EV POLICY UPDATE 2-28-22
Hello friends of Drive Electric Washington! Still no word on whether the governor’s proposed EV incentives will be added to transportation bills. Please see below for updates and information about how to participate. This year’s legislative session ends on March 10.
UPDATES
HB1644 – Funds planning and fueling infrastructure for clean student transportation vehicles. Sponsor Rep. Senn. Passed out of Senate Committee on Early Learning & K-12 Education on Feb. 23. Referred to Rules Committee. Read text here.
HB1792 – Expanding various tax exemptions for the production, distribution, and use of hydrogen made by electrolysis. Sponsor Rep. Ramel. Amended bill referred to House Rules Committee. Read text here.
HB1793 – Creates rules for owners’ installations of charging stations in common interest communities such as condominiums, cooperative apartments, and developments with homeowners’ associations. Sponsor Rep. Hackney. Passed out of Senate Law and Justice Committee on Feb. 25. Referred to Senate Rules Committee. Read text here.
HB1918 – Exempts zero-emission outdoor power equipment from the sales tax and imposes an additional 6.5% air quality tax on equipment with emissions. Sponsor Rep. Macri. Passed out of Finance Committee Feb. 25. The amended bill removes the additional 6.5 percent tax on equipment with emissions other than water, requires state agencies and local governments to buy zero-emission large outdoor equipment when it’s practicable, and allows exemptions for emergencies and other uses. Referred to House Rules Committee. Read amended bill here.
HB2119 – Companion bill to SB5974. 2022 Transportation Omnibus. Sponsor Rep. Fey. Amended bill passed out of Transportation Committee. Referred to House Rules Committee. Read amended text here
SB5085 – Reducing EV fee for electric motorcycles. Sponsor Sen. Rolfes. Reduces the annual $150 electric vehicle registration fee to $30 for electric motorcycles. Bill passed full Senate Feb. 25 on a vote of 47-2. Hearing on Feb. 28 in House Transportation Committee. Read text here.
SB5910 – Accelerating the availability and use of renewable and electrolytic hydrogen. Sponsor Sen. Carlysle. Passed out of Senate Environment and Energy Committee on Feb. 24. Hearing on Feb. 25 in House Appropriations Committee. Executive session on Feb. 28 in House Appropriations Committee. Read text of substitute bill here.
SB5974 – 2022 Transportation Omnibus. Sponsor Sen. Liias. Includes Clean Cars 2030 target. Also creates interagency council for coordinating the state’s transportation electrification efforts to ensure it’s leveraging state and federal resources to the best extent possible and to ensure zero emissions incentives, infrastructure and opportunities are available and accessible to all. Referred to House Rules Committee. Read text here.
SB5975 – 2002 Transportation Appropriations. Sponsor Sen. Liias. Includes appropriation of $1 million for grants for development of zero-emission aircraft, and $15 million for another hybrid electric ferry. Passed full Senate on Feb. 25 by a vote of 29-20. Referred to House Rules Committee. Read text here.
HOW TO TESTIFY:
Portals for remote testimony are available online for the state House and Senate.
Senate portal: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Senate
House portal: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/House
You also can register your position on a bill or issue, and you can call and e-mail your state senators and representatives – find your district, names and e-mail addresses at www.leg.wa.gov.