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Committee hears opposition and defense of bill to let WSP raise firearm background‑check fees
Summary
At a Feb. 27 Ways and Means Committee hearing, proponents from the Washington State Patrol said HB 2521 lifts an $18 cap so fees can cover program costs; survivors and gun‑rights groups called the change an unconstitutional and regressive fee that would price out low‑income residents.
Chair Robinson convened the hearing on House Bill 2521, which would remove the $18 statutory cap on firearms background‑check fees and allow the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to set fees based on operating costs.
Committee staff and WSP legislative liaison Kimberly Mathis told the committee the background‑check program was created in 2020 as a single point of contact for dealers and is funded by an $18 fee that no longer covers costs. "We process over 22,000 background checks each month," Kimmy 80 said, adding that manual reviews and…
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