Transportation revenue

AN ACT Relating to establishing new sources of transportation 1
revenue based on motor vehicle use of public roadways; amending RCW 2
46.16A.170, 46.12.650, 46.17.050, 46.17.323, 46.17.324, 46.01.030, 3
46.01.040, 46.01.110, 42.56.330, 46.16A.040, and 46.16A.110; 4
reenacting and amending RCW 43.84.092 and 43.84.092; adding a new 5
section to chapter 46.08 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 46.68 6
RCW; adding a new chapter to Title 46 RCW; creating a new section; 7
providing effective dates; and providing an expiration date.8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:9
Part I10
General Provisions11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature recognizes that 12
sufficient funding for the transportation system is essential to 13
ensuring that it meets the mobility needs of residents of Washington. 14
Transportation funding needs are currently met through a variety of 15
revenue-generating funding mechanisms, including fuel taxes, vehicle 16
licensing fees, and other registration fees. While the fuel tax bears 17
a relationship to use of the roadways, it also varies based on the 18
fuel economy of a vehicle. The legislature believes that a more 19
direct road usage-based funding method would more fairly and 20
H-0704.3
HOUSE BILL 1921
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Fey, Ramel, Wylie, Ormsby, Parshley, Zahn, and
Macri
Read first time 02/10/25. Referred to Committee on Transportation.
p. 1 HB 1921
accurately correspond to motor vehicle use of public roads. The 1
legislature also recognizes that the state's roadways are part of the 2
state's integrated transportation system, and that all elements of 3
the transportation system are necessary to sustain the system as a 4
whole and to foster mobility throughout the state. 5
(2) The legislature finds that a fair and equitable means of 6
funding the statewide transportation system in the long term is 7
needed to serve the transportation needs of the state. As vehicles 8
become more fuel efficient and this impacts state fuel tax revenue, 9
which has historically funded the construction, preservation, 10
maintenance, and operations of the state highway system and the state 11
ferry system, a reliable source of 18th amendment protected funds is 12
needed to offset reductions in fuel tax revenue. At the same time, 13
the legislature recognizes that support for a range of transportation 14
modes can help mitigate the demands placed on the roadway system and 15
that establishing a source of transportation revenue to support these 16
modes can further the longstanding and growing need for an additional 17
revenue source to help offset demands on a heavily utilized state 18
highway system by funding critical rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and 19
public transportation needs. 20
(3) It is, therefore, the legislature's intent to establish a 21
road usage licensing fee for preservation and maintenance highway 22
purposes that imposes a per mile fee for the use of public roads and 23
that is phased in over time using a rate to maintain the same net 24
level of revenue as the fuel tax rate generates today. It is also the 25
legislature's intent to establish a road use assessment on the use of 26
public roadways that can be collected alongside a road usage fee to, 27
in combination, provide support to all elements of the state's 28
transportation system, thereby ensuring that the system is able to 29
meet the demands being placed upon it. 30
(4) The legislature further finds and declares that the road 31
usage charge system must protect individuals' privacy and civil 32
liberties. Experience in states that collect road usage charges, in 33
addition to the research and year long test of road usage charging in 34
Washington, demonstrates that mileage-based charges can be 35
implemented in a manner that ensures data security and protects the 36
privacy of motor vehicle owners. The legislature intends that the 37
road usage charge system authorized in this act be designed and 38
implemented in a manner that places privacy of the motor vehicle 39
owner as a first principle, especially with regard to location data.40
p. 2 HB 1921
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1)(a) A voluntary road usage charge 1
program is established that places a per mile fee on motor vehicle 2
usage of public roadways in the state. The department shall implement 3
and administer the voluntary road usage charge program. The following 4
vehicles are eligible to be enrolled in the voluntary road usage 5
charge program:6
(i) From July 1, 2027, to June 30, 2029, all electric and hybrid 7
electric vehicles; and 8
(ii) From July 1, 2029, to June 30, 2031, internal combustion 9
engine vehicles with a fuel economy rating of 20 miles per gallon or 10
higher. 11
(b)(i) Beginning July 1, 2027, before accepting an application 12
for an annual vehicle renewal for a motor vehicle registering for on-13
road use, the department, county auditor, or other agent or subagent 14
appointed by the director, shall require the applicant to pay the 15
road usage fee at the rate established in section 4 of this act if 16
the vehicle is enrolled in the voluntary road usage charge program 17
established in this section for the prior 12-month period of vehicle 18
registration, subject to (b)(ii) of this subsection.19
(ii) The department is authorized to establish rules for periodic 20
payment options for road usage fees. 21
(c) The electric and hybrid electric vehicle registration renewal 22
fees specified in RCW 46.17.323 and the transportation 23
electrification fees specified in RCW 46.17.324 are waived if the 24
registration renewal applicant enrolled the vehicle in the voluntary 25
road usage charge program established in this section for the prior 26
12-month period of vehicle registration. 27
(d) The road usage fee for electric and hybrid electric vehicles 28
due at the end of each 12-month period following vehicle 29
registration, or any applicable portion of that period, under the 30
voluntary road usage charge program established in this section may 31
not exceed the combined amount in fees required under RCW 46.17.323 32
and 46.17.324 that would be due if they were not waived for the 33
vehicle as a result of its enrollment in the voluntary road usage 34
charge program. 35
(2) This section only applies to a motor vehicle registered for 36
on-road use that is designed to have the capability to drive at a 37
speed of more than 35 miles per hour and that has a gross vehicle 38
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. 39
(3) For the purposes of this section: 40
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(a) "Electric vehicle" means a vehicle that is powered by an 1
electric motor that draws electricity from a battery and is capable 2
of being charged from an external source; and 3
(b) "Hybrid electric vehicle" means a vehicle that is powered by 4
an internal combustion engine in combination with one or more 5
electric motors that use energy stored in batteries.6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1)(a) A mandatory road usage charge 7
program is established that places a per mile fee on motor vehicle 8
usage of public roadways in the state. The department shall implement 9
and administer the mandatory road usage charge program. The following 10
vehicles are required to be enrolled in the mandatory road usage 11
charge program:12
(i) Beginning July 1, 2029, all electric and hybrid electric 13
vehicles; 14
(ii) Beginning July 1, 2031, internal combustion engine vehicles 15
with a fuel economy rating of 40 miles per gallon or higher;16
(iii) Beginning July 1, 2032, internal combustion engine vehicles 17
with a fuel economy rating of 35 miles per gallon or higher;18
(iv) Beginning July 1, 2033, internal combustion engine vehicles 19
with a fuel economy rating of 30 miles per gallon or higher;20
(v) Beginning July 1, 2034, internal combustion engine vehicles 21
with a fuel economy rating of 25 miles per gallon or higher; and22
(vi) Beginning July 1, 2035, internal combustion engine vehicles 23
with a fuel economy rating of 20 miles per gallon or higher.24
(b)(i) Beginning July 1, 2029, before accepting an application 25
for an annual vehicle renewal for a motor vehicle registering for on-26
road use, the department, county auditor, or other agent or subagent 27
appointed by the director, shall require the applicant to pay the 28
road usage fee at the rate established in section 4 of this act if 29
the applicant's vehicle is required to be enrolled in the mandatory 30
road usage charge program established in this section for the prior 31
12-month period of vehicle registration, subject to (b)(ii) of this 32
subsection. 33
(ii) The department is authorized to establish rules for 34
determination of the fuel economy rating of vehicles to be used to 35
carry out this section and section 2 of this act, and is also 36
authorized to establish rules to set periodic payment options for 37
road usage fee payments required under this section and section 2 of 38
this act. 39
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(2) This section only applies to a motor vehicle registered for 1
on-road use that is designed to have the capability to drive at a 2
speed of more than 35 miles per hour and that has a gross vehicle 3
weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. 4
(3) For the purposes of this section: 5
(a) "Electric vehicle" means a vehicle that is powered by an 6
electric motor that draws electricity from a battery and is capable 7
of being charged from an external source; and 8
(b) "Hybrid electric vehicle" means a vehicle that is powered by 9
an internal combustion engine in combination with one or more 10
electric motors that use energy stored in batteries.11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) The road usage charge rate for 12
participants in the voluntary and mandatory road usage charge 13
programs established in sections 2 and 3 of this act is 2.6 cents per 14
mile and is automatically adjusted when a fuel tax rate adjustment is 15
made to the motor vehicle fuel tax rate imposed under chapter 82.38 16
RCW by applying the percentage change to the aggregate motor fuel tax 17
rate under RCW 82.38.030 to the road usage charge rate in place at 18
that time under this section.19
(2) Proceeds from the per mile fee imposed under sections 2 and 3 20
of this act are motor vehicle license fees that must be used for 21
preservation and maintenance highway purposes and must be deposited 22
in the road usage charge highway account created in section 23 of 23
this act. 24
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. All moneys that have accrued or may accrue 25
