Notice of Introduction for Senate Bill 5585

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SB 5585, titled AN ACT Relating to setting domestic wastewater discharge fees, has been introduced in the Senate. The Office of Financial Management has identified this bill as requiring a ten-year projection of increased cost to the taxpayers or affected fee payers.

Ten-year projection:

Fiscal Year		Wastewater Discharge Permit Fee
2022		$0
2023		$439,000
2024		$439,000
2025		$439,000
2026		$439,000
2027		$439,000
2028		$439,000
2029		$439,000
2030		$439,000
2031		$439,000
Total:		$3,951,000

Department of Ecology:

This bill would have a partially indeterminate cash receipts impact greater than $50,000 beginning in FY 2023.

Section 1 Removal of Municipal Wastewater Fee Cap

Currently, Ecology cannot invoice Puget Sound municipalities for coverage under the Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit.  Although the General Permit is included in Ecology’s fee rule, the cap prevents the agency from billing it.  The removal of the municipal wastewater fee cap under section 1 would result in an increase in the fees paid by municipal fee payers covered by the Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit to the rate of $0.31 per residential equivalent as specified in the fee schedule in WAC 173-224-040. The estimated annual increase in revenue is $439,000 into the Water Quality Permit Account beginning in FY 2023.

Section 2 Advisory Committee Recommendations

Revenue impacts as a result of advisory committee recommendations are indeterminate. Recommendations from the advisory committee would be used as a basis for updates in WAC 173-224-040 to the domestic wastewater discharge fee schedule effective beginning in FY 2024. As those recommendations and outcomes on domestic wastewater discharge fees are unknown, the fiscal impact is indeterminate.

Ten-year projection prepared in consultation with the following agencies:

Department of Ecology


Bill sponsors and contact information:




Legislative Bill Information Website: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/

Initiative 960 Website: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/tax/default.asp