HB 1832 - To Implement a per mile charge on vehicle usage of public roadways.

The state is eying the elimination of internal combustion engine driven vehicles from the state's future starting in 2030. Eliminating internal combustion without adequate electricity generation or a sufficient  distribution network is premature.  Plus they always want more tax money from the public -- an unstated  purpose of this bill.

HB 1832  From the House's own summary of bill:

Sets January 1, 2030 as the target date for implementation of a comprehensive, mandatory Road Usage Charge Program.

Establishes a voluntary Road Usage Charge Program (RUC Program) beginning July 1, 2025, which places a 2.5 cent per mile fee on motor vehicle usage of public roadways in the state.  

Waives the electric and hybrid-electric vehicle registration renewal fees and the transportation electrification fees for vehicles participating in the voluntary RUC Program.

Limits the total per-mile fee for only electric and hybrid-electric vehicles to the combined amount of electric and hybrid-electric vehicle registration renewal and transportation electrification fees that would otherwise be due if they had not been waived.

Reduces the annual per-mile fee by a fee credit in the amount of the motor vehicle fuel tax that is determined by the Department of Licensing, either constructively or actually, to correspond to a participating vehicle's annual motor vehicle fuel usage.

Requires that the Washington State Transportation Commission pursue federal grant funding opportunities for which the RUC Program is eligible.

Mandates that proceeds from the Road Usage Charge Program be used for transportation system preservation and maintenance purposes.

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If you wish to state your position on for the public legislative record, please do so at this link

If you wish to provide written testimony about the bill, please do that here.

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If you wish to testify remotely via internet, you need to register for live remote testimony.

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This bill is complex and a little confusing.  That plus the legislature seems to have introduced the bill without telling the public as required by Initiative 960.

Initiative 960 requires that the Office of Financial Management of  determine the ten-year cost to taxpayers of any proposed legislation that would raise taxes, impose new fees, or increase current fees and communicate the most up-to-date analysis to each member of the Legislature, the news media, and the public through email.

An email with the analysis, along with required information about sponsors, committee members and legislators' voting records, will be sent out through out via email when a bill is introduced, when a public hearing for the bill is scheduled, and when a bill is passed by a legislative committee or either house of the Legislature.  From the Washington state tax & fee webpage.