EV policy update for the week of Jan. 19, 2026

[Grace Reamer]

EV POLICY UPDATE 1-19-26

Hello electric vehicle advocates! And happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! A good way to celebrate the occasion is to get involved in public policy efforts that benefit our community. Following is a weekly update about EV policy work in Washington State.

It is likely that most of the EV legislation that was reintroduced in Olympia at the beginning of the legislative session last week will not advance again this session, because hearings have not been scheduled yet. New Senate Bill 6008 regarding incentives for residential battery storage installation did get a hearing last week, but no follow-up has been scheduled yet. Two of last year's Senate bills also have been revived and have hearings on Monday, including the effort to find a solution to charging station vandalism. And a new Senate bill could inhibit the state's implementation of regulations requiring advanced clean trucks, but it does not yet have a hearing scheduled. Below is a brief summary and information about how to comment and testify. 

THIS WEEK

Senate Bill 5746 - Reintroduced from 2025. Creating an advisory committee on electric vehicle charger infrastructure property crime. Sponsor: Sen. J. Wilson. Public hearing at  4 p.m. on Jan. 19 in the Senate Transportation Committee. This bill creates an advisory committee to provide guidance and recommendations on actions to reduce EV charging infrastructure property crime such as vandalism and copper wire theft. Read the text here. Recommendation: SUPPORT. Sign up to testify or record your position here.

Senate Bill 5750 - Reintroduced from 2025. Establishing fees for charging privately owned electric vehicles at state facilities. Sponsor: Sen. J. Wilson. Public hearing at  4 p.m. on Jan. 19 in the Senate Transportation Committee. This bill requires privately owned EVs to pay a fee for using public charging stations at state facilities. Read the text here. No recommendation. Sign up to testify and record your position here.

NEW

Senate Bill 6098 - Concerning the annual reporting of information associated with sales of vehicles subject to the advanced clean trucks regulations. Sponsors Sen. MacEwen and Sen. J. Wilson. Requires an annual review of implementing advanced clean truck regulations to ensure the state is maintaining economic stability while meeting environmental goals. Referred to the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee. No hearings scheduled yet. Read the text here. Recommendation: OPPOSE. Send a comment to your lawmakers 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