in the road usage charge highway account created in section 23 of 26
this act first must be expended for purposes enumerated in 27
subsections (1) and (2) of this section. Beginning July 1, 2029, the 28
remaining net fee amount must be distributed monthly by the state 29
treasurer on a pro rata basis according to the manner in which fuel 30
taxes imposed under RCW 46.68.090 (2) through (7) are distributed:31
(1) For payment of refunds of road usage charges that have been 32
paid and are refundable as provided by law; and 33
(2) For payment of amounts to be expended pursuant to 34
appropriations for the administrative expenses of the offices of the 35
state treasurer, state auditor, and department of licensing of the 36
state of Washington in the administration of the road usage charge, 37
which sums must be distributed monthly. 38
p. 5 HB 1921
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) A road usage assessment for 1
participants in the mandatory road usage charge program established 2
in section 3 of this act is established that places an assessment on 3
road usage fees to support a comprehensive approach to addressing 4
demand being placed on the public roadway system. A road usage 5
assessment shall be assessed and collected on vehicles enrolled in 6
the mandatory road usage charge program under section 3 of this act 7
in an amount equal to 10 percent of the total road usage fees imposed 8
under this chapter after the application of road usage fee credits 9
and exemptions imposed under this chapter. The department shall 10
implement and administer the road usage assessment. For the purpose 11
of administrative efficiency, time of collection for the road usage 12
assessment shall be consistent with the time of collection for the 13
road usage fee imposed under this chapter. This assessment is not a 14
motor vehicle license fee.15
(2) The road usage assessment is imposed to provide funds to help 16
manage roadway system needs through the support of a range of 17
transportation modes that help mitigate the demands placed on the 18
roadway system. Proceeds from the assessment on road usage imposed 19
under this section must be used for the following multimodal 20
transportation system purposes: Rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and public 21
transportation. Proceeds from the assessment must be deposited in the 22
road usage assessment account created in section 24 of this act.23
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. (1) A vehicle registered under RCW 24
46.16A.040 or 46.16A.110 that is exempt from vehicle registration 25
renewal and that is enrolled in the voluntary and mandatory road 26
usage charge programs established in sections 2 and 3 of this act is 27
required to pay the road usage fee at the rate established in section 28
4 of this act and the road usage assessment as established in section 29
6 of this act on an annual basis consistent with this chapter, except 30
as provided in RCW 46.16A.170 or section 10 of this act.31
(2) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this 32
section. 33
Part II34
Implementation and Administration35
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. (1) The department shall require vehicle 36
owners participating in the voluntary and mandatory road usage charge 37
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programs under sections 2 and 3 of this act to report miles driven 1
through the submittal of periodic odometer mileage. The department 2
may also offer vehicle owners the option of one or more automated 3
methods of reporting miles driven. The department may certify one or 4
more private sector service providers to provide the automated 5
methods of reporting miles driven. Any customer fees associated with 6
third-party automated reporting methods certified by the department 7
may not be assumed by the department. 8
(2) At the time of road usage fee collection under sections 2 and 9
3 of this act, the fee due for a vehicle participating in the road 10
usage charge program is reduced by a fee credit in the amount of the 11
motor vehicle fuel tax imposed under chapter 82.38 RCW that is 12
determined by the department to correspond, either constructively or 13
actually, to the vehicle's motor vehicle fuel usage over the period 14
of time for which the road usage fee is being assessed. The fee 15
credit is available solely to offset the road usage fee due based on 16
applicable vehicle miles driven during the period of time the fee 17
credit is earned and is nonrefundable and nontransferable to future 18
years of program participation. The department shall adopt by rule 19
methodologies used to determine constructive motor vehicle fuel usage 20
by vehicles, as well as any requirements for the determination of 21
actual fuel usage by vehicles applicable. 22
(3) At the time of road usage fee collection under sections 2 and 23
3 of this act, the road usage fee due for a vehicle participating in 24
the road usage charge program is reduced by an amount corresponding 25
to a standard deduction of 200 miles per 12-month period, or by a 26
proportionate share of the standard deduction applicable to the 27
period of time for which the road usage fee is being assessed. The 28
department shall establish by rule a process for submission of 29
documentation for road usage charge program participants to claim a 30
road usage fee exemption for the operation of an enrolled vehicle on 31
roadways other than public roadways in the state in excess of the 32
applicable standard deduction. Application for a road usage fee 33
exemption must be made to the department in a form and manner 34
determined by the department. The application must include any 35
information and documentation required by the department.36
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. (1) The following exemptions apply to road 37
usage fees imposed under this chapter as specified below:38
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(a)(i) The use of vehicles by publicly owned and operated urban 1
passenger transportation systems; 2
(ii) For the purposes of this subsection (1)(a), "publicly owned 3
and operated urban passenger transportation systems" include public 4
transportation benefit areas under chapter 36.57A RCW, metropolitan 5
municipal corporations under chapter 36.56 RCW, city-owned transit 6
systems under chapter 35.58 RCW, county public transportation 7
authorities under chapter 36.57 RCW, unincorporated transportation 8
benefit areas under chapter 36.57 RCW, and regional transit 9
authorities under chapter 81.112 RCW; 10
(b) The use of vehicles by a private, nonprofit transportation 11
provider regulated under chapter 81.66 RCW when providing 12
transportation services for persons with special transportation 13
needs; 14
(c)(i) The use of vehicles by privately owned urban passenger 15
transportation systems and carriers as defined in chapters 81.68 and 16
81.70 RCW, except that no exemption applies to privately owned urban 17
transportation vehicles, or vehicles operated pursuant to chapters 18
81.68 and 81.70 RCW, on any trip where any portion of the trip is 19
more than 25 road miles beyond the corporate limits of the county in 20
which the trip originated; 21
(ii) For purposes of this subsection (1)(c), "privately owned 22
urban passenger transportation system" means every privately owned 23
transportation system having as its principal source of revenue the 24
income from transporting persons for compensation by means of motor 25
vehicles or trackless trolleys, each having a seating capacity for 26
over 15 persons over prescribed routes in such a manner that the 27
routes of such motor vehicles or trackless trolleys, either alone or 28
in conjunction with routes of other such motor vehicles or trackless 29
trolleys subject to routing by the same transportation system, do not 30
extend for a distance exceeding 25 road miles beyond the corporate 31
limits of the county in which the original starting points of such 32
motor vehicles or trackless trolleys are located; 33
(d) The use of vehicles by federally recognized Indian tribes to 34
provide public transportation services; 35
(e) The use of vehicles owned and operated by the state of 36
Washington, any county, or any municipality, when used for street and 37
highway construction and maintenance purposes; and38
(f) The use of publicly owned firefighting equipment.39
p. 8 HB 1921
(2) The legislature intends to address the impact of the 1
mandatory road usage charge program established in section 3 of this 2
act on drivers who operate on the platforms of transportation network 3
companies, as defined in RCW 46.04.652, by July 1, 2027.4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. The department is required to complete 5
the following activities for further development of the road usage 6
charge program:7
(1) Provide a report to the legislature on periodic payment 8
options for the road usage charge program, with input from relevant 9
stakeholders, by June 30, 2027; and 10
(2) Coordinate a task force to evaluate options for road usage 11
fee and assessment revenue collection enforcement to address 12
potential challenges to collection and provide recommendations to the 13
legislature by January 1, 2028. 14
NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. (1) The joint transportation committee is 15
required to oversee studies on the following topics to inform further 16
development of the mandatory road usage charge program established in 17
section 3 of this act:18
(a) Assess the applicability and impacts of the road usage charge 19
program in a tribal context with input from relevant stakeholders and 20
make recommendations to the transportation committees of the 21
legislature and the governor in a report to be provided by June 30, 22
2026; 23
(b) Examine the differentiated road wear and safety impacts of 24
large and heavy passenger vehicles and provide a report to the 25
legislature by January 1, 2027, to inform the legislature's 26
consideration in 2027 of implementation of differentiated road usage 27
charge rates based on hood height and/or vehicle weight;28
(c) Evaluate the impact of the collection of the road usage fee 29
on funding for off-road vehicle infrastructure and options available 30
to address that impact, with a report provided to the transportation 31
committees of the legislature by January 1, 2028; and32
(d) Explore possible local jurisdiction revenue-generating 33
mechanisms that could be used to complement the state road usage 34
charge program. 35
(2)(a) Upon completion of the study required under subsection 36
(1)(a) of this section, the governor shall conduct a consultation 37
with the state's federally recognized Indian tribes to determine the 38
