Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Transportation Committee

HJR 4228

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Amending the state Constitution to include fees collected on barrels of petroleum products to be used for transportation purposes.

Brief Summary of Bill

Proposes a constitutional amendment to Article II, section 40 that would require that fees collected by the state on barrels of petroleum products to be used for transportation purposes be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund and only be spent for highway purposes as defined in that section.

Background:

Article II, section 40 of the Washington Constitution requires that the state's motor vehicle fuel taxes, which are currently 37.5 cents per gallon, vehicle licensing fees, and all other state revenue intended to be used for highway purposes be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund. Monies in that fund may only be spent for highway purposes, which are defined to include expenditures on construction, preservation, maintenance, operation, and administration of highways and ferries.

Other transportation funding is not restricted by the 18th Amendment. Often referred to as "multimodal" or "flexible" funding, these monies may be spent for any transportation purposes.

Summary of Bill:

An amendment is proposed to Article II, section 40 of the Washington Constitution that would require that fees collected by the state on barrels of petroleum products to be used for transportation purposes be deposited into the Motor Vehicle Fund and only be spent for highway purposes as defined in that section.