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Bill

SB 5386

Reducing administrative complexity by increasing transparency of revenue flows for activities funded by document recording fees.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Patty Kuderer and 3 co-sponsors

SB 5386 requires Washington to transparently track and report how document recording fee revenues fund specific state and county activities, improving budget visibility and accountability.

Effective date 7/23/2023.
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Bill Summary · SB 5386

Legislative bill overview

SB 5386 increases transparency requirements for how Washington State uses revenue collected from document recording fees. The bill mandates clearer reporting and tracking of these fee revenues to show which activities and programs they fund, reducing administrative confusion about revenue allocation.

Why is this important

Document recording fees generate significant revenue that funds various county and state services, but the current system obscures exactly where this money goes and what it supports. Better transparency allows legislators, counties, and the public to understand funding sources and make more informed decisions about fee structures and program priorities.

Potential points of contention

  • Administrative burden: Counties may face increased compliance costs implementing new tracking and reporting requirements for recording fee revenues
  • Fee justification scrutiny: Greater transparency could expose that certain programs rely heavily on recording fees, inviting debate about whether these fees are the appropriate funding mechanism
  • Data collection complexity: Document recording fee revenues may fund multiple overlapping programs, making precise allocation difficult and potentially requiring system upgrades

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

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