WashingtonWashington directs environmental fees into accounts with spending limits
Washington directs laboratory accreditation and certain environmental program fees into dedicated accounts, where spending requires lawmakers’ approval and must support the authorized programs.
What it does
Fees for accrediting laboratories go into a dedicated state account. The money can support only authorized activities, and lawmakers must approve spending before it can be used.
Certain program fees collected by Washington’s Department of Ecology go into the air pollution control account. Spending requires lawmakers’ approval and is limited to that same program.
Argument forSpending limits could help keep fee payers’ money available for the environmental programs those fees support.
Argument againstPrograms could have to wait for lawmakers’ spending approval before using fee money the state has already collected.
More detail
The state deposits laboratory accreditation fees into a dedicated treasury account. This covers all fees the state receives under its laboratory accreditation law, RCW 43.21A.230. Lawmakers must approve spending before the money can be used. The money can pay only for activities authorized under the law governing these laboratory fees.
Washington’s Department of Ecology deposits the covered program fees into the air pollution control account. This covers fees Ecology collects under RCW 70A.540.130 to pay the direct and indirect costs of running that environmental program. Ecology can use these fees only to carry out the program covered by chapter 70A.540. Lawmakers must approve spending from the account.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 17Effective date 6/11/2026.Latest
- Mar 17Chapter 87, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 17Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 10Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 5Speaker signed.Passed House
- Mar 5President signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 4Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#18). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 3Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Mar 2Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Feb 27APP - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 27Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 26Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.
- Feb 19First reading, referred to Appropriations.Minor
- Feb 17Third reading, passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#12). Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 17Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 16Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 6Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 5Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 5WM - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 5Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
- Jan 20Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM.
- Jan 15First reading, referred to Ways & Means.Introduced
Environment & EnergyTaxes & Budget