Washington HB 1117: Amending motor vehicle laws to align with federal definitions, make technical corrections, and move an effective date to meet a federal timeline.

Bill Text

AN ACT Relating to removing the delegation of authority related 1
to California motor vehicle emissions standards to generate new 2
transportation revenue for the state by reducing administration 3
burdens on the government and the people; adding a new section to 4
chapter 70A.15 RCW; creating new sections; repealing RCW 70A.30.010 5
and 70A.30.030; and declaring an emergency.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The delegation of authority related to 8
California motor vehicle emissions standards has caused unintended 9
consequences. Individuals have not been able to register vehicles 10
that meet federal manufacturing standards that they own. From 11
September 2023 to September 2024, the department of licensing had to 12
grant 407,541 exemptions to the policy so that vehicles could be 13
registered, at additional time and resources for the people, vehicle 14
subagents, and the governmental organizations that administer vehicle 15
registrations. The state benefits when every vehicle that operates on 16
the public roads is legally registered and when government operates 17
in an efficient manner. The legislature intends to improve the lives 18
of all of the people who had to seek an exemption and all of the 19
workers who do not want to tell people they cannot register their 20
vehicles because of California motor vehicle emissions standards.21
H-0213.1
HOUSE BILL 1117
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Barkis, Low, Schmidt, Couture, Corry, Ley, Dent,
Eslick, Penner, Connors, Klicker, Marshall, Dye, Jacobsen, Burnett,
Keaton, Orcutt, Caldier, Barnard, and Schmick
Prefiled 12/23/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee
on Environment & Energy.
p. 1 HB 1117

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The following acts or parts of acts are 1
each repealed:2
(1) RCW 70A.30.010 (Department of ecology to adopt rules to 3
implement California motor vehicle emission standards) and 2020 c 143 4
s 1, 2020 c 20 s 1366, 2010 c 76 s 1, & 2005 c 295 s 2; and5
(2) RCW 70A.30.030 (New vehicle greenhouse gas emissions 6
disclosure—Rule-making authority) and 2020 c 143 s 2, 2014 c 76 s 8, 7
& 2008 c 32 s 2.8
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 70A.15 9
RCW to read as follows:10
Nothing in this chapter may be interpreted to provide authority 11
to the department to adopt any motor vehicle emissions standard of 12
the state of California.13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The department of licensing is directed to 14
start licensing vehicles that were prohibited due to California motor 15
vehicle emissions standards if they otherwise meet state 16
requirements.17
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The department of ecology is directed to 18
repeal any rules that implement the California motor vehicle 19
emissions standards or were based on the statutory authority repealed 20
in this act.21
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. This act is necessary for the immediate 22
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of 23
the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes 24
effect immediately.25
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p. 2 HB 1117