Latest news with #SenateBill5390
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lawmakers advance bill to raise price of Discover Pass
A bill that would raise the price of the Discover Pass is one step closer to becoming a reality. On Thursday, lawmakers advanced Senate Bill 5390. It passed into law, this would be the first time in 14 years that the price would increase. The Discover Pass grants the holder unlimited access to over 100 state parks and other recreation sites. The current cost is $30 annually. SB 5390 would raise the price by 50% to $45. Last week, the bill cleared the House Appropriations Committee on a 19-12 vote. Day passes would remain $10 under the version of the bill that cleared the committee. Revenue generated from Discover Passes helps keep the state's outdoor recreation sites open. If passed into law, SB 5390 would take effect 90 days after the session adjourns on April 27.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Are hiking, camping and fishing trips about to get more expensive in Washington?
This story was originally published on It may soon become more expensive to visit Washington state parks. Senate Bill 5390 would boost the cost of an annual Discover Pass from $30 to $45. State Sen. Derek Stanford is sponsoring the bill. He says the cost of the pass hasn't gone up for a long time and needs to be adjusted for inflation. The Discover Pass allows annual, unlimited access to millions of acres of state-managed parks and lands. More from MyNorthwest: Rejoice! Washington celebrates first 6:00 p.m. sunset of 2025 'The Discover Pass fees have not been raised to account for inflation in quite a while,' Stanford said at a public hearing on the bill in January. 'This bill will provide better funding for supporting our parks.' Jeff Pack, with the group Washington Citizens Against Unfair Taxes, says lawmakers need to explain what people will get for their money in cases like this. 'Instead, it's just 'we need more money.' Well, guess what? I need more money too,' Pack said. 'I'm not an ATM where you just push a button and money comes out.' Right now, there is no Senate floor vote scheduled for this bill, and it would also need to make it through the House.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Washington may raise Discover Pass price to $45
A campground at Paradise Point State Park. (Washington State Parks) Washington's state parks and other natural sites may soon become more expensive to visit as lawmakers are looking to increase the price of the Discover Pass. The pass allows visitors to access state-managed lands, such as parks, campgrounds, trails, and water access points. Federal lands, including national parks, are subject to different access fees. Currently, an annual Discover Pass costs $30 and can be used in up to two vehicles. A day-use state parks permit is $10. Senate Bill 5390 proposes to increase the annual Discover Pass fee to $45. It would be the first price hike since the pass was introduced about 14 years ago. The way the bill is written, the increase would take effect in late July. 'The purpose of the bill is to essentially adjust the fees for inflation,' said its sponsor, Sen. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell. 'That will provide better funding for supporting our parks.' Earlier versions of the legislation included an increase to the day-use permit fee from $10 to $15 but State Parks recommended against it to help protect access for lower-income visitors. The Discover Pass was created in 2011 by the Legislature to fund state parks and recreation areas that were losing state funding due to budget cuts from the 2008 recession. With the multibillion-dollar deficit the state is currently facing, the proposed increase would help protect state parks from having to make drastic cuts, said Mark Brown, a former state park commissioner. According to Brown, it took more than 10 years to bring staffing back up to pre-recession levels after the downturn in the early 2000s, but parks are still struggling with staffing, especially with increases in visitation in recent years. Anyone who drives a motor vehicle into designated state recreation sites or public lands is required to have a pass. This allows visitors to access more than 100 state parks, 350 recreational sites, and 700 water-access points. Revenue from pass sales goes to Washington State Parks, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Natural Resources. Collections are split among the three agencies, with state parks receiving 84% and the other departments receiving 8% each. Estimates attached to the bill indicate that the price increase to $45 could push down the number of annual Discover Pass purchases in the next couple of years by about 137,000 — from roughly 916,200 to around 778,800. Dollar figures for how much the latest version of the bill — without the day pass price increase — would raise for the state were not available as of Tuesday. Discover Pass revenue has been around $30 million annually in recent years. Senate Bill 5390 is awaiting a Senate floor vote and after that would still need House approval.
