This bill establishes a road usage charge system in Washington State to generate new transportation revenue through a per-mile fee based on motor vehicle usage of public roadways. It introduces both voluntary and mandatory programs, with the voluntary program starting on July 1, 2027, for electric and hybrid vehicles, and the mandatory program commencing on July 1, 2029, expanding to include internal combustion engine vehicles in subsequent years. The legislation also emphasizes the importance of privacy and civil liberties, mandating data security measures and outlining the responsibilities of the Department of Licensing in administering the programs, including the collection of mileage data and establishing rules for fee credits and exemptions.

Additionally, the bill amends existing vehicle registration laws to require odometer mileage reporting for original and renewal registrations, specifically for vehicles enrolled in the road usage charge programs. It introduces a transportation electrification fee for electric vehicles and waives registration renewal fees for those enrolled in the charge programs. The bill also establishes two new accounts—the road usage charge highway account and the road usage assessment account—designated for highway maintenance and multimodal transportation purposes, respectively. Overall, the legislation aims to create a sustainable funding mechanism for transportation infrastructure while ensuring the protection of personally identifiable information and streamlining the vehicle registration process.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 46.16A.170, 46.12.650, 46.17.050, 46.17.323, 46.17.324, 46.04.380, 46.01.040, 46.01.110, 42.56.330, 46.16A.040, 46.08.195