SB 5763 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Concerning the law enforcement aviation support grant program.

SB 5763 creates a state grant program to support local law enforcement helicopter units (rotary wing aviation support). It provides 50% of annual funds to cover ongoing costs like maintenance, crew, and training for recognized units, and reimburses 100% of search and rescue mission expenses (fuel, maintenance, crew) regardless of location. Funds must supplement, not replace, existing local funding for aviation units. The program expires July 1, 2027, and requires annual reporting on aviation use and fire response effectiveness. It directly affects local police and sheriff’s offices operating helicopter units across Washington.

Issues: ✓ Budget & Taxes

Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 12, 2026 Last action Feb 6, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill → Substitute Bill · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from S-1578.1 to S-4659.1 and updated for the 2026 legislative session. The core content shifted from amending existing fire suppression laws to creating a new grant program for law enforcement aviation support. The bill now focuses on funding rotary-wing helicopter units for search and rescue missions rather than wildland firefighting, and it explicitly excludes drones from the definition of eligible aircraft.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from amending existing wildland fire aviation statutes to establishing a new, standalone grant program specifically for law enforcement rotary-wing aviation support units.

TIMELINE

The legislative session year was updated from 2025 to 2026, and the bill's effective date was changed from February 18, 2025, to February 4, 2026.

SCOPE

All provisions related to amending RCW sections 76.04.194 and 76.04.192 regarding wildland fire suppression funding and reporting were removed.

The primary purpose of the bill changed from assisting fire departments with initial attack capabilities to providing grants for law enforcement units to conduct search and rescue missions.

REMOVED

The legislative intent sections (Sec. 4) explaining the need for fire suppression aviation funding were removed.

ELIGIBILITY

New eligibility requirements were added, mandating that grant recipients must have implemented specific policies consistent with existing law enforcement aviation statutes and the Attorney General's model guidelines.

DEFINITION

A new definition was added clarifying that 'rotary wing aviation' refers only to manned helicopters and explicitly excludes unmanned aerial vehicles (drones).

FISCAL

A new section was added stating that if specific funding is not provided by June 30, 2026, the entire act becomes null and void.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Feb 4, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Minority; without recommendation.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Feb 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM.

upper

Jan 27, 2026

Upper · Passed

Public hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government, Tribal Affairs & Elections at 1:30 PM.

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Introduced

By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors