SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 5325
As of January 17, 2023
Title: An act relating to enhancing access to clean fuel for agencies providing public transportation.
Brief Description: Enhancing access to clean fuel for agencies providing public transportation.
Sponsors: Senators Shewmake, Boehnke, Keiser, Lovelett, Randall and Wilson, C..
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Environment, Energy & Technology: 1/18/23.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes a public transportation benefit area authority to produce, use, sell, or distribute green electrolytic hydrogen and renewable hydrogen.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
Staff: Angela Kleis (786-7469)
Background:

Utilities and Transportation Commission.  The Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) is a three-member commission appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.  The UTC regulates the rates, services, facilities, and practices of utilities and transportation services.

 

Public Transportation Benefit Area.  Washington state created several governance structures under which public transportation services are funded and operated.  One type of governance established in statute is a public transportation benefit area (PTBA).  To establish a PTBA and its boundaries, county governing bodies convene a public transportation improvement conference.  The conference includes elected representatives from the county and every city or town within that county or counties that are to be part of a PTBA.


Before operations begin, a PTBA develops a comprehensive transit plan (plan) to determine service levels, specify funding requirements, and address effects on other transit systems in the PTBA.  The funding requirements identified in the plan become the basis for seeking voter approval of funding for the PTBA's services.  PTBAs have the authority to ask voters to approve a sales tax, business and occupation tax, or utility tax.

 

Each plan adopted by a PTBA is reviewed by the Washington State Department of Transportation to determine specified elements such as the completeness of service to be offered and whether the plan is eligible for matching state or federal funds.
Summary of Bill:

A PTBA authority is authorized to produce, use, sell, or distribute green electrolytic hydrogen and renewable hydrogen.  A PTBA authority is not authorized to sell green electrolytic hydrogen or renewable hydrogen to an end-use customer of a gas company.

 

Exercising the authority to produce, use, sell, or distribute green electrolytic hydrogen and renewable hydrogen does not subject the PTBA authority to the jurisdiction of the UTC.  However, the PTBA authority is subject to administration and enforcement by the UTC of state and federal requirements related to pipeline safety and fees payable to the UTC that are applicable to such administration and enforcement.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 15, 2023.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.