AN ACT Relating to providing a retail sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of electric bicycles and related cycling equipment; adding a new section to chapter 82.08 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 82.12 RCW; creating new sections; and providing contingent expiration dates.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that encouraging citizens to own and use electric bicycles for commuting, can replace light duty passenger vehicles and thus reduce congestion, local air pollution and global carbon pollution while enhancing citizen's health and saving commuters money. The legislature recognizes that people with lower incomes have fewer financial resources for purchasing these types of vehicles which can help them commute to work and school with reduced financial burdens. It is therefore the intent of this legislation to increase electric bicycle sales by providing an exemption from the state sales tax on new qualifying vehicle purchases.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) This section is the tax preference performance statement for the tax preference contained in sections 3 and 4, chapter . . ., Laws of 2019 (sections 3 and 4 of this act). This performance statement is only intended to be used for subsequent evaluation of the tax preference. It is not intended to create a private right of action by any party or to be used to determine eligibility for preferential tax treatment.

(2) The legislature categorizes this tax preference as one intended to provide tax relief for certain individuals as indicated in RCW 82.32.808(2)(e).

(3) It is the legislature's specific public policy objective to encourage citizens to own and use electric bicycles by assisting in the purchasing of electric bicycles and related equipment.

(4) If the review finds that the number of electric bicycles purchased in Washington increases twenty-five percent as compared to the number of electric bicycles in calendar year 2018, then the legislature intends to extend the expiration date of this tax preference.

(5) In order to obtain the data necessary to perform the review in subsection (4) of this section, the joint legislative audit and review committee may refer to any data collected by the state.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, beginning August 1, 2019, the tax levied by RCW 82.08.020 does not apply to the sale of new electric bicycles and up to two hundred dollars in related cycling equipment. The exemption is available on a first-come basis until the exemption expires.

(2) The department must post a quarterly balance report on its web site that includes an estimated expiration date for this section. If the remaining balance of exemptions available under this section is less than ten thousand dollars, the department must publish a notification on its web site.

(b) "Related cycling equipment" means cycling accessories commonly associated with bicycle ownership, including but not limited to helmets, bicycle locks, fenders, lights, and a bicycle service or repair plan, purchased as part of the same transaction as an electric bicycle.

(ii) The date that the department determines that five hundred thousand dollars in total retail sales tax exemptions have been granted under this section.

(b) The department must provide written notice of the expiration date of this section to affected parties, the chief clerk of the house of representatives, the secretary of the senate, the office of the coder reviser, and others as deemed appropriate by the department.

(ii) The date that the department determines that five hundred thousand dollars in total retail sales tax exemptions have been granted under section 3 of this act.