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manner in which the mandatory road usage charge program required 1
under section 3 of this act will apply to federally recognized Indian 2
tribes. 3
(b) The governor may enter into an agreement with any federally 4
recognized Indian tribe located on a reservation within this state 5
regarding the mandatory road usage charge program established in 6
section 3 of this act. The agreement may provide mutually agreeable 7
means to address any tribal immunities or any preemption of the road 8
usage fee and assessment. 9
NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. (1) The department, in consultation with 10
the Washington state transportation commission, shall design and 11
execute a public outreach and education program to be carried out 12
prior to implementation of the voluntary and mandatory road usage 13
charge programs established in sections 2 and 3 of this act.14
(2) Beginning January 1, 2027, the department shall provide 15
semiannual reports to the joint transportation committee of the 16
legislature on the status of preparations for and implementation of 17
the voluntary and mandatory road usage charge programs established in 18
sections 2 and 3 of this act and recommendations for program 19
enhancements, and shall continue to report semiannually to the joint 20
transportation committee of the legislature on road usage charge 21
program status and recommendations. 22
(3) The Washington state transportation commission shall pursue 23
federal grant funding opportunities for which the voluntary and 24
mandatory road usage charge programs established under sections 2 and 25
3 of this act are eligible, as directed by the legislature.26
Sec. 13. RCW 46.16A.170 and 2010 c 161 s 407 are each amended to 27
read as follows: 28
(1) The following vehicles are exempt from the payment of vehicle 29
license fees: 30
(a) ((Any)) Except for payment of road usage fees required under 31
sections 2 and 3 of this act, any vehicle owned, rented, or leased by 32
the state of Washington, or by any county, city, town, school 33
district, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington 34
and used exclusively by them; 35
(b) ((Vehicles)) Except for payment of road usage fees required 36
under sections 2 and 3 of this act, vehicles owned or leased with an 37
option to purchase by the United States government, or by the 38
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government of foreign countries, or by international bodies to which 1
the United States government is a signatory by treaty;2
(c) Vehicles owned or leased by the governing body of an Indian 3
tribe located within this state and recognized as a governmental 4
entity by the United States department of the interior, and used 5
exclusively in its service; 6
(d) ((Any)) Except for payment of road usage fees required under 7
sections 2 and 3 of this act, any bus or vehicle owned and operated 8
by a private school or schools meeting the requirements of RCW 9
28A.195.010 and used by that school or schools primarily to transport 10
children to and from school or to transport children in connection 11
with school activities. A registration issued by the department for 12
these buses or vehicles is exempt from the motor vehicle excise tax 13
provided in chapter 82.44 RCW; 14
(e) ((Vehicles)) Except for payment of road usage fees required 15
under sections 2 and 3 of this act, vehicles owned and used 16
exclusively by the United States government ((and)) that are clearly 17
identified by displaying registration numbers or license plates 18
assigned by the United States government if the vehicle is registered 19
and displays license plates assigned to it by the United States 20
government; and 21
(f) Except for payment of the license plate fee required under 22
RCW 46.17.240 and payment of road usage fees required under sections 23
2 and 3 of this act , vehicles owned and used exclusively by the 24
United States government and are clearly identified by displaying 25
registration numbers of license plates assigned by the state of 26
Washington if the vehicle is registered and displays license plates 27
assigned to it by the state of Washington. 28
(2) The department shall assign a license plate or plates to each 29
vehicle or may assign a block of license plates to an agency or 30
political subdivision for further assignment by the agency or 31
political subdivision to individual vehicles registered to it. The 32
agency, political subdivision, or Indian tribe, except a foreign 33
government or international body, shall pay the fee required in RCW 34
46.17.240 for the license plate or plates for each vehicle.35
(3) An Indian tribe located within this state and recognized as a 36
governmental entity by the United States department of the interior 37
is not entitled to register any tribal government service vehicle 38
under this section if that tribe itself registers any tribal 39
government service vehicles under tribal law. 40
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(4) A vehicle registration or license plates may not be issued to 1
any vehicle under this section for the transportation of school 2
children unless the vehicle has been first inspected by the director 3
or the director's authorized representative. 4
Sec. 14. RCW 46.12.650 and 2023 c 273 s 1 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) Releasing interest. An owner releasing interest in a vehicle 7
shall: 8
(a) Sign the release of interest section provided on the 9
certificate of title or on a release of interest document or form 10
approved by the department; 11
(b) Give the certificate of title or most recent evidence of 12
ownership to the person gaining the interest in the vehicle;13
(c) Give the person gaining interest in the vehicle an odometer 14
disclosure statement if one is required; and 15
(d) Report the vehicle sold as provided in subsection (2) of this 16
section. 17
(2) Report of sale. An owner shall notify the department, county 18
auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director in 19
writing within five business days after a vehicle is or has been:20
(a) Sold; 21
(b) Given as a gift to another person; 22
(c) Traded, either privately or to a dealership;23
(d) Donated to charity; 24
(e) Turned over to an insurance company or wrecking yard; or25
(f) Disposed of. 26
(3) Report of sale properly filed. A report of sale is properly 27
filed if it is received by the department, county auditor or other 28
agent, or subagent appointed by the director within five business 29
days after the date of sale or transfer and it includes:30
(a) The date of sale or transfer; 31
(b) The owner's full name and complete, current address;32
(c) The full name and complete, current address of the person 33
acquiring the vehicle, including street name and number, and 34
apartment number if applicable, or post office box number, city or 35
town, and postal code; 36
(d) The vehicle identification number and license plate number;37
(e) The mileage shown on the odometer of the motor vehicle at the 38
time of vehicle transfer, except for reports of sale filed as 39
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required under this subsection (3)(e) or (f) of this subsection if 1
the department determines that the odometer reading is unavailable 2
due to damage sustained by the vehicle; 3
(f) A date or stamp by the department showing it was received on 4
or before the fifth business day after the date of sale or transfer; 5
and 6
(((f))) (g) Payment of the fees required under RCW 46.17.050.7
(4) Report of sale - administration. (a) The department shall:8
(i) Provide or approve reports of sale forms; 9
(ii) Provide a system enabling an owner to submit reports of sale 10
electronically; 11
(iii) Immediately update the department's vehicle record when a 12
report of sale has been filed; 13
(iv) Provide instructions on release of interest forms that allow 14
the seller of a vehicle to release their interest in a vehicle at the 15
same time a financial institution, as defined in RCW 30A.22.040, 16
releases its lien on the vehicle; ((and))17
(v) Require payment of road usage fees and assessments due for 18
vehicles enrolled in a voluntary or mandatory road usage charge 19
program under section 2 or 3 of this act that would have been due at 20
the time of annual vehicle registration renewal if not for the 21
transfer of ownership of the vehicle, to be determined using the 22
odometer reading of the vehicle at the time of transfer, subject to 23
the exception for unavailable odometers under subsection (3)(e) of 24
this section; and25
(vi) Send a report to the department of revenue that lists 26
vehicles for which a report of sale has been received but no transfer 27
of ownership has taken place. The department shall send the report 28
once each quarter. 29
(b) A report of sale is not proof of a completed vehicle transfer 30
for purposes of the collection of expenses related to towing, 31
storage, and auction of an abandoned vehicle in situations where 32
there is no evidence indicating the buyer knew of or was a party to 33
acceptance of the vehicle transfer. A contract signed by the prior 34
owner and the new owner, a certificate of title, a receipt, a 35
purchase order or wholesale order, or other legal proof or record of 36
acceptance of the vehicle by the new owner may be provided to 37
establish legal responsibility for the abandoned vehicle.38
(5) Report of sale – licensed dealers. A vehicle dealer as 39
defined in RCW 46.70.011 may, but is not required to, file a report 40
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of sale on behalf of an owner who trades in, sells, or otherwise 1
transfers ownership of a vehicle to the dealer. A vehicle dealer who 2
files on behalf of an owner shall collect and remit the fees required 3
under RCW 46.17.050 from the owner in addition to any other fees 4
charged to or owed by the customer. 5
(6)(a) Transferring ownership. A person who has recently acquired 6
a vehicle by purchase, exchange, gift, lease, inheritance, or legal 7
action shall apply to the department, county auditor or other agent, 8
or subagent appointed by the director for a new certificate of title 9
within 15 days of delivery of the vehicle. A secured party who has 10
possession of the certificate of title shall either:11
(i) Apply for a new certificate of title on behalf of the owner 12
and pay the fee required under RCW 46.17.100; or 13
(ii) Provide all required documents to the owner, as long as the 14
transfer was not a breach of its security agreement, to allow the 15
owner to apply for a new certificate of title. 16
(b) Compliance with this subsection does not affect the rights of 17
the secured party. 18
(7) Certificate of title delivered to secured party. The 19
