State lawmakers weigh a number of bills that would impose new fees on consumers, businesses
The Washington state Senate and House of Representatives have their hands full this time of year with an array of proposals and ideas. While many of these suggestions will never see the light of day as official law, some of them will. Here are a few proposals that caught our eye:
Styrofoam ban
Turning heads in the Senate is a proposed bill that would prohibit the use of Styrofoam food containers and plastic food ware in restaurants. According to Senate Bill 5779, acceptable alternatives for prohibited food service ware must be compostable or recyclable.
The bill was referred to the Senate Environment, Water and Energy Committee last week.
Electric vehicle fee
Also in the Senate, Bill 5251 would impose an additional vehicle license fee of $100 on electric vehicles (EV). Authors of the bill point to the eventual loss of state revenue because EV owners won’t be paying gasoline tax.
The bill reads:
“As the state’s fleet changes from motor vehicles powered by traditional sources, such as gasoline and diesel, to those powered by electricity, the ability of the state to fund the maintenance and preservation of the transportation system is compromised. In order to mitigate the impacts of the diminishing motor vehicle fuel tax, and to create a system where each driver pays for a fair portion of his or her use of the road, an additional fee is imposed on electric vehicles.”
The $100 fee would be due at the time of initial vehicle registration and annual registration renewal.
Utility tax
Turning to activity in the House, Bill 1920 would authorize counties with more than 1.5 million residents to impose an excise tax on “the privilege of engaging in business as a utility.” According to the bill, the tax would be equal to the gross income derived from providing service to consumers within the county multiplied by a rate not to exceed six percent.
The bill was referred to the House Ways & Means Committee last week.
Street maintenance
The passage of House Bill 1929 would allow city legislative authorities to submit an authorizing proposition to the voters and, if approved, would establish a street maintenance utility service.
Bill 1929 would allow utilities to impose a charge on residents, businesses, governmental entities and other users located in the street maintenance utility service area.
It reads:
“A street maintenance utility provides a more equitable and efficient means to monitor, regulate, and maintain the streets and to provide street maintenance utility service than general tax funding.”
The bill was referred to the House Ways & Means Committee last week.
