SENATE BILL REPORT
ESHB 1736
As Passed Senate - Amended, April 10, 2023
Title: An act relating to requiring the department of licensing to collect vehicle odometer readings at the time of original vehicle registration and registration renewal.
Brief Description: Requiring the department of licensing to request motor vehicle odometer readings upon vehicle registration.
Sponsors: House Committee on Transportation (originally sponsored by Representatives Cortes, Fey, Senn, Ryu, Wylie, Slatter, Reed and Pollet).
Brief History: Passed House: 3/4/23, 53-43.
Committee Activity: Transportation: 3/13/23, 3/27/23 [DP, DNP, w/oRec].
Floor Activity: Passed Senate - Amended: 4/10/23, 28-20.
Brief Summary of Bill
(As Amended by Senate)
  • Requires the Department of Licensing (DOL) to request odometer information in the application for vehicle registration and vehicle registration renewal.
  • Exempts from public disclosure the personally identifying information of persons who voluntarily report the vehicle odometer mileage as part of the vehicle registration renewal.
  • Requires DOL to provide a report by May 1, 2025 on specified issues related to odometer reporting.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Liias, Chair; Lovick, Vice Chair; Shewmake, Vice Chair; Cleveland, Lovelett, Nobles, Randall, Valdez and Wilson, C..
Minority Report: Do not pass.
Signed by Senators Fortunato, Hawkins, MacEwen, Padden and Wilson, J..
Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.
Signed by Senators King, Ranking Member; Holy, Assistant Ranking Member.
Staff: Bryon Moore (786-7726)
Background:

Vehicle Registration.  Vehicles, unless specifically exempt, must be registered with the state to be operated on public roadways.  Vehicle registrations are issued by the Department of Licensing (DOL), county auditors or other agents, or subagents appointed by DOL, and are typically valid for one year from the date of purchase.  Registrations are indicated with dated license tabs placed in a designated area on the vehicle license plate.
 

The application for an initial registration must include certain information, including but not limited to:

  • a description of the vehicle, including its make, model, and vehicle identification number;
  • the name and address of the person registering the vehicle;
  • information about any security interest in the vehicle;
  • the licensed gross weight of the vehicle; and
  • the empty scale weight of the vehicle.

 

Annual renewal of the vehicle registration is also required, with no additional information required.
Summary of Amended Bill:

DOL must request odometer information in the application for vehicle registration and vehicle registration renewal.  The vehicle owner is not required to provide the mileage shown on the odometer.  Failure to provide mileage is not grounds to deny vehicle registration or issue any penalty.  The application for an original or renewal vehicle registration must state the vehicle owner is not required to provide the mileage shown on the odometer and that failure to provide the mileage shown on the odometer is not grounds to deny vehicle registration or issue any monetary or civil penalty or infraction.

 

The personally identifying information of persons who voluntarily report their vehicle odometer mileage as part of a vehicle registration is exempt from public disclosure.  The information may be disclosed in aggregate form only if the data does not contain any personally identifying information.  Personally identifying information may be released to law enforcement agencies only if the request is accompanied by a court order.

 

DOL must provide a report with the numbers of people who provided odometer information, numbers requested to report odometer information, and problems encountered in implementation.  The report is due to the transportation committees of the Legislature by May 1, 2025.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect on March 1, 2024.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO:  This new type of information will allow us to make better decisions as policy makers.  The odometer readings in aggregate will give us a better picture of travel trends and patterns statewide, and will allow for better transportation planning.  There are privacy protections built into the bill.  This is not a road usage bill, but it will allow a decision along those lines to be better informed. 

 

OTHER:  County auditors and subagents were initially not supportive of the proposal, the change to make the odometer reporting voluntary allow us to support the proposal.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Julio Cortes, Prime Sponsor.
OTHER: Thad Duvall, Washington State Association of County Auditors.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.