certificate of title must be kept by or delivered to the person who 20
becomes the secured party when a security interest is reserved or 21
created at the time of the transfer of ownership. The parties must 22
comply with RCW 46.12.675. 23
(8) Penalty for late transfer. A person who has recently acquired 24
a motor vehicle by purchase, exchange, gift, lease, inheritance, or 25
legal action who does not apply for a new certificate of title within 26
15 calendar days of delivery of the vehicle is charged a penalty, as 27
described in RCW 46.17.140, when applying for a new certificate of 28
title. It is a misdemeanor to fail or neglect to apply for a transfer 29
of ownership within 45 days after delivery of the vehicle. The 30
misdemeanor is a single continuing offense for each day that passes 31
regardless of the number of days that have elapsed following the 45-32
day time period. 33
(9) Penalty for late transfer - exceptions. The penalty is not 34
charged if the delay in application is due to at least one of the 35
following: 36
(a) The department requests additional supporting documents;37
(b) The department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent 38
fails to perform or is neglectful; 39
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(c) The owner is prevented from applying due to an illness or 1
extended hospitalization; 2
(d) The legal owner fails or neglects to release interest;3
(e) The owner did not know of the filing of a report of sale by 4
the previous owner and signs an affidavit to the fact; or5
(f) The department finds other conditions exist that adequately 6
explain the delay. 7
(10) Review and issue. The department shall review applications 8
for certificates of title and issue certificates of title when it has 9
determined that all applicable provisions of law have been complied 10
with. 11
(11) Rules. The department may adopt rules as necessary to 12
implement this section. 13
Sec. 15. RCW 46.17.050 and 2017 c 147 s 12 are each amended to 14
read as follows: 15
(1) Until June 30, 2017, before accepting a report of sale filed 16
under RCW 46.12.650(2), the county auditor or other agent or subagent 17
appointed by the director shall require the applicant to pay:18
(a) The filing fee under RCW 46.17.005(1), the license plate 19
technology fee under RCW 46.17.015, and the license service fee under 20
RCW 46.17.025 to the county auditor or other agent; and21
(b) The service fee under RCW 46.17.040(1)(b) to the subagent.22
(2)(a) Beginning July 1, 2017, before accepting a report of sale 23
filed under RCW 46.12.650(2), the department, county auditor or other 24
agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall require the 25
applicant to pay the filing fee under RCW 46.17.005(1), the license 26
plate technology fee under RCW 46.17.015, the license service fee 27
under RCW 46.17.025, and the service fee under RCW 46.17.040(1)(b).28
(b) Service fees collected under (a) of this subsection by the 29
department or county auditor or other agent appointed by the director 30
must be credited to the capital vessel replacement account under RCW 31
47.60.322. 32
(3) Beginning July 1, 2027, before accepting a report of sale 33
filed under RCW 46.12.650(2), the department, county auditor or other 34
agent, or subagent appointed by the director shall also require the 35
applicant to pay the road usage fees and assessments due for vehicles 36
enrolled in a voluntary or mandatory road usage charge program under 37
section 2 or 3 of this act that would have been due at the time of 38
annual vehicle registration renewal if not for the transfer of 39
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ownership of the vehicle, to be determined using the odometer reading 1
of the vehicle at the time of transfer, subject to the exception for 2
unavailable odometers in RCW 46.12.650(3)(e). 3
Sec. 16. RCW 46.17.323 and 2022 c 149 s 1 are each amended to 4
read as follows: 5
(1) Before accepting an application for an annual vehicle 6
registration renewal for a vehicle that both (a) uses at least one 7
method of propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an 8
external source of electricity and (b) is capable of traveling at 9
least 30 miles using only battery power, except for electric 10
motorcycles, the department, county auditor or other agent, or 11
subagent appointed by the director must require the applicant to pay 12
a $100 fee in addition to any other fees and taxes required by law. 13
The $100 fee is due only at the time of annual registration renewal.14
(2) This section only applies to a vehicle that is designed to 15
have the capability to drive at a speed of more than 35 miles per 16
hour. 17
(3)(a) The fee under this section is imposed to provide funds to 18
mitigate the impact of vehicles on state roads and highways and for 19
the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of transitioning from a 20
revenue collection system based on fuel taxes to a road user 21
assessment system, and is separate and distinct from other vehicle 22
license fees. Proceeds from the fee must be used for highway 23
purposes, and must be deposited in the motor vehicle fund created in 24
RCW 46.68.070, subject to (b) of this subsection. 25
(b) If in any year the amount of proceeds from the fee collected 26
under this section exceeds $1,000,000, the excess amount over 27
$1,000,000 must be deposited as follows: 28
(i) Seventy percent to the motor vehicle fund created in RCW 29
46.68.070; 30
(ii) Fifteen percent to the transportation improvement account 31
created in RCW 47.26.084; and 32
(iii) Fifteen percent to the rural arterial trust account created 33
in RCW 36.79.020. 34
(4)(a) In addition to the fee established in subsection (1) of 35
this section, before accepting an application for an annual vehicle 36
registration renewal for a vehicle that both (i) uses at least one 37
method of propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an 38
external source of electricity and (ii) is capable of traveling at 39
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least 30 miles using only battery power, except for electric 1
motorcycles, the department, county auditor or other agent, or 2
subagent appointed by the director must require the applicant to pay 3
a $50 fee. 4
(b) The fee required under (a) of this subsection must be 5
distributed as follows: 6
(i) The first $1,000,000 raised by the fee must be deposited into 7
the multimodal transportation account created in RCW 47.66.070; and8
(ii) Any remaining amounts must be deposited into the motor 9
vehicle fund created in RCW 46.68.070. 10
(5) Beginning November 1, 2022, before accepting an application 11
for an annual vehicle registration renewal for an electric motorcycle 12
that uses propulsion units powered solely by electricity, the 13
department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by 14
the director must require the applicant to pay a $30 fee in addition 15
to any other fees and taxes required by law. The $30 fee is due only 16
at the time of annual registration renewal. 17
(6) The fees collected pursuant to subsection (5) of this section 18
shall be deposited into the motor vehicle fund created in RCW 19
46.68.070. 20
(7) This section applies to annual vehicle registration renewals 21
until the effective date of enacted legislation that imposes a 22
mandatory vehicle miles traveled fee or tax that applies to all 23
vehicles that are required to pay fees under this section.24
(8) The fees specified in this section are waived if the 25
registration renewal applicant enrolled the vehicle in a voluntary or 26
mandatory road usage charge program established in section 2 or 3 of 27
this act for the prior 12-month period of vehicle registration.28
Sec. 17. RCW 46.17.324 and 2019 c 287 s 23 are each amended to 29
read as follows: 30
To realize the environmental benefits of electrification of the 31
transportation system it is necessary to support the adoption of 32
electric vehicles and other electric technology in the state by 33
incentivizing the purchase of these vehicles, building out the 34
charging infrastructure, developing greener transit options, and 35
supporting clean alternative fuel infrastructure. Therefore, it is 36
the intent of the legislature to support these activities through the 37
imposition of new transportation electrification fees in this 38
section. 39
p. 17 HB 1921
(1) A vehicle that both (a) uses at least one method of 1
propulsion that is capable of being reenergized by an external source 2
of electricity and (b) is capable of traveling at least ((thirty)) 30 3
miles using only battery power, is subject to an annual ((seventy-4
five dollar)) $75 transportation electrification fee to be collected 5
by the department, county auditor, or other agent or subagent 6
appointed by the director, in addition to any other fees and taxes 7
required by law. For administrative efficiencies, the transportation 8
electrification fee must be collected at the same time as vehicle 9
registration renewals and may only be collected for vehicles that are 10
renewing an annual vehicle registration. 11
(2) Beginning October 1, 2019, in lieu of the fee in subsection 12
(1) of this section for a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle that is 13
not required to pay the fees established in RCW 46.17.323 (1) and 14
(4), for reasons other than participation in the voluntary or 15
mandatory road usage charge program established in section 2 or 3 of 16
this act, the department, county auditor, or other agent or subagent 17
appointed by the director must require that the applicant for the 18
annual vehicle registration renewal of such hybrid or alternative 19
fuel vehicle pay a ((seventy-five dollar )) $75 hybrid vehicle 20
transportation electrification fee, in addition to any other fees and 21
taxes required by law. 22
(3) The fees required under this section must be deposited in the 23
electric vehicle account created in RCW 82.44.200, until July 1, 24
2025, when the fee must be deposited in the motor vehicle account.25
(4) This section only applies to a vehicle that is designed to 26
have the capability to drive at a speed of more than ((thirty-five)) 27
35 miles per hour. 28
(5) The fees specified in this section are waived if the 29
registration renewal applicant enrolled the vehicle in a voluntary or 30
mandatory road usage charge program established in section 2 or 3 of 31
this act for the prior 12-month period of vehicle registration.32
Part III33
Related Provisions34
NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. A new section is added to chapter 46.08 35
RCW to read as follows: 36
(1) The only personally identifying information that may be 37
collected under the voluntary and mandatory road usage charge 38
p. 18 HB 1921
