The proposed bill establishes a road usage charge system in Washington State to generate new transportation revenue based on motor vehicle use of public roadways. It introduces both voluntary and mandatory programs, with a per mile fee of 2.6 cents starting for electric and hybrid vehicles on July 1, 2027, and expanding to include internal combustion engine vehicles by July 1, 2029. The bill emphasizes privacy protections for vehicle owners, requiring them to report miles driven while allowing for automated reporting options. It also outlines exemptions for certain vehicles and mandates the department to report on payment options and enforcement strategies. Additionally, the bill creates two new accounts: the road usage charge highway account for highway maintenance and the road usage assessment account for multimodal transportation needs.

Furthermore, the bill amends existing laws regarding vehicle registration and road usage fees, introducing a mandatory vehicle miles traveled fee and waiving registration renewal fees for participants in the road usage charge programs. It establishes a transportation electrification fee for electric vehicles and mandates the collection of odometer mileage during vehicle registration applications. The bill also includes provisions for public outreach and education, as well as semiannual reporting to the legislature on the program's status. Overall, the legislation aims to streamline vehicle registration processes while ensuring the protection of personal data and the fair distribution of transportation funds.

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