A slight adjustment to how counties can use historic preservation funds could provide additional funding to local museums.

HB 1658, sponsored by Reps. Kevin Waters (R–Stevenson) and Julia Reed (D–Seattle), would update existing law to allow counties to use a portion of document recording fees to support the operations and capital expenditures of museums owned and operated by cities or non-profit organizations.

Under current law, counties collect a $5 recording fee for each document recorded by the county. One dollar of that fee is to be placed in the county general fund and used by the county commission to promote historical preservation or historical programs, which may include preserving historic documents. When this recording fee was first adopted in 2005, the intention was to allow counties to support the operations of local museums; however, the adopted language was not clear on that allowance leading to many counties having overly strict rules on how funds could be used.

According to the Washington Museum Association (WMA), over a five-year period, counties collected $9 million but only spent $4.5 million on historic preservation activities. By creating a clear allowance in state law, local museums could work with their county to receive critical funds to sustain their operations and capital expenditures.

WMA estimates there are over 500 museums in Washington state. Many of these museums are owned and operated by cities who currently rely on city general funds, grants, or private donations to fund museum staff and activities. Museums are an important part of a community's tourism efforts and local economic development. Providing additional funding through the county could have a large positive impact on local museums and their communities.

HB 1658 received a public hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Wednesday, February 5 and now awaits executive action.