5998-S.E AMH CONN JOND 421

ESSB 5998 - H AMD TO H AMD (H-3714.1/26) 2110

NOT ADOPTED 02/28/2026

On page 383, line 9, increase the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 by $500,000,000

On page 383, line 29, correct the total.

On page 384, after line 24, insert the following:

"(7) (a) $500,000,000 of the general fund-state appropriation for fiscal year 2027 is provided solely for payments to vehicle owners as a credit in the form of a remittance to mitigate the financial impacts of motor vehicle fuel taxes. Of the amount provided in this subsection, $25,000,000 is provided solely for the department's administrative costs.

(b) Payments under this subsection consist of checks sent to registered eligible vehicle owners in the following amounts: $100 per vehicle owner that owns one or more internal combustion engine eligible vehicles, and $50 per vehicle owner that owns a hybrid eligible vehicle, but does not own an internal combustion engine eligible vehicle. Vehicle owners that solely own an electric vehicle are not eligible for payments under this subsection.

(c) For eligible vehicles registered to multiple persons, the department must issue the payment only in the name of the first person listed on the vehicle's registration unless the first person listed on the vehicle's registration has already received a payment under this subsection, in which case the department must issue the rebate to a second person listed on the vehicle registration who has not previously received a payment under this subsection;

(d) For persons to whom multiple vehicles are registered, the department must issue no more than one payment to any person.

(e) "Eligible vehicle" means trucks registered under RCW 46.17.355 and the following vehicle types registered under RCW 46.17.350:

(i) For hire vehicle, six seats or less;

(ii) Moped;

(iii) Motorcycle;

(iv) Passenger car;

(v) Sport utility vehicle; and

(vi) Tow truck.

(f) "Registered eligible vehicle owner" means a registered owner who has paid all of the fees and taxes due for an original or renewal vehicle registration for an eligible vehicle's current registration year."

On page 516, after line 17, insert the following:

"Climate Investment Account: For transfer to the

state general fund, $384,000,000 for fiscal year 2027…$384,000,000"

On page 535, after line 34, insert the following:
‎ "Sec. 924. RCW 70A.65.250 and 2025 c 424 s 973 are each amended to read as follows:

(1)(a) The climate investment account is created in the state treasury. Except as otherwise provided in chapter 316, Laws of 2021, all receipts from the auction of allowances authorized in this chapter must be deposited into the account. Moneys in the account may be spent only after appropriation.

(b) Projects or activities funded from the account must meet high labor standards, including family sustaining wages, providing benefits including health care and employer-contributed retirement plans, career development opportunities, and maximize access to economic benefits from such projects for local workers and diverse businesses. Each contracting entity's proposal must be reviewed for equity and opportunity improvement efforts, including: (i) Employer paid sick leave programs; (ii) pay practices in relation to living wage indicators such as the federal poverty level; (iii) efforts to evaluate pay equity based on gender identity, race, and other protected status under Washington law; (iv) facilitating career development opportunities, such as apprenticeship programs, internships, job-shadowing, and on-the-job training; and (v) employment assistance and employment barriers for justice affected individuals.

(2) Moneys in the account may be used only for projects and programs that achieve the purposes of the greenhouse gas emissions cap and invest program established under this chapter and for tribal capacity grants under RCW 70A.65.305. During the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be used for tribal capacity grant activities supporting climate resilience and adaptation, developing tribal clean energy projects, applying for state or federal grant funding, and other related work; and for providing payments to agricultural fuel purchasers. During the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, moneys in the account may also be used for tribal capacity grant activities supporting climate resilience and adaptation, developing tribal clean energy projects, applying for state or federal grant funding, and other related work. Moneys in the account as described in this subsection must first be appropriated for the administration of the requirements of this chapter, in an amount not to exceed five percent of the total receipt of funds from allowance auction proceeds under this chapter. Beginning July 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the state treasurer shall distribute funds in the account that exceed the amounts appropriated for the purposes of this subsection (2) as follows:

(a) Seventy-five percent of the moneys to the climate commitment account created in RCW 70A.65.260; and

(b) Twenty-five percent of the moneys to the natural climate solutions account created in RCW 70A.65.270.

(3) The allocations specified in subsection (2)(a) and (b) of this section must be reviewed by the legislature on a biennial basis based on the changing needs of the state in meeting its clean economy and greenhouse gas reduction goals in a timely, economically advantageous, and equitable manner.

(4) During the 2023-2025 and 2025-2027 fiscal biennia, the legislature may direct the state treasurer to make transfers of moneys in the climate investment account to the carbon emissions reduction account, the climate commitment account, the state general fund, and the natural climate solutions account."

Renumber the remaining sections consecutively and correct any internal references accordingly.

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