Striking amendment to ESSB 5801 would raise $3.2 billion, change taxes and tolling, and add transit and ferry provisions; committee hears wide public reaction

Committee staff briefed the Washington State House Transportation Committee on a striking amendment to Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5801 that combines revenue changes with policy and programmatic revisions affecting ferries, transit, vehicle taxes and local road grants.

Michael Hirsch, staff to the committee, said the revenue package in the striking amendment would raise about $3,205,000,000 over six years. “Included in that revenue proposal is a 6¢ increase to the fuel tax rate, and that would increase by 2% each year,” Hirsch said. The amendment would likewise add a pair of 3¢ increases to the diesel (special-fuel) tax rate above gasoline and index those increases by 2% annually. Hirsch also described increases to vehicle weight fees, passenger-weight fees for heavier vehicles, an increase in the sales-and-use tax assessment on motor vehicles from 0.3% to 0.5%, expanded rental-car tax language and new luxury taxes on high-value noncommercial vehicles and aircraft.

Hirsch summarized other revenue proposals: an increase to the tire-replacement fee from $1 to $5, a new large-event facility transportation assessment of $1 per attendee at venues over 17,000 capacity, and a lower-tier increase to driver’s license and ID card fees. He said the striking amendment would impose a first-offense work-zone fine for “was dot” violations up to $125 beginning July 1, 2026, and add a credit-card surcharge on ferry riders. Hirsch also described a proposed change…