Washington Legislative Update

[Revised 3/14/08]

PASSED

SSHB 2815 / SSB 6516: The Carbon Framework and Green Collar Jobs Bill passed but it no longer calls for strategies to adopt a low-carbon fuel standard, or recommendations on production and use of energy derived from biomass sources. 

HB 3188 / SSB 6554: Exempting Waste Vegetable Oil from Excise Tax Bill passed.  Waste vegetable oil used to manufacture biodiesel for noncommercial use is exempt from special fuel, sales and use taxes.

DID NOT PASS

SHB 2512: Renewable Fuel Standard reporting and enforcement responsibilities greatly clarified in the revised draft, which passed the TEC Committee on Feb 1. But because of how the amendment was worded, the bill was sent to Appropriations Subcommittee on General Government instead of Rules. Subsequent fiscal notes didn’t arrive in time for the committee to take action, so they didn’t act on it. It is now considered dead due to procedural hang-ups.

SHB 2701: Proposed excise (severance) tax on net revenues from oil and gas extraction in state reduced to 6%, with 80% of proceeds directed to Energy Freedom. It has moved out of TEC and on to Finance.

SB 6170: Provides biofuel producers and ag coops with a B&O tax credit of up to $200,000 or their total tax liability, whichever is less, to be transferred to feedstock producers. The targeted feedstocks are oilseeds (2 cents/lb), grains (25 cents/bushel) and sugar beets (84 cents/ton). The program expires Dec 1, 2009. Ag & Rural Economic Development forwarded the bill to Ways & Mean on Feb 8.