SB 6352
In CommitteeSenate
Transportation resources
Concerning transportation resources.
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 mobile credential system for driver's licenses and identicards, increases fees for licenses, identicards, and electric/hybrid vehicles to fund transportation improvements, expands transit and bicycle education grants with equity priorities, streamlines fish passage projects, enables clean energy development on state right-of-way, and revises traffic safety camera enforcement and revenue use. It also repeals the luxury aircraft tax and updates aircraft registration fees and fuel tax adjustments.
- Establishes a mobile credential system for driver's licenses, identicards, and enhanced versions, allowing users to access digital versions on mobile devices by July 1, 2028, with rules to be adopted by January 1, 2028.
- Increases driver's license and identicard fees by $1 every three years starting July 1, 2028 (e.g., from $10 to $11 per year), and adds a $1 mobile credential fee per application.
- Creates a $5 reduced-fee identicard program for drivers aged 70+ who voluntarily replace their license with an identicard.
- Expands the bus and bus facilities grant program to include environmental justice considerations, with caps on grant amounts and prohibitions on armed security funding.
- Launches a school-based bicycle education grant program for grades 3–12, prioritizing equity and providing free bikes, helmets, and safety training to students in underserved communities.
- Streamlines permitting for fish passage barrier correction projects, exempting qualifying projects from some environmental review requirements and limiting local fees and liability.
- Enables clean energy developers to lease state highway right-of-way space for facilities like solar arrays, with fees based on fair market value and binding arbitration for disputes.
- Directs revenue from traffic safety cameras to traffic safety improvements, with specific requirements for low-income and high-crash areas, and mandates annual public reporting on camera use and revenue.
- Repeals the luxury aircraft tax and revises aircraft registration fees, with part 1 fees going to the aeronautics account and part 2 to the sustainable aviation fuel account.
- Adds a $100, $50, and $30 "fix our roads" electric vehicle fee for battery-electric and hybrid vehicles, deposited into the motor vehicle fund and multimodal transportation account.
- Increases fuel and special fuel taxes by 2% annually starting July 1, 2026, and clarifies the inflation-based adjustment formula for fuel taxes.
Who is affected
- Older drivers and all driver's license/identicard applicants — Drivers and identicard holders aged 70 or older can now get a reduced-fee ($5) identicard by voluntarily replacing their driver's license with an identicard, and all applicants can receive a mobile credential alongside their physical card.
- Public transit authorities — Transit agencies can apply for competitive grants to buy or maintain buses, improve facilities, and support safety or technology upgrades, with priority given to projects benefiting overburdened communities.
- K–12 students and youth — Students in grades 3–12, especially those from low-income, racial/ethnic minority, or environmentally impacted communities, can receive free bikes, helmets, and safety education through school- and community-based programs.
- Clean energy developers — Clean energy developers can lease state highway right-of-way space for facilities like solar arrays, with fees capped at fair market value and subject to binding arbitration if disputed.
- Cities, counties, and traffic safety agencies — Local governments and state agencies can use revenue from traffic safety cameras for traffic safety improvements, especially in low-income and high-crash areas, and must publish annual reports on camera use and revenue.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (5)
Establishes a mobile credential system for driver’s licenses and identicards, allowing digital access to identity documents and reducing reliance on physical cards—improving convenience and accessibility for all residents, especially those with mobility or transportation challenges.
Rights & LibertiesPeopleRef: Sec. 104, Sec. 105(7), Sec. 106(9), Sec. 107(6), Sec. 109Creates a school-based bicycle education grant program prioritizing underserved students (low-income, racial/ethnic minorities, environmental justice communities) with free bikes, helmets, and safety training—directly improving active transportation access and safety for historically excluded youth.
EducationPeopleRef: Sec. 301, Sec. 301(4)(a)-(j)Establishes an older driver reduced-fee identicard ($5) and awareness program, supporting safer driving decisions for seniors while reducing unnecessary license renewals and associated costs.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 602, Sec. 601Requires traffic safety camera revenue to be used for safety improvements in low-income and high-crash areas, and mandates annual public reporting—increasing transparency and directing funds to communities most impacted by traffic violence.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 702(6)(a)(i), Sec. 702(13)(b)(i), Sec. 702(15)Streamlines fish passage barrier corrections and enables clean energy development on state highway right-of-way—supporting ecosystem restoration and low-carbon energy while reducing permitting delays and costs for developers.
EnvironmentLean peopleRef: Sec. 401, Sec. 503
Potential Concerns (5)
Increases driver's license and identicard fees by $1 every three years starting in 2028, plus a $1 mobile credential fee per application, placing a recurring annual cost on all license/identicard holders.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 105(b)(ii), Sec. 106(a), Sec. 108Imposes escalating electric and hybrid vehicle fees ($100, $50, $75, $30) that disproportionately burden middle- and low-income EV adopters who are trying to reduce emissions but are not wealthy enough to qualify for federal EV tax credits.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 901 (RCW 46.17.323), Sec. 902 (RCW 46.17.324)Adds new and increased taxes on car rentals (9.9% in 2027), peer-to-peer car sharing, and recreational vessels, which are passed on to consumers and raise transportation and leisure costs for everyday households.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 1201(2)(a)(ii), Sec. 1201(3), Sec. 1201(5)Adds an automatic 2% annual fuel tax increase starting in 2026, compounding each year, which disproportionately affects low- and middle-income households who spend a higher share of income on fuel and have fewer alternatives.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 1301(12), Sec. 1301(13)Repeals the luxury aircraft tax and replaces it with a lower, flat registration fee structure that benefits high-net-worth aircraft owners while reducing dedicated aviation revenue that could have funded broader transportation needs.
FinancialIndustryRef: Sec. 1501 (repeal of luxury aircraft tax), Sec. 1502–1507 (aircraft registration and fuel tax revisions)
Who Is Most Affected
Low- and middle-income drivers face higher recurring costs due to license/identicard and EV fees, and ongoing fuel tax increases; however, they benefit from the school bicycle program and camera revenue reinvestment in their communities.
EV and hybrid vehicle owners pay higher registration fees than gas-powered vehicles, which may discourage adoption despite environmental goals; however, they benefit from improved infrastructure and digital credential convenience.
Aircraft owners benefit significantly from the repeal of the luxury aircraft tax and reduced registration fees, especially high-net-worth individuals and commercial operators; general public bears opportunity cost of lost revenue.
Students in underserved communities gain free bikes, helmets, and safety training; schools and community organizations receive funding and capacity to expand active transportation education.
Local governments and transit agencies gain new funding streams and flexibility for equity-focused bus and facilities grants, but must comply with new reporting and environmental justice requirements.