SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1600
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Local Government, March 24, 2025
Title: An act relating to modifying the fee to support family services.
Brief Description: Modifying the fee to support family services.
Sponsors: Representatives Eslick, Parshley, Ryu, Simmons, Macri and Fosse.
Brief History: Passed House: 3/11/25, 72-23.
Committee Activity: Local Government: 3/17/25, 3/24/25 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Increases the limit, from $15 to $30, of the local option marriage license fee that county legislative authorities may impose to fund family services.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Salomon, Chair; Lovelett, Vice Chair; Torres, Ranking Member; Bateman and Goehner.
Staff: John Kim (786-7453)
Background:

Mandatory Marriage License Fees. County auditors or recording officers must collect certain fees for issuing a marriage license.  Fees include the following:

  • an $8 fee, which includes taking necessary affidavits, filing returns, indexing, and transmittal of a record of the marriage to the state registrar of vital statistics;
  • an additional $5 fee for use and support of the prevention of child abuse and neglect activities to be transmitted monthly to the state treasurer and deposited in the state general fund; and
  • an additional $10 fee to be transmitted monthly to the state treasurer and deposited in the state general fund.

 

In addition to the above, a number of other state and local archival fees and certified copy fees, associated with certifying copies and recording instruments, must be imposed.

 

Local Option Marriage License Fees. County legislative authorities are authorized to establish an additional fee for a marriage license, not exceeding $15, to fund family services, such as family support centers.

 

Another local option marriage license fee that county legislative authorities may charge is a family court services fee, not to exceed $8.
Summary of Bill:

The maximum local option marriage license fee that a county legislative authority may impose to fund family services is increased from $15 to $30.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: The family resource centers during COVID were very instrumental in keeping families together and making sure they had food and childcare. With layoffs in the federal government now, it's time more than ever that we're going to need these supports. The increase in $15 is optional for the counties. We found that 25 of the counties are currently using it, and have been for several years. It's been very instrumental in stability for our family resource centers. The reason I think it works so well is because they are nongovernmental and they are nonthreatening locations for families to come get the services they need.

 

The Washington Family Support Network represents over 100 family resource centers in the state. The marriage license fee add-on is optional for counties. It's a modest increase but will make a significant impact for family services programs, including family resource centers. In 2023, 28 of 39 counties collected this optional family services fee, generating $623,000 in revenue. According to network survey respondents, five counties have family resource centers which benefited from this funding in 2023 along with other family support programs such as home visiting and family services and juvenile detention. This saves money in the child welfare system and is an integral support for families in our communities that need it the most.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Carolyn Eslick, Prime Sponsor; Nathan Koch, Washington Family Support Network.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.