SB5766 – Funding a new account and creating a system to provide refunds for purchases of fuels exempt from the requirements of the Clean Fuels Act.
Prime Sponsor – Senator Mullet (D; 5th District; Central King County) (Co-Sponsor Nguyen – D)
Current status – Scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Ways and Means Committee at 12:30 PM on Monday April 10th.
Next step would be – Action by the committee.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.

Summary –
The bill would create a Climate Commitment Act Remittance account and direct $50 million of the 2024 cap and invest auction proceeds to it; in subsequent years it would be funded by appropriations. It would have the Department of Ecology create a system for to refund farm fuel users and freight haulers of agricultural products eight-tenths of one percent of their fuel costs, in order to reimburse them for the additional amounts they will pay at the time of purchasing fuels exempt from coverage under the cap and trade program. The system would include a portal allowing the electronic submission of applications for remittance and specified supporting documentation. The bill would prohibit businesses from including any separate charges or costs on billing statements indicating that those are being imposed or collected because of the cap and invest act.

It would also have Ecology convene a work group with representatives from specified agencies and stakeholders to review the rules and processes developed for these and the other emissions exempted from coverage under the act and to develop recommendations for changes to laws, rules, policies, and practices to ensure the exemptions’ full use and benefit. The group would make recommendations and report on whether exemption processes have been responsive to markets’ reactions to the program; on whether the processes can be improved or alternatives developed to reduce the burdens on those seeking an exemption; on the adequacy of current guidance and tools to report them; on whether changes in the program for agricultural fuels created by the bill are needed; and on any other topics the group determines are needed to review the full use and enjoyment of the exemptions.