Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety And Fees topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
State Patrol requests fee flexibility for firearms background checks; critics urge reliance on FBI/NICS
Summary
Staff briefed and the State Patrol urged passage of HB 2,521 to allow fee setting for firearms background checks above the statutory $18 cap to cover program costs; staff estimated a possible increase to about $33 per check and additional revenue of about $3.8 million per year. Remote testimony favored retaining FBI/NICS checks or a statutory cap.
Committee staff described House Bill 2,521, which would allow the Washington State Patrol to set the fee for the firearms background check program at an amount calculated to cover program costs rather than being constrained by the current $18 statutory cap. Staff said, based on current staffing and workload (about 250,000 checks annually), the fee could be roughly $33 per check, producing about $3.8 million per fiscal year beginning in FY2027.
Captain Dion Glover, legislative director for the State Patrol, testified in support and described operational shortfalls caused by the statutory cap. "Current funding levels no longer align with the actual cost of administering the program," he said, warning shortfalls could limit staffing, system functionality and reliable service.
A remote testifier, Michael McKinley, opposed the bill and recommended returning to the FBI/NICS standardized national checks or keeping a firm cap, arguing those systems flagged prohibited persons effectively and that the state system was originally promised not to exceed $18.
Staff confirmed statutory language limits program account use to the background check program, addressing a committee question about fund protections. The committee closed the public testimony period without a recorded vote.
