EV-related bills tracked by council include exemptions for utility vehicles, direct sales and EV property-crime work group

Council cochair Steven Hirschkowitz listed bills the EV Council is tracking for the 2026 legislative session and invited agency input on technical details but not agency positions.

Highlights included: - SB 6056: would exempt certain utility service vehicles responding to power outages or public-safety emergencies from motor vehicle emission standards under Ecology's authority; Ecology staff said they are working with the sponsor and public utility districts on details. - HB 2518: would allow limited direct sales by automakers without franchise agreements; implementation would involve the Department of Licensing. - SB 6110: would update definitions for e-bikes and e-motorcycles and convene a work group to develop a regulatory structure. - SB 6098: would require JLARC to report on Advanced Clean Trucks market impacts and implications for tax receipts; Ecology seeks explicit inclusion in the bill language to ensure agency participation. - SB 5746: would create a work group addressing EV property crime; Commerce has engaged stakeholders and flagged complexity around equipment changes and prosecution pathways. - SB 6243: would create a statutory framework for autonomous motor vehicles; council members are monitoring implementation needs and agency roles. - SB 5750: would require agencies charging non-state users at state facilities to direct revenue to the motor vehicle fund; agencies discussed technical support to committee staff.

Hirschkowitz emphasized the council's role in coordinating technical input to committees and noted early cutoff dates in the short legislative session.