programs established in sections 2 and 3 of this act, as well as for 1
purposes of applying the assessment established in section 6 of this 2
act, is personally identifying information necessary to properly 3
calculate, report, and collect road usage fees and assessments, 4
unless the vehicle owner provides his or her express written consent 5
for the collection of additional information. 6
(2) Per mile reporting methods may only record or report general 7
location data when: 8
(a) The vehicle owner chooses a reporting method that requires 9
general location data to be collected; 10
(b) Proper disclosure of the reporting method was made pursuant 11
to rules adopted by the department; and 12
(c) The vehicle owner specifically consents to the reporting of 13
general location data. 14
(3) Per mile reporting methods shall not report specific location 15
data to the department or any subdivision of the state, including 16
data on travel patterns, origins, destinations, waypoint locations, 17
or times of travel, unless a vehicle owner specifically consents to 18
the recording or reporting of this location data. 19
(4) The department and any road usage charge service provider has 20
an affirmative public duty regarding the collection of a per mile fee 21
under sections 2 and 3 of this act to: 22
(a) Ensure that per mile information is protected with reasonable 23
operational, administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to 24
ensure its confidentiality and integrity; 25
(b) Implement and maintain reasonable security procedures and 26
practices to protect per mile information from unauthorized access, 27
destruction, use, modification, or disclosure; and28
(c) Implement and maintain a usage and privacy policy to ensure 29
that the collection of per mile information is consistent with 30
respect for individuals' privacy and civil liberties.31
(5) The department may adopt rules as necessary to implement this 32
section. 33
(6) For the purposes of this section: 34
(a) "General location data" means vehicle location information 35
necessary for the determination of road usage fees and assessments.36
(b) "Personally identifying information" means any information 37
that identifies or describes a person including, but not limited to, 38
travel pattern data, address, telephone number, email address, 39
photograph, bank account information, or credit card number. 40
p. 19 HB 1921
"Personally identifying information" does not include publicly 1
available information that is lawfully made available to the general 2
public from federal, state, or local government records.3
(c) "Public purposes" means research, testing, and information 4
gathering that advances the safety of the motoring public or the 5
adequate preservation, maintenance, and upkeep of public roadways.6
(d) "Specific location data" means information about the origin, 7
destination, waypoint, or travel patterns of vehicles.8
(e) "Vehicle owner" has the same meaning as "owner" in RCW 9
46.04.380. 10
Sec. 19. RCW 46.01.030 and 2010 c 161 s 1107 are each amended to 11
read as follows: 12
The department is responsible for administering and recommending 13
the improvement of the motor vehicle laws of this state relating to:14
(1) Driver examining and licensing; 15
(2) Driver improvement; 16
(3) Driver records; 17
(4) Financial responsibility; 18
(5) Certificates of title; 19
(6) Vehicle registration certificates and license plates;20
(7) Proration and reciprocity; 21
(8) Liquid fuel tax collections; 22
(9) Road usage fee collections;23
(10) Road usage assessment collections;24
(11) Licensing of dealers, motor vehicle transporters, motor 25
vehicle wreckers, for hire vehicles, and drivers' schools;26
(((10))) (12) General highway safety promotion in cooperation 27
with the Washington state patrol and traffic safety commission; and28
(((11))) (13) Such other activities as the legislature may 29
provide. 30
Sec. 20. RCW 46.01.040 and 2013 c 225 s 606 are each amended to 31
read as follows: 32
The department is vested with all powers, functions, and duties 33
with respect to and including the following: 34
(1) The fuel tax and aircraft fuel tax as provided in chapters 35
82.38 and 82.42 RCW; 36
(2) The motor vehicle excise tax as provided in chapter 82.44 37
RCW; 38
p. 20 HB 1921
(3) The travel trailers and campers excise tax as provided in 1
chapter 82.50 RCW; 2
(4) Road usage fees and assessments as provided in chapter 46.--- 3
RCW (the new chapter created in section 29 of this act);4
(5) All general powers and duties relating to motor vehicles as 5
provided in chapter 46.08 RCW; 6
(((5))) (6) Certificates of title and registration certificates 7
as provided in chapters 46.12 and 46.16A RCW; 8
(((6))) (7) The registration of motor vehicles as provided in 9
chapter 46.16A RCW; 10
(((7))) (8) Dealers' licenses as provided in chapter 46.70 RCW;11
(((8))) (9) The licensing of motor vehicle transporters as 12
provided in chapter 46.76 RCW; 13
(((9))) (10) The licensing of vehicle wreckers as provided in 14
chapter 46.80 RCW; 15
(((10))) (11) The administration of the laws relating to 16
reciprocal or proportional registration of motor vehicles as provided 17
in chapter 46.85 RCW; 18
(((11))) (12) The licensing of passenger vehicles for hire as 19
provided in chapter 46.72 RCW; 20
(((12))) (13) Drivers' licenses as provided in chapter 46.20 RCW;21
(((13))) (14) Commercial driver training schools as provided in 22
chapter 46.82 RCW; 23
(((14))) (15) Financial responsibility as provided in chapter 24
46.29 RCW; 25
(((15))) (16) Accident reporting as provided in chapter 46.52 26
RCW; 27
(((16))) (17) Disposition of revenues as provided in chapter 28
46.68 RCW; and 29
(((17))) (18) The administration of all other laws relating to 30
motor vehicles vested in the director of licenses on June 30, 1965.31
Sec. 21. RCW 46.01.110 and 2010 c 161 s 202 are each amended to 32
read as follows: 33
The director may adopt and enforce rules to carry out provisions 34
related to vehicle registrations, certificates of title, road usage 35
fees and assessments, and drivers' licenses. These rules must not be 36
based: 37
(1) Solely on a section of law stating a statute's intent or 38
purpose; 39
p. 21 HB 1921
(2) On the enabling provisions of the statute establishing the 1
agency; or 2
(3) On any combination of subsections (1) and (2) of this 3
section. 4
Sec. 22. RCW 42.56.330 and 2017 c 333 s 6 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
The following information relating to public utilities and 7
transportation is exempt from disclosure under this chapter:8
(1) Records filed with the utilities and transportation 9
commission or attorney general under RCW 80.04.095 or 81.77.210 that 10
a court has determined are confidential under RCW 80.04.095 or 11
81.77.210; 12
(2) The addresses, telephone numbers, electronic contact 13
information, and customer-specific utility usage and billing 14
information in increments less than a billing cycle of the customers 15
of a public utility contained in the records or lists held by the 16
public utility of which they are customers, except that this 17
information may be released to the division of child support or the 18
agency or firm providing child support enforcement for another state 19
under Title IV-D of the federal social security act, for the 20
establishment, enforcement, or modification of a support order;21
(3) The names, residential addresses, residential telephone 22
numbers, and other individually identifiable records held by an 23
agency in relation to a vanpool, carpool, or other ride-sharing 24
program or service. Participants' names, general locations, and point 25
of contact may be disclosed to other persons who apply for ride-26
matching services and who need that information in order to identify 27
potential riders or drivers with whom to share rides;28
(4) The personally identifying information of current or former 29
participants or applicants in a paratransit or other transit service 30
operated for the benefit of persons with disabilities or elderly 31
persons; 32
(5) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire 33
and use transit passes or other fare payment media including, but not 34
limited to, stored value smart cards and magnetic strip cards, except 35
that an agency may disclose personally identifying information to a 36
person, employer, educational institution, or other entity that is 37
responsible, in whole or in part, for payment of the cost of 38
acquiring or using a transit pass or other fare payment media for the 39
p. 22 HB 1921
purpose of preventing fraud. As used in this subsection, "personally 1
identifying information" includes acquisition or use information 2
pertaining to a specific, individual transit pass or fare payment 3
media. 4
(a) Information regarding the acquisition or use of transit 5
passes or fare payment media may be disclosed in aggregate form if 6
the data does not contain any personally identifying information.7
(b) Personally identifying information may be released to law 8
enforcement agencies if the request is accompanied by a court order;9
(6) Any information obtained by governmental agencies that is 10
collected by the use of a motor carrier intelligent transportation 11
system or any comparable information equipment attached to a truck, 12
tractor, or trailer; however, the information may be given to other 13
governmental agencies or the owners of the truck, tractor, or trailer 14
from which the information is obtained. As used in this subsection, 15
"motor carrier" has the same definition as provided in RCW 81.80.010;16
(7) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire 17
and use transponders or other technology to facilitate payment of 18
tolls. This information may be disclosed in aggregate form as long as 19
the data does not contain any personally identifying information. For 20
these purposes aggregate data may include the census tract of the 21
account holder as long as any individual personally identifying 22
information is not released. Personally identifying information may 23
be released to law enforcement agencies only for toll enforcement 24
purposes. Personally identifying information may be released to law 25
enforcement agencies for other purposes only if the request is 26
accompanied by a court order; 27
(8) The personally identifying information of persons who acquire 28
and use a driver's license or identicard that includes a radio 29
frequency identification chip or similar technology to facilitate 30
border crossing. This information may be disclosed in aggregate form 31
as long as the data does not contain any personally identifying 32
information. Personally identifying information may be released to 33
law enforcement agencies only for United States customs and border 34
