TagSB5898(8)

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.

Senate Bill 5898 redirects aircraft fuel tax proceeds in Washington State, shifting revenues away from environmental accounts—such as the Model Toxics Control accounts—toward the Aeronautics Account. The fiscal note estimates significant reductions in funding for the Department of Ecology, totaling tens of millions of dollars in lost operating and capital resources over the 2025–2031 period, while the Department of Revenue requires modest additional staffing to implement the tax redistribution changes.

Comparison of three Washington state senate bills (SB 5989, SB 5898, SB 6240) regarding aviation fuel taxes, showing tax revenue redistribution, fiscal impacts, and effective dates. Bills propose redirecting various taxes on aircraft fuels to aeronautics and mitigation accounts.

Fiscal note for Senate Bill 5898 regarding aircraft fuel tax proceeds, showing financial impacts on Department of Revenue and Department of Ecology. Shows estimated cash receipts and expenditures across multiple biennia from 2025-2031.

Washington Senate Bill 5898 proposes redirecting tax revenues collected on aircraft fuel — specifically from the hazardous substance tax, petroleum products tax, and oil spill response tax — into the state aeronautics account, which is dedicated exclusively to aviation-related purposes. Supporters argue the change is needed to comply with federal Airport Grant Assurance requirements and to better fund Washington's airports, which contribute over $107 billion in business revenue and 410,000 jobs statewide. Opponents warn the shift could drain funding from the Model Toxics Control accounts that support environmental cleanup programs benefiting local governments and tribes.

Washington Senate Bill 5898 proposes redirecting tax revenue collected on aircraft fuel to the state aeronautics account, rather than having it flow into general environmental cleanup funds. The bill amends several existing tax statutes to carve out aircraft fuel proceeds and deposit them specifically into the aeronautics account created under RCW 82.42.090. While not directly an airport noise policy, the reallocation of aviation fuel tax revenue could affect funding available for state aeronautics programs, including those touching on airport operations near communities like Sea-Tac.