Concerning motor vehicle emission standards for Washington.
SB 5091 prevents Washington from adopting California's motor vehicle emission standards, requiring the state to instead set rules consistent with federal clean air standards. The bill directs the Department of Ecology to establish Washington-specific emission requirements that align with federal law but exclude California's standards, which the legislature states limits economic flexibility. It affects all motor vehicles registered in Washington, including new registrations and emissions testing requirements, while maintaining exemptions for electric vehicles, low-emission hybrids, and certain older or specialty vehicles. The law repeals prior requirements to adopt California standards and mandates the Department of Ecology to develop rules for vehicle emissions without referencing California's framework.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 12, 2026
Last action Jan 12, 2026
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
4
Key actions
1
Committee
1
Jan 12, 2026
Introduced
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
upper
Feb 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM.
upper
1 primary · 15 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Matt Boehnke
RRepublican
Co
Chris Gildon
RRepublican
Co
Drew MacEwen
RRepublican
Co
Jeff Holy
RRepublican
Co
Jeff Wilson
RRepublican
Co
John Braun
RRepublican
Co
Judy Warnick
RRepublican
Co
Keith Goehner
RRepublican
Co
Leonard Christian
RRepublican
Co
Mark Schoesler
RRepublican
Co
Mike Chapman
DDemocratic
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