.17.365(1)(b)(iii)(A)-(B)The bill includes a non-binding clause (subsection (3)(c)) stating that agencies lack authority to adopt carbon-intensity fuel standards, which may chill regulatory action and undermine democratic rulemaking processes—even though it has no legal effect, it signals legislative overreach and undermines agency expertise.
Rights & LibertiesIndustryRef: RCW 46.17.365(1)(b)(iii)(C)The $10 fee applies to all vehicles—including commercial fleets—without exemptions for small businesses or fleet operators, increasing operational costs for small logistics firms, delivery services, and independent contractors who rely on vehicles for work.
Business & EmploymentIndustryRef: RCW 46.17.365(1)(b)
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and middle-income vehicle owners—especially those in car-dependent areas—bear the brunt of the $10 fee, which is regressive and adds to transportation costs without proportional benefit. They gain little from multimodal funding unless the revenue stays in that account.
Motorcycle owners benefit from a flat $15 fee, which caps costs for heavier bikes. However, they still pay the $10 universal fee, and their net benefit depends on vehicle weight—lighter bikes see modest savings, heavier bikes may save more.
RV owners benefit from the $75 cap instead of a potentially higher tiered fee, especially for heavier units. But they also pay the $10 fee and may face higher fuel costs if multimodal funding is diverted to highways.
Fossil fuel producers and large vehicle manufacturers benefit from the environmental trigger clause, which deters carbon-intensity fuel standards and preserves their market position. They gain policy certainty at the expense of climate progress.
Transit-dependent communities (e.g., low-income, elderly, disabled) stand to benefit if multimodal funding is preserved—improving access to jobs, healthcare, and services—but lose if revenue is diverted to highways, reinforcing car dependency.