OLYMPIA, Wash. (BRAIN) — A Washington state Senate committee is holding a hearing Tuesday on a bill that would exempt e-bikes from the state's 6.5% sales tax.
The legislation is one of several e-bike subsidies being deliberated by state and federal lawmakers this year.
In California, a proposed law would create a rebate program using $10 million from the state's greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program. According to CalBike, the program could help state residents buy up to 10,000 more e-bikes. The California legislation does not specify the size of the e-bike purchase incentives. It does include language that would ensure the program would make outreach to low- and moderate-income households and communities that are traditionally underserved by public transit.
Under a pilot program, Colorado's Energy Department provided 13 e-bikes to low-income essential workers last year. Several municipalities and utility companies also offer programs to defray the cost of buying e-bikes.
The U.S. House is considering a bill that would give a refundable tax credit of up to $1,500 for e-bike purchases. The legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means
The Washington measure, HB 1330, has already passed the state House and is now being deliberated by the Senate Ways and Means Committee. A hearing was planned for 4 pm Tuesday. Washington Bikes was organizing a campaign to show support for the bill.
More information on some local, state and national e-bike subsidies on PeopleForBikes.
