EV Policy Update for the week of Feb. 23, 2026

[Grace Reamer]

EV POLICY UPDATE 2-23-26

Hello electric vehicle advocates! With just three weeks left in the 2026 legislative session, we have some progress to report from Olympia this week. The lobbyists for Rivian have reached a compromise with the auto dealers association on a bill that finally would allow direct EV sales, with a lot of conditions. In addition, the transportation budget proposes to add $13 million for EV charging infrastructure. Following are details:

NEW

Senate Bill 6354 - EV Direct Sales. Sponsors Sens. Liias and King. Allows direct sales of BEVs by Rivian and Lucid, and requires in-state service centers and dealers licenses. Public hearing at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the Senate Transportation Committee. Read the text here. Recommendation: SUPPORT. Sign up to testify or register your position here.

UPDATES

Senate Bill 6005 and House Bill 2306 - Supplemental transportation appropriations. Sponsors Sen. Liias and Rep. Fey. The bill directs $13 million of the carbon emissions reduction account to grants for installation of community EVSEs. Grants will go to local governments, tribes and utilities for level 2 and above charging facilities, with priority to (1) multi-family housing, (2) publicly available locations, (3) schools and school districts, (4) government buildings and public hospitals, and (5) other eligible projects. The bill directs $2 million of the total to tribes, and $175,000 is reserved for a pilot project to convert take-home state fleet vehicles to electric. Public hearing at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the Senate Transportation Committee.  Executive session at 4 p.m. Feb. 25 in the House Transportation Committee. Executive session at 8 a.m. on Feb. 26 in the Senate Transportation Committee. Read the text here and here. Recommendation: SUPPORT. Sign up to testify or register your position here and here. 

HOW TO TESTIFY:

If you haven't registered your comments yet, it takes just a minute to sign in with your support or opposition. The online Committee Sign In portal allows you to register your support or opposition to a bill, submit a comment for a public hearing, or sign up to testify online on a Senate or House bill.

You also can call and e-mail your state senators and representatives directly - find your district, names and e-mail addresses at www.leg.wa.gov.

I plan to send out weekly updates during the legislative session, highlighting opportunities to share your thoughts and concerns. Please share with anyone you know who is interested!

Grace

gvre...@gmail.com