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State expands EV direct sales and funds used‑EV rebates as session yields targeted EV funding
Summary
Commerce and partner agencies outlined legislative wins from the short session: Senate Bill 6,354 expands direct sales access to additional EV‑only manufacturers and establishes a used‑EV rebate; the state also added funding for charging programs, while agencies note limited appetite for new programs in a short fiscal session.
Emma Waima, energy policy specialist at the state Commerce agency, summarized this year’s short legislative session and the items most immediately relevant to EV work. “Senate Bill 6,354 signed yesterday … will expand direct sales access for EV‑only manufacturers,” she said, naming Rivian and Lucid as the two manufacturers the law allows to sell directly to Washington buyers.
Waima said the same bill establishes a used‑EV rebate program funded by a $25 increase to certificate‑of‑title application fees, and Commerce has a $5 million appropriation in the supplemental budget to stand up that program. Steven Herschkowitz, managing director for Clean Transportation at Commerce, noted Commerce also received a $13 million appropriation for the state’s Wave CP public charging program.
Why it matters: the direct‑sales change can make some EV models easier for Washington buyers to purchase, and the new used‑EV rebate and additional Wave CP funding both aim to lower barriers to ownership and increase public charging capacity. Waima framed the session as constrained by a short, non‑budget year and a state deficit, which limited the appetite for wide‑ranging new programs; instead, much of the EV work continues to lean on Climate Commitment Act (CCA) funds and targeted programs passed in statute.
Supporting details: Waima also described a separate bill that consolidated Climate Commitment Act accounts into fewer accounts and noted school‑bus funding adjustments that changed payment schedules for districts purchasing zero‑emission buses. Andrew Rector, manager of the EV Council, said Commerce will provide links and timelines as agencies operationalize the new programs and noted Commerce is still developing timing for the instant‑rebate restart mentioned earlier in the meeting.
Next steps: agencies present said they will publish guidance and timelines as Commerce and implementing agencies finalize rules, contracts and program infrastructure. Several speakers encouraged fleet and agency staff to review the implementation manual and sign up for agency mailing lists to receive program and application materials.