protection enforcement purposes. Personally identifying information 35
may be released to law enforcement agencies for other purposes only 36
if the request is accompanied by a court order; ((and))37
(9) Personally identifying information included in safety 38
complaints submitted under chapter 81.61 RCW; and39
p. 23 HB 1921
(10) The personally identifying information of persons who report 1
their vehicle odometer mileage or any vehicle location information as 2
part of a vehicle registration or vehicle registration renewal 3
application required under chapter 46.16A or 46.--- RCW (the new 4
chapter created in section 29 of this act) or as part of a report of 5
sale required under RCW 46.12.650 and 46.17.050. This information may 6
be disclosed in aggregate form only if the data does not contain any 7
personally identifying information. Personally identifying 8
information may be released to law enforcement agencies only if the 9
request is accompanied by a court order. 10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 23. A new section is added to chapter 46.68 11
RCW to read as follows: 12
The road usage charge highway account is created in the motor 13
vehicle fund. All receipts from the voluntary and mandatory road 14
usage charge programs established in sections 2 and 3 of this act 15
must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may be spent 16
only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used 17
only for the purposes specified in RCW 46.68.070 that are also 18
highway preservation and maintenance purposes. 19
NEW SECTION. Sec. 24. A new section is added to chapter 46.68 20
RCW to read as follows: 21
The road usage assessment account is created in the state 22
treasury. All receipts from the assessment imposed under section 6 of 23
this act must be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account may 24
be spent only after appropriation. Expenditures from the account may 25
only be used for the following multimodal transportation system 26
purposes: Rail, bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation. 27
Expenditures from the account may not be used for purposes exclusive 28
of these multimodal transportation system purposes.29
Sec. 25. RCW 43.84.092 and 2024 c 210 s 4 and 2024 c 168 s 12 30
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:31
(1) All earnings of investments of surplus balances in the state 32
treasury shall be deposited to the treasury income account, which 33
account is hereby established in the state treasury.34
(2) The treasury income account shall be utilized to pay or 35
receive funds associated with federal programs as required by the 36
federal cash management improvement act of 1990. The treasury income 37
p. 24 HB 1921
account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no 1
appropriation is required for refunds or allocations of interest 2
earnings required by the cash management improvement act. Refunds of 3
interest to the federal treasury required under the cash management 4
improvement act fall under RCW 43.88.180 and shall not require 5
appropriation. The office of financial management shall determine the 6
amounts due to or from the federal government pursuant to the cash 7
management improvement act. The office of financial management may 8
direct transfers of funds between accounts as deemed necessary to 9
implement the provisions of the cash management improvement act, and 10
this subsection. Refunds or allocations shall occur prior to the 11
distributions of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this 12
section. 13
(3) Except for the provisions of RCW 43.84.160, the treasury 14
income account may be utilized for the payment of purchased banking 15
services on behalf of treasury funds including, but not limited to, 16
depository, safekeeping, and disbursement functions for the state 17
treasury and affected state agencies. The treasury income account is 18
subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is 19
required for payments to financial institutions. Payments shall occur 20
prior to distribution of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this 21
section. 22
(4) Monthly, the state treasurer shall distribute the earnings 23
credited to the treasury income account. The state treasurer shall 24
credit the general fund with all the earnings credited to the 25
treasury income account except: 26
(a) The following accounts and funds shall receive their 27
proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's and fund's 28
average daily balance for the period: The abandoned recreational 29
vehicle disposal account, the aeronautics account, the Alaskan Way 30
viaduct replacement project account, the ambulance transport fund, 31
the budget stabilization account, the capital vessel replacement 32
account, the capitol building construction account, the Central 33
Washington University capital projects account, the charitable, 34
educational, penal and reformatory institutions account, the Chehalis 35
basin account, the Chehalis basin taxable account, the clean fuels 36
credit account, the clean fuels transportation investment account, 37
the cleanup settlement account, the climate active transportation 38
account, the climate transit programs account, the Columbia river 39
basin water supply development account, the Columbia river basin 40
p. 25 HB 1921
taxable bond water supply development account, the Columbia river 1
basin water supply revenue recovery account, the common school 2
construction fund, the community forest trust account, the connecting 3
Washington account, the county arterial preservation account, the 4
county criminal justice assistance account, the covenant 5
homeownership account, the deferred compensation administrative 6
account, the deferred compensation principal account, the department 7
of licensing services account, the department of retirement systems 8
expense account, the developmental disabilities community services 9
account, the diesel idle reduction account, the opioid abatement 10
settlement account, the drinking water assistance account, the 11
administrative subaccount of the drinking water assistance account, 12
the early learning facilities development account, the early learning 13
facilities revolving account, the Eastern Washington University 14
capital projects account, the education construction fund, the 15
education legacy trust account, the election account, the electric 16
vehicle account, the energy freedom account, the energy recovery act 17
account, the essential rail assistance account, The Evergreen State 18
College capital projects account, the fair start for kids account, 19
the family medicine workforce development account, the ferry bond 20
retirement fund, the fish, wildlife, and conservation account, the 21
freight mobility investment account, the freight mobility multimodal 22
account, the grade crossing protective fund, the higher education 23
retirement plan supplemental benefit fund, the Washington student 24
loan account, the highway bond retirement fund, the highway 25
infrastructure account, the highway safety fund, the hospital safety 26
net assessment fund, the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project 27
account, the Interstate 405 and state route number 167 express toll 28
lanes account, the judges' retirement account, the judicial 29
retirement administrative account, the judicial retirement principal 30
account, the limited fish and wildlife account, the local leasehold 31
excise tax account, the local real estate excise tax account, the 32
local sales and use tax account, the marine resources stewardship 33
trust account, the medical aid account, the money-purchase retirement 34
savings administrative account, the money-purchase retirement savings 35
principal account, the motor vehicle fund, the motorcycle safety 36
education account, the move ahead WA account, the move ahead WA 37
flexible account, the multimodal transportation account, the multiuse 38
roadway safety account, the municipal criminal justice assistance 39
account, the oyster reserve land account, the pension funding 40
p. 26 HB 1921
stabilization account, the perpetual surveillance and maintenance 1
account, the pilotage account, the pollution liability insurance 2
agency underground storage tank revolving account, the public 3
employees' retirement system plan 1 account, the public employees' 4
retirement system combined plan 2 and plan 3 account, the public 5
facilities construction loan revolving account, the public health 6
supplemental account, the public works assistance account, the Puget 7
Sound capital construction account, the Puget Sound ferry operations 8
account, the Puget Sound Gateway facility account, the Puget Sound 9
taxpayer accountability account, the real estate appraiser commission 10
account, the recreational vehicle account, the regional mobility 11
grant program account, the reserve officers' relief and pension 12
principal fund, the resource management cost account, the road usage 13
charge highway account, the road usage assessment account, the rural 14
arterial trust account, the rural mobility grant program account, the 15
rural Washington loan fund, the second injury fund, the sexual 16
assault prevention and response account, the site closure account, 17
the skilled nursing facility safety net trust fund, the small city 18
pavement and sidewalk account, the special category C account, the 19
special wildlife account, the state hazard mitigation revolving loan 20
account, the state investment board expense account, the state 21
investment board commingled trust fund accounts, the state patrol 22
highway account, the state reclamation revolving account, the state 23
route number 520 civil penalties account, the state route number 520 24
corridor account, the statewide broadband account, the statewide 25
tourism marketing account, the supplemental pension account, the 26
Tacoma Narrows toll bridge account, the teachers' retirement system 27
plan 1 account, the teachers' retirement system combined plan 2 and 28
plan 3 account, the tobacco prevention and control account, the 29
tobacco settlement account, the toll facility bond retirement 30
account, the transportation 2003 account (nickel account), the 31
transportation equipment fund, the JUDY transportation future funding 32
program account, the transportation improvement account, the 33
transportation improvement board bond retirement account, the 34
transportation infrastructure account, the transportation partnership 35
account, the traumatic brain injury account, the tribal opioid 36
prevention and treatment account, the University of Washington bond 37
retirement fund, the University of Washington building account, the 38
voluntary cleanup account, the volunteer firefighters' relief and 39
