Washington’s state legislature is currently considering House Bill 1198, the proposed 2025–2027 operating budget. While budget bills are typically complex and wide-ranging, Section 951 of this bill includes a troubling provision that the off-road vehicle (ORV) community needs to know about—and take action on.
What Is Section 951?
Section 951 proposes a change to the Nonhighway and Off-Road Vehicle Activities (NOVA) Program Account. This account is funded directly by ORV users—through gas taxes, registration fees, and other use-based revenue—and is specifically intended to support:
- Trail maintenance and development
- ORV access and infrastructure
- Law enforcement and safety patrols
- Environmental stewardship and restoration on multi-use trails
But during the 2025–2027 budget cycle, Section 951 would allow the legislature to transfer money from the NOVA account into the state’s general fund.
Why This Is a Problem
This proposal is a direct breach of trust with the ORV community. The NOVA account was created to ensure that funds generated by off-road users are reinvested back into the systems we rely on—trail access, maintenance, and enforcement. Redirecting these funds into the general fund is essentially stealing money from a user-funded program to plug unrelated budget holes.
If the legislature can raid ORV funds this year, what’s stopping them from doing it again in future budget cycles?
Why the Legislature Should Reject This
- It violates user-pays, user-benefits principles. ORV users pay into NOVA expecting those funds to support trails and recreation—not be siphoned off for general spending.
- It undermines trail access and maintenance. Less money in the NOVA fund means fewer resources for the upkeep of existing trails and slower progress on expanding and preserving riding areas.
- It sets a dangerous precedent. Allowing this kind of budget raid puts every dedicated-use fund at risk—not just for ORVs but for other recreation and conservation efforts, too.
- It damages trust with the recreation community. The state should be encouraging engagement in public land stewardship, not discouraging users by misappropriating their contributions.
What You Can Do
Tell your legislators in Washigton state to REMOVE Section 951 from HB 1198. Let them know that ORV users are watching, and we will not stand by while our funds are redirected away from their intended purpose.
Let’s stand up for the trails we love and the integrity of our public lands funding. Section 951 has to go. The following form will allow you to contact your Washington representatives.
