SB 5505, concerning state paid stormwater fees, passed the Legislature last week. The bill requires stormwater fees that the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) pays to local governments to be spent on stormwater improvements that directly address state highway runoff. Currently, there is no such requirement.
In addition to limiting how local governments can spend DOT payments, the bill would increase annual reporting requirements for jurisdictions collecting payments from DOT.
AWC opposed the bill due to the administrative burden and reduced stormwater fees to local governments. SB 5505 is now headed to the Governor for signature.