SB 6198
In CommitteeSenate
Accounts
Concerning accounts.
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 eliminates seven existing state accounts and creates a new Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal Account to fund removal and disposal of abandoned vehicles when owners are unknown. It also transfers remaining balances and future revenues from the salary/insurance contribution increase revolving fund to the general fund, effective July 1, 2026.
- Repeals seven existing state accounts, including the Independent Youth Housing Account, Hospital Infection Control Grant Account, Climate Resiliency Account, Criminal Justice Training Commission Firing Range Maintenance Account, COVID-19 Unemployment Account, Institutional Impact Account, and Hydraulic Project Approval Account.
- Creates a new Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal Account in the state treasury, funded by fees from vehicle registrations, general fund transfers, and private gifts or grants.
- Authorizes the Department of Licensing to reimburse tow truck operators and dismantlers up to $10,000 per vehicle for costs to remove and dispose of abandoned recreational vehicles when the owner cannot be located after a reasonable search (e.g., checking registration records).
- Allows up to 15% of account expenditures through December 31, 2025, and 10% starting January 1, 2026, to be used for the Department of Licensing’s administrative costs.
- Transfers all remaining funds in abolished accounts and future revenues from the salary/insurance contribution increase revolving fund to the state general fund, effective July 1, 2026.
- Requires the Office of Financial Management to stop managing the salary/insurance contribution increase revolving fund as of July 1, 2026.
Who is affected
- Registered tow truck operators and licensed dismantlers — Tow truck operators and licensed vehicle dismantlers who remove and process abandoned recreational vehicles may receive reimbursement for up to 100% of reasonable administrative costs (transport, dismantling, disposal), up to $10,000 per vehicle, if the owner cannot be found.
- State of Washington (General Fund) — The state general fund will receive remaining balances from abolished accounts and future revenues from the salary/insurance contribution increase revolving fund, increasing available general fund resources.
- Washington State Department of Licensing — The Department of Licensing (DOL) will manage the new Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal Account, including processing reimbursements and using up to 15% of expenditures for administrative costs until December 31, 2025, then 10%.
- Office of Financial Management — The Office of Financial Management (OFM) will transfer the salary/insurance contribution increase revolving fund to the general fund and stop managing it after June 30, 2026.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Creating a dedicated account to remove abandoned recreational vehicles improves public safety by reducing fire hazards, illegal dumping, and vehicle-related injuries in public spaces, especially in rural and roadside areas where abandoned vehicles pose tangible risks.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 2 (creation of Abandoned Recreational Vehicle Disposal Account and $10,000 reimbursement cap)Tow operators and dismantlers—many of whom are small businesses—gain reliable reimbursement for costs associated with removing abandoned vehicles, improving cash flow and operational stability, especially for those serving low-income or remote areas.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Sec. 2 (reimbursement to registered tow truck operators and dismantlers for up to 100% of reasonable costs)The ability to accept private donations and grants may attract community or nonprofit support for vehicle removal efforts, enabling localized initiatives (e.g., community cleanups) that benefit neighborhoods with high abandonment rates.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2 (allowing private gifts and grants into the new account)Consolidating accounts simplifies state accounting and may improve fiscal flexibility, allowing the state to respond more nimbly to emerging needs—though this benefit is offset by reduced programmatic accountability.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3 & 4 (consolidation of accounts into general fund)Funding the new account partially through vehicle registration fees aligns costs with users, reducing reliance on general fund dollars—though this may slightly increase registration fees if fees are not otherwise adjusted.
FinancialRef: Sec. 2 (fee-based funding for vehicle disposal account)
Potential Concerns (5)
Eliminating the Independent Youth Housing Account removes dedicated funding for housing and support services for vulnerable youth, potentially increasing unsheltered youth populations and strain on emergency shelters and foster systems.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (repeal of Independent Youth Housing Account, Climate Resiliency Account, Hospital Infection Control Grant Account, etc.)Discontinuing the Climate Resiliency Account eliminates a dedicated funding source for climate adaptation and infrastructure resilience projects, increasing long-term public costs from extreme weather events and sea-level rise, especially in coastal and fire-prone communities.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Sec. 1 (repeal of Climate Resiliency Account)Eliminating accounts supporting infection control in hospitals, law enforcement training range maintenance, and fish habitat protection through hydraulic project oversight may degrade public health outcomes, reduce training readiness for officers, and increase environmental harm from poorly regulated waterway modifications.
Public SafetyLean peopleRef: Sec. 1 (repeal of Hospital Infection Control Grant Account, Criminal Justice Training Commission Firing Range Maintenance Account, Hydraulic Project Approval Account)While reimbursements up to $10,000 per vehicle benefit tow operators, the administrative cost cap may disproportionately favor larger, more efficient operators and discourage small or rural tow services with higher per-vehicle overhead, potentially reducing competition and service coverage in underserved areas.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 2 (15% administrative cost cap through 2025, then 10%)Transferring funds from specialized accounts to the general fund reduces accountability and transparency in how those funds are used, potentially weakening targeted programs that previously had statutory funding guarantees—especially harmful for programs serving small or marginalized populations.
Local GovernmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 3 & 4 (transfer of funds to general fund)
Who Is Most Affected
Tow truck operators and dismantlers benefit from guaranteed reimbursement for vehicle removal, improving revenue predictability—especially for small operators in rural areas. However, the 10–15% administrative cap may limit scalability for larger firms with higher overhead.
The state general fund gains additional revenue from transferred accounts, improving short-term fiscal flexibility. However, this comes at the cost of eliminating ring-fenced funding for youth housing, climate resilience, and public health programs—hurting long-term budget stability.
The Department of Licensing gains administrative responsibility and authority over the new account, with up to 15% of expenditures for operations. This increases its budget autonomy but also adds new operational burden without guaranteed additional staffing.
Youth-serving nonprofits and housing providers lose dedicated funding from the Independent Youth Housing Account, potentially increasing unsheltered youth and straining emergency services. This group is disproportionately affected in low-income and rural communities.
Environmental and fisheries groups lose dedicated funding for climate adaptation and hydraulic project oversight, weakening enforcement of fish habitat protections and resilience planning—especially in Puget Sound and salmon-bearing watersheds.