pension principal fund, the volunteer firefighters' and reserve 40
p. 27 HB 1921
officers' administrative fund, the vulnerable roadway user education 1
account, the Washington judicial retirement system account, the 2
Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' system plan 1 3
retirement account, the Washington law enforcement officers' and 4
firefighters' system plan 2 retirement account, the Washington public 5
safety employees' plan 2 retirement account, the Washington school 6
employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and 3 account, the 7
Washington state patrol retirement account, the Washington State 8
University building account, the Washington State University bond 9
retirement fund, the water pollution control revolving administration 10
account, the water pollution control revolving fund, the Western 11
Washington University capital projects account, the Yakima integrated 12
plan implementation account, the Yakima integrated plan 13
implementation revenue recovery account, and the Yakima integrated 14
plan implementation taxable bond account. Earnings derived from 15
investing balances of the agricultural permanent fund, the normal 16
school permanent fund, the permanent common school fund, the 17
scientific permanent fund, and the state university permanent fund 18
shall be allocated to their respective beneficiary accounts.19
(b) Any state agency that has independent authority over accounts 20
or funds not statutorily required to be held in the state treasury 21
that deposits funds into a fund or account in the state treasury 22
pursuant to an agreement with the office of the state treasurer shall 23
receive its proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's 24
or fund's average daily balance for the period. 25
(5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state 26
Constitution, no treasury accounts or funds shall be allocated 27
earnings without the specific affirmative directive of this section.28
Sec. 26. RCW 43.84.092 and 2024 c 210 s 5 and 2024 c 168 s 13 29
are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:30
(1) All earnings of investments of surplus balances in the state 31
treasury shall be deposited to the treasury income account, which 32
account is hereby established in the state treasury.33
(2) The treasury income account shall be utilized to pay or 34
receive funds associated with federal programs as required by the 35
federal cash management improvement act of 1990. The treasury income 36
account is subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no 37
appropriation is required for refunds or allocations of interest 38
earnings required by the cash management improvement act. Refunds of 39
p. 28 HB 1921
interest to the federal treasury required under the cash management 1
improvement act fall under RCW 43.88.180 and shall not require 2
appropriation. The office of financial management shall determine the 3
amounts due to or from the federal government pursuant to the cash 4
management improvement act. The office of financial management may 5
direct transfers of funds between accounts as deemed necessary to 6
implement the provisions of the cash management improvement act, and 7
this subsection. Refunds or allocations shall occur prior to the 8
distributions of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this 9
section. 10
(3) Except for the provisions of RCW 43.84.160, the treasury 11
income account may be utilized for the payment of purchased banking 12
services on behalf of treasury funds including, but not limited to, 13
depository, safekeeping, and disbursement functions for the state 14
treasury and affected state agencies. The treasury income account is 15
subject in all respects to chapter 43.88 RCW, but no appropriation is 16
required for payments to financial institutions. Payments shall occur 17
prior to distribution of earnings set forth in subsection (4) of this 18
section. 19
(4) Monthly, the state treasurer shall distribute the earnings 20
credited to the treasury income account. The state treasurer shall 21
credit the general fund with all the earnings credited to the 22
treasury income account except: 23
(a) The following accounts and funds shall receive their 24
proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's and fund's 25
average daily balance for the period: The abandoned recreational 26
vehicle disposal account, the aeronautics account, the Alaskan Way 27
viaduct replacement project account, the budget stabilization 28
account, the capital vessel replacement account, the capitol building 29
construction account, the Central Washington University capital 30
projects account, the charitable, educational, penal and reformatory 31
institutions account, the Chehalis basin account, the Chehalis basin 32
taxable account, the clean fuels credit account, the clean fuels 33
transportation investment account, the cleanup settlement account, 34
the climate active transportation account, the climate transit 35
programs account, the Columbia river basin water supply development 36
account, the Columbia river basin taxable bond water supply 37
development account, the Columbia river basin water supply revenue 38
recovery account, the common school construction fund, the community 39
forest trust account, the connecting Washington account, the county 40
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arterial preservation account, the county criminal justice assistance 1
account, the covenant homeownership account, the deferred 2
compensation administrative account, the deferred compensation 3
principal account, the department of licensing services account, the 4
department of retirement systems expense account, the developmental 5
disabilities community services account, the diesel idle reduction 6
account, the opioid abatement settlement account, the drinking water 7
assistance account, the administrative subaccount of the drinking 8
water assistance account, the early learning facilities development 9
account, the early learning facilities revolving account, the Eastern 10
Washington University capital projects account, the education 11
construction fund, the education legacy trust account, the election 12
account, the electric vehicle account, the energy freedom account, 13
the energy recovery act account, the essential rail assistance 14
account, The Evergreen State College capital projects account, the 15
fair start for kids account, the family medicine workforce 16
development account, the ferry bond retirement fund, the fish, 17
wildlife, and conservation account, the freight mobility investment 18
account, the freight mobility multimodal account, the grade crossing 19
protective fund, the higher education retirement plan supplemental 20
benefit fund, the Washington student loan account, the highway bond 21
retirement fund, the highway infrastructure account, the highway 22
safety fund, the hospital safety net assessment fund, the Interstate 23
5 bridge replacement project account, the Interstate 405 and state 24
route number 167 express toll lanes account, the judges' retirement 25
account, the judicial retirement administrative account, the judicial 26
retirement principal account, the limited fish and wildlife account, 27
the local leasehold excise tax account, the local real estate excise 28
tax account, the local sales and use tax account, the marine 29
resources stewardship trust account, the medical aid account, the 30
money-purchase retirement savings administrative account, the money-31
purchase retirement savings principal account, the motor vehicle 32
fund, the motorcycle safety education account, the move ahead WA 33
account, the move ahead WA flexible account, the multimodal 34
transportation account, the multiuse roadway safety account, the 35
municipal criminal justice assistance account, the oyster reserve 36
land account, the pension funding stabilization account, the 37
perpetual surveillance and maintenance account, the pilotage account, 38
the pollution liability insurance agency underground storage tank 39
revolving account, the public employees' retirement system plan 1 40
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account, the public employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and 1
plan 3 account, the public facilities construction loan revolving 2
account, the public health supplemental account, the public works 3
assistance account, the Puget Sound capital construction account, the 4
Puget Sound ferry operations account, the Puget Sound Gateway 5
facility account, the Puget Sound taxpayer accountability account, 6
the real estate appraiser commission account, the recreational 7
vehicle account, the regional mobility grant program account, the 8
reserve officers' relief and pension principal fund, the resource 9
management cost account, the road usage charge highway account, the 10
road usage assessment account, the rural arterial trust account, the 11
rural mobility grant program account, the rural Washington loan fund, 12
the second injury fund, the sexual assault prevention and response 13
account, the site closure account, the skilled nursing facility 14
safety net trust fund, the small city pavement and sidewalk account, 15
the special category C account, the special wildlife account, the 16
state hazard mitigation revolving loan account, the state investment 17
board expense account, the state investment board commingled trust 18
fund accounts, the state patrol highway account, the state 19
reclamation revolving account, the state route number 520 civil 20
penalties account, the state route number 520 corridor account, the 21
statewide broadband account, the statewide tourism marketing account, 22
the supplemental pension account, the Tacoma Narrows toll bridge 23
account, the teachers' retirement system plan 1 account, the 24
teachers' retirement system combined plan 2 and plan 3 account, the 25
tobacco prevention and control account, the tobacco settlement 26
account, the toll facility bond retirement account, the 27
transportation 2003 account (nickel account), the transportation 28
equipment fund, the JUDY transportation future funding program 29
account, the transportation improvement account, the transportation 30
improvement board bond retirement account, the transportation 31
infrastructure account, the transportation partnership account, the 32
traumatic brain injury account, the tribal opioid prevention and 33
treatment account, the University of Washington bond retirement fund, 34
the University of Washington building account, the voluntary cleanup 35
account, the volunteer firefighters' relief and pension principal 36
fund, the volunteer firefighters' and reserve officers' 37
administrative fund, the vulnerable roadway user education account, 38
