Washington Senate Bill 5898 proposes redirecting a portion of the state's hazardous substance tax on aircraft fuel to fund noise relief for communities near airports. Specifically, 25 percent of those tax proceeds would go into a new "state aircraft noise mitigation account," with the remaining 75 percent continuing to flow to the aeronautics account as before. The Department of Commerce would administer a grant program using these funds to support noise mitigation strategies in communities located within designated aviation impact areas, with the law taking effect July 1, 2027.Open full document
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This Senate Bill 5898 amendment by the Committee on Ways & Means creates a state aircraft noise mitigation account in the state treasury, funded by 25 percent of the hazardous substance tax on aircraft fuel. The remaining 75 percent continues to go to the aeronautics account. Expenditures from the new account may be used only by the Department of Commerce to establish a grant program funding mitigation strategies within aviation-impacted communities, defined as communities within an impact area under RCW 53.54.020, with the act taking effect July 1, 2027.