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SB 5786

Increasing license, permit, and endorsement fees.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Derek Stanford

The bill raises most liquor-related licenses, permits, and endorsements by about 50%, increasing revenues for the Liquor Revolving Account.

Effective date 7/27/2025.
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Bill Summary · SB 5786

SB 5786 — Increasing license, permit, and endorsement fees

Status: Chapter 343, 2025 Laws. Governor signed 5/17/2025. Effective date: 7/27/2025.
Introduced: 3/11/2025. Passed Senate 4/25/2025 (25–23); passed House 4/24/2025 (51–47).

Purpose

To increase nearly all liquor-related license, permit, and endorsement fees administered by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB), and to direct the LCB to raise any fees set by rule. Revenue from fees is deposited to the Liquor Revolving Account.

Key provisions and changes

  • Raises most liquor license, permit, and endorsement statutory fees; many increases are about 50%, with several notable exceptions increased by larger amounts in the House amendment.
  • Directs the LCB to increase any liquor license, permit, or endorsement fees that are set by rule by 50%.
  • No new appropriation is attached; fiscal note available.

Selected fee changes (as amended by the House — representative examples):
- Combination spirits, beer, and wine license (RCW 66.24.035): from $316 → $2,000 per year.
- Grocery store liquor license (RCW 66.24.360): from $150 → $550 per year.
- Spirits retailer license (RCW 66.24.630): from $166 → $550 per year.
- Restaurant licenses (RCW 66.24.420):
- Restaurants with <50% dedicated dining area: $2,000 → $2,700 per year.
- Restaurants with ≥50% dedicated dining area: $1,600 → $2,200 per year.
- Service bars: $1,000 → $1,400 per year.
- Banquet permit (RCW 66.20.010): from $10 → $25 (House amendment).
- The bill amends many additional RCW sections (listed in the bill) to adjust fee amounts across license types.

Who is affected

  • Businesses and organizations that hold or apply for alcohol licenses, permits, or endorsements: restaurants, bars, grocery stores, retailers, distributors, manufacturers, craft distillers, event organizers, and other licensees regulated under Title 66 RCW.
  • The LCB (administration, rule changes, fee collection) and the Liquor Revolving Account (receipt of increased revenues).

Fiscal and administrative notes

  • The bill increases revenue collected via fees; no legislative appropriation included.
  • LCB rule-set fees must be increased administratively by 50% per the bill’s direction; statutory fee changes occur by statute.
  • Fiscal impacts were analyzed (fiscal note available).

Legislative history and timeline

  • Referred to Senate Labor & Commerce (3/11/2025); moved through Ways & Means; second substitute adopted and then amended in the House.
  • House adopted floor amendments altering several fee amounts (notably increasing some fees more than the original 50% framework).
  • Delivered to Governor 4/27/2025; signed 5/17/2025; effective 7/27/2025.

Stakeholder feedback / potential impacts

  • Testimony recorded opposition from craft distillers, restaurants, hospitality groups, and grocery trade associations. Concerns focused on:
    • Increased operating costs for small businesses and thin-margin industries.
    • Disproportionate impacts where license stacking occurs (multiple fees per location).
    • Large increases for some licenses (e.g., combination license and grocery licenses) seen as potentially burdensome.
  • Support testimony was not recorded in committee reports.

This summary highlights major changes and impacts; the bill text lists precise fee adjustments across numerous RCW sections for each license, permit, and endorsement. Review the enrolled bill or chaptered law for full statutory amendments.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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