Washington State - Increase in the background-check fee is coming

[ATCclears]

HB 2521 was signed into law by the Governor on Mar 18, 2026. The new legislation doesn't specify an exact amount for the fee, but the implication is that the WA State Patrol must recover more of the cost to operate the program via the fee.

My personal prediction is the current $18 fee is going to increase (a lot).

Be aware if you're purchasing a firearm.


History on HB 2521 (and related SB 6055) is here.

Washington - SB 6055 (2026) - Concerning firearms background check

Draft Legislation that will be reviewed and may be voted on in the first few months of 2026. https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary/?BillNumber=6055&Year=2025&Initiative=false

www.northwestfirearms.com

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[TTSX]

I have a feeling the increased cost will end up in the "general fund" to be pissed away on pet projects nobody asked for

 

[Nosferatu]

So all this work they have been doing to discourage people from buying guns is actually workig, so now they don't have enough people buying guns to pay for the programs that make sure people are discouraged from buying guns, so their solution is to increase the cost of buying a gun even more, so that even less people buy guns?

 

[Knobgoblin]

Hmmm.

WSP seems to be consolidating a lot of power .




This is law now .

 

[P7M13]

I have a feeling the increased cost will end up in the "general fund" to be pissed away on pet projects nobody asked for

Sanctuary programs in King County, housing for the unhoused, free hypodermic needles to reduce disease spread, and net zero carbon programs to save the planet.

 

[gmerkt]

My understanding is the fee increase in indeterminate. The WSP gets to decide how much it is. Which to my way of thinking means potentially, there is no limit on how much it could be.

 

[TTSX]

My understanding is the fee increase in indeterminate. The WSP gets to decide how much it is. Which to my way of thinking means potentially, there is no limit on how much it could be.

It could just be a dollar. Take a dose of that sweet, sweet optimism

 

[hongkong2]

So all this work they have been doing to discourage people from buying guns is actually workig, so now they don't have enough people buying guns to pay for the programs that make sure people are discouraged from buying guns, so their solution is to increase the cost of buying a gun even more, so that even less people buy guns?

 

[gmerkt]

It could just be a dollar. Take a dose of that sweet, sweet optimism

I know you're kidding. Nothing in the way of a fee ever goes down. "They" say the present fee of $18 doesn't cover the cost of rendering the "service." And considering what most state employees are paid, that's probably true. But by their very nature, government services are not typically expected to be break-even propositions. Which isn't necessarily true in Wash. state. Because many fees here are legislatively designed to be revenue generating, like the driver's licensing system.

 

[Knobgoblin]

Sanctuary programs in King County, housing for the unhoused, free hypodermic needles to reduce disease spread, and net zero carbon programs to save the planet.

And six figure salaries for " administration " of said garbage programs.

The homeless industrial complex is alive and well on the left coast.

 

[Knobgoblin]

It could just be a dollar. Take a dose of that sweet, sweet optimism

Suppository form?

 

[WAYNO]

Of course it's going up.

 

[Stomper]

So all this work they have been doing to discourage people from buying guns is actually workig, so now they don't have enough people buying guns to pay for the programs that make sure people are discouraged from buying guns, so their solution is to increase the cost of buying a gun even more, so that even less people buy guns?

It's the same logic as funding "healthcare" from the mega-increase on cigarette & tobacco taxes.... then as less and less people use it they have a hole in their (then) increased spending on BS for illegals and whatnot.

 

[RobMa]

I have a feeling the increased cost will end up in the "general fund" to be pissed away on pet projects nobody asked for

1. The idea is to make it too expensive to own/buy guns because they can't forcible take them away (not yet).
2. The money will be used to bribe more people into voting for the dems, people with no ties to the US and could not care less about the constitution or 2A rights.

 

[gmerkt]

The homeless industrial complex

Well put, that's exactly what it has become. Because it isn't just the nominal homeless who benefit, there are lots of jobs and services that are derived from pandering to them.

 

[1911Fanatic]

So all this work they have been doing to discourage people from buying guns is actually workig, so now they don't have enough people buying guns to pay for the programs that make sure people are discouraged from buying guns, so their solution is to increase the cost of buying a gun even more, so that even less people buy guns?

Tina is a fan!

 

[1911Fanatic]

Sanctuary programs in King County, housing for the unhoused, free hypodermic needles to reduce disease spread, and net zero carbon programs to save the planet.

See, that;s back ward less disease spreads if you don't give them new needles. Then they have to save the old ones instead of littering parks and sidewalks with them. Then, if they share needles, and give each other diseases and die from it, the problem eventually solves itself.

 

[Nosferatu]

Tina is a fan!

Turner?

 

[Alexx1401]

WA has been in a real big problem for a good while. They keep spending money they don't have so voters keep putting the same morons back in to do it more. We are getting exactly what we deserve. More pain.

 

[Jim Horn]

"We" who vote against this nonsense "are getting exactly what" they who won't be affected by the increase "deserve". There ya go...