HB 1041
In CommitteeHouse
Replacement tires
Improving choices of replacement tires for consumers.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill blocks state and local governments in Washington from banning or restricting replacement tires based on energy efficiency, rolling resistance, or other non-safety criteria—so long as the tires meet federal safety standards. It ensures consumers can freely choose any federally compliant tires, including those with higher tread or durability for safety in wet or icy conditions.
- Prohibits state and local governments from banning or restricting the sale, use, or manufacture of tires that meet federal motor vehicle safety standards.
- Bars agencies from regulating tires based on energy efficiency or rolling resistance ratings, even if California’s rules include such restrictions.
- Reinforces that Washington’s adoption of California’s vehicle emission standards (including the zero-emission vehicle program) does not extend to tire regulations.
- Adds explicit prohibitions in three existing environmental and health chapters (70A.05, 70A.30, and 70A.45) preventing tire-related restrictions as part of climate or air quality strategies.
- Creates a new chapter in Title 19 RCW to codify the state’s policy protecting consumer tire choice.
Who is affected
- Washington drivers and vehicle owners — Consumers gain the legal right to buy and use any replacement tires that meet federal safety standards, including those with higher tread or durability, without state or local bans based on energy efficiency or rolling resistance.
- Tire industry businesses — Tire manufacturers and retailers can legally sell and distribute all federally compliant tires in Washington without local restrictions.
- State and local government agencies (e.g., Department of Ecology, city councils) — State and local agencies lose the authority to create rules banning or limiting tires based on environmental criteria like rolling resistance or energy efficiency.
- Climate and environmental policy staff — Environmental and climate policy planners must adjust strategies to reduce greenhouse gases without using tire-related regulations as a tool.
Pro/Con Analysis
Potential Benefits (3)
Ensures consumers can legally purchase and use replacement tires with higher tread depth and durability—particularly valuable for safety in Washington’s wet, icy, or mountainous terrain—without being restricted by local or state rules based on non-safety criteria. This increases consumer access to tires that may reduce hydroplaning or improve traction on snow.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 1; Sec. 2(1); Sec. 6 (new Chapter 19.14 RCW)Tire retailers and small distributors gain the ability to stock and sell a broader range of federally compliant tires—including specialty off-road, heavy-duty, or winter tires—without fear of local bans, potentially increasing competition and choice for consumers in rural or underserved areas.
Business & EmploymentLean peopleRef: Sec. 1; Sec. 2(1); Sec. 6Codifies a consumer right to choose replacement tires based on personal needs (e.g., durability, tread life, snow performance) rather than regulatory preferences, reinforcing individual autonomy in vehicle maintenance decisions—though this right is already de facto available in most of the state.
Rights & LibertiesLean peopleRef: Sec. 1; Sec. 2(1); Sec. 6
Potential Concerns (3)
Prohibiting state and local governments from regulating tires based on rolling resistance or energy efficiency may reduce incentives for developing and deploying lower-emission, lower-rolling-resistance tires—technologies that can reduce fuel consumption and associated crash risks from tire failure (e.g., blowouts at high speed). While federal standards ensure minimum safety, they do not require rolling resistance testing, and some high-durability, high-tread tires may have higher rolling resistance, potentially increasing fuel use and long-term crash risk in certain conditions.
Public SafetyRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3; Sec. 4(3); Sec. 5By explicitly blocking state and local agencies from using tire-related metrics in climate or air quality strategies, the bill eliminates a potential lever for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants—especially in regions where tire wear contributes significantly to particulate matter (PM2.5) and microplastic pollution. Tire wear accounts for ~10% of microplastic pollution in urban waterways, and low-rolling-resistance tires can reduce CO₂ emissions by 2–5% per vehicle.
EnvironmentRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3; Sec. 4(3); Sec. 5State and local agencies lose regulatory flexibility to tailor tire standards to local environmental conditions (e.g., mountainous regions with high tire wear, coastal areas vulnerable to microplastic runoff), limiting their ability to meet broader environmental goals without federal authorization.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 2(2); Sec. 3; Sec. 4(3); Sec. 5
Who Is Most Affected
Drivers—especially those in rural, mountainous, or high-precipitation areas—gain legal access to higher-tread, more durable tires that improve safety in local conditions. However, they may face long-term trade-offs if reduced tire diversity leads to higher fuel costs or increased particulate pollution.
Tire retailers and small manufacturers benefit from expanded market access and reduced regulatory barriers, especially for niche or specialty tires. Large national chains gain less, as they already sell federally compliant tires statewide, but may benefit from reduced compliance complexity.
State and local agencies (e.g., Ecology, city planning departments) lose regulatory tools to address tire-related emissions and microplastic pollution, constraining their ability to meet climate action goals without federal support or new legislation.
Environmental policy staff must reallocate resources away from tire-related mitigation strategies, potentially weakening Washington’s ability to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets—though other vehicle and fuel policies remain available.
Low-income and rural drivers may benefit most from expanded tire choice (e.g., affordable all-season or winter tires), but could be harmed indirectly if reduced regulatory pressure leads to higher ambient PM2.5 levels in urban areas, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.