the Washington judicial retirement system account, the Washington law 39
enforcement officers' and firefighters' system plan 1 retirement 40
p. 31 HB 1921
account, the Washington law enforcement officers' and firefighters' 1
system plan 2 retirement account, the Washington public safety 2
employees' plan 2 retirement account, the Washington school 3
employees' retirement system combined plan 2 and 3 account, the 4
Washington state patrol retirement account, the Washington State 5
University building account, the Washington State University bond 6
retirement fund, the water pollution control revolving administration 7
account, the water pollution control revolving fund, the Western 8
Washington University capital projects account, the Yakima integrated 9
plan implementation account, the Yakima integrated plan 10
implementation revenue recovery account, and the Yakima integrated 11
plan implementation taxable bond account. Earnings derived from 12
investing balances of the agricultural permanent fund, the normal 13
school permanent fund, the permanent common school fund, the 14
scientific permanent fund, and the state university permanent fund 15
shall be allocated to their respective beneficiary accounts.16
(b) Any state agency that has independent authority over accounts 17
or funds not statutorily required to be held in the state treasury 18
that deposits funds into a fund or account in the state treasury 19
pursuant to an agreement with the office of the state treasurer shall 20
receive its proportionate share of earnings based upon each account's 21
or fund's average daily balance for the period. 22
(5) In conformance with Article II, section 37 of the state 23
Constitution, no treasury accounts or funds shall be allocated 24
earnings without the specific affirmative directive of this section.25
Sec. 27. RCW 46.16A.040 and 2017 c 147 s 4 are each amended to 26
read as follows: 27
(1) An owner or the owner's authorized representative must apply 28
for an original vehicle registration to the department, county 29
auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by the director on a 30
form furnished by the department. The application must contain:31
(a) A description of the vehicle, including its make, model, 32
vehicle identification number, type of body, and power to be used;33
(b) The name and address of the person who is the registered 34
owner of the vehicle and, if the vehicle is subject to a security 35
interest, the name and address of the secured party;36
(c) The purpose for which the vehicle is to be used;37
(d) The licensed gross weight for the vehicle, which is:38
p. 32 HB 1921
(i) The adult seating capacity, including the operator, as 1
provided for in RCW 46.16A.455(1) if the vehicle will be operated as 2
a for hire vehicle or auto stage and has a seating capacity of more 3
than six; or 4
(ii) The gross weight declared by the applicant as required in 5
RCW 46.16A.455(2) if the vehicle will be operated as a motor truck, 6
tractor, or truck tractor; 7
(e) The empty scale weight of the vehicle; and 8
(f) Other information that the department may require.9
(2) In the application for an original vehicle registration of a 10
motor vehicle for on-road use, the department shall request the 11
mileage shown on the odometer of the motor vehicle being registered 12
at the time of application.13
(a) A vehicle owner enrolling in the voluntary and mandatory road 14
usage charge programs established in sections 2 and 3 of this act at 15
the time of application is required to provide the mileage shown on 16
the odometer in the application for an original vehicle registration 17
of a motor vehicle for on-road use at the time of vehicle enrollment.18
(b) A vehicle owner is not required to provide the mileage shown 19
on the odometer for a vehicle not enrolling in the voluntary or 20
mandatory road usage charge program established in section 2 or 3 of 21
this act at the time of application. Failure to provide the mileage 22
shown on the odometer vehicle for vehicle owners identified in this 23
subsection (2)(b) is not grounds to deny vehicle registration or to 24
issue any monetary or civil penalty or infraction. The application 25
for an original vehicle registration must state that the vehicle 26
owner of a vehicle not enrolling in the voluntary or mandatory road 27
usage charge program established in section 2 or 3 of this act is not 28
required to provide the mileage shown on the odometer for the vehicle 29
and that failure to provide the mileage shown on the odometer of a 30
vehicle not enrolling in the voluntary or mandatory road usage charge 31
program established in section 2 or 3 of this act is not grounds to 32
deny vehicle registration or issue any monetary or civil penalty or 33
infraction.34
(3) The registered owner or the registered owner's authorized 35
representative shall sign the application for an original vehicle 36
registration and certify that the statements on the application are 37
true to the best of the applicant's knowledge. 38
(((3))) (4) The application for an original vehicle registration 39
must be accompanied by a draft, money order, certified bank check, or 40
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cash for all fees and taxes due for the application for an original 1
vehicle registration. 2
(((4))) (5) Whenever any person, after applying for or receiving 3
a vehicle registration, moves from the address named in the 4
application or in the registration issued to him or her, or changes 5
his or her name of record, the person shall, within ((ten)) 10 days 6
thereafter, notify the department of the name or address change as 7
provided in RCW 46.08.195. 8
Sec. 28. RCW 46.16A.110 and 2014 c 80 s 3 are each amended to 9
read as follows: 10
(1)(a) A registered owner or the registered owner's authorized 11
representative must apply for a renewal vehicle registration to the 12
department, county auditor or other agent, or subagent appointed by 13
the director on a form approved by the director. The application for 14
a renewal vehicle registration must be accompanied by a draft, money 15
order, certified bank check, or cash for all fees , assessments, and 16
taxes required by law for the application for a renewal vehicle 17
registration. 18
(b) In the application for a renewal vehicle registration of a 19
motor vehicle for on-road use, the department shall request the 20
mileage shown on the odometer of the motor vehicle being registered 21
at the time of application.22
(i) A vehicle owner enrolling or enrolled in the voluntary or 23
mandatory road usage charge program established in section 2 or 3 of 24
this act is required to provide the mileage shown on the odometer in 25
the application for an original vehicle registration of a motor 26
vehicle for on-road use at the time of enrollment and at subsequent 27
vehicle registration renewals.28
(ii) A vehicle owner is not required to provide the mileage shown 29
on the odometer for a vehicle not enrolling or enrolled in the 30
voluntary or mandatory road usage charge program established in 31
section 2 or 3 of this act. Failure to provide the mileage shown on 32
the odometer vehicle for vehicle owners identified in this subsection 33
(1)(b) is not grounds to deny vehicle registration or to issue any 34
monetary or civil penalty or infraction. The application for an 35
original vehicle registration must state that the vehicle owner of a 36
vehicle not enrolling or enrolled in the voluntary and mandatory road 37
usage charge programs established in sections 2 and 3 of this act is 38
not required to provide the mileage shown on the odometer for the 39
p. 34 HB 1921
vehicle, and that failure to provide the mileage shown on the 1
odometer of a vehicle not enrolling or enrolled in the voluntary or 2
mandatory road usage charge program established in section 2 or 3 of 3
this act is not grounds to deny vehicle registration or issue any 4
monetary or civil penalty or infraction. 5
(2)(a) When a vehicle changes ownership, the person taking 6
ownership or his or her authorized representative must apply for a 7
renewal vehicle registration as provided in subsection (1) of this 8
section and, except as provided in (b) of this subsection, pay all 9
the taxes , assessments, and fees that are due at the time of 10
registration renewal. For the purposes of this section, when a 11
vehicle is sold to a vehicle dealer for resale, the application for a 12
renewal registration need not be made until the vehicle is sold by 13
the vehicle dealer. 14
(b) The person taking ownership or his or her authorized 15
representative must be given credit for the portion of a motor 16
vehicle excise tax, including the motor vehicle excise tax collected 17
under RCW 81.104.160, that reflects the remaining period for which 18
the tax was initially paid by the previous owner. 19
(3) An application and the fees , assessments, and taxes for a 20
renewal vehicle registration must be handled in the same manner as an 21
original vehicle registration application. The registration does not 22
need to show the name of the lienholder when the application for 23
renewal vehicle registration becomes the renewal registration upon 24
validation. 25
(4) A person expecting to be out of state during the normal 26
renewal period of a vehicle registration may renew a vehicle 27
registration and have license plates or tabs preissued by applying 28
for a renewal as described in subsection (1) of this section. A 29
vehicle registration may be renewed for the subsequent registration 30
year up to ((eighteen)) 18 months before the current expiration date 31
and must be displayed from the date of issue or from the day of the 32
expiration of the current registration year, whichever date is later.33
(5) An application for a renewal vehicle registration is not 34
required for those vehicles owned, rented, or leased by:35
(a) The state of Washington, or by any county, city, town, school 36
district, or other political subdivision of the state of Washington; 37
or 38
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(b) A governing body of an Indian tribe located within this state 1
and recognized as a governmental entity by the United States 2
department of the interior. 3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 29. Sections 2 through 12 of this act 4
constitute a new chapter in Title 46 RCW.5
NEW SECTION. Sec. 30. Section 25 of this act expires July 1, 6
2028.7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 31. Sections 27 and 28 of this act take 8
effect July 1, 2026.9
NEW SECTION. Sec. 32. Sections 14 and 15 of this act take 10
effect July 1, 2027.11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 33. Section 26 of this act takes effect July 12
1, 2028.13
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