SB 6119
In CommitteeSenate
Tires/6PPD and substitutes
Concerning 6PPD and regrettable 6PPD substitutes in tires.
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 bans tires containing 6PPD (a chemical linked to deadly salmon die-offs) and its regrettable substitutes starting in 2035, while imposing new fees on tires to fund monitoring, cleanup, and research. It creates a 6PPD mitigation fee starting in 2027, with rates based on tire size, and establishes a dedicated account to support state efforts to protect aquatic life.
- Starting January 1, 2035, tires containing intentionally added 6PPD or regrettable 6PPD substitutes (as defined by rule) may not be sold or distributed in Washington.
- A $5 per tire fee on all new replacement tires remains in place; $600,000 of its annual revenue goes to cleanup of illegal tire piles, and the rest goes to road maintenance.
- A new 6PPD mitigation fee starts January 1, 2027: $3 per tire for light-duty tires (≤2,500 lb load rating), $6 per tire for heavier tires; fees increase 10% yearly.
- The Department of Ecology must identify regrettable 6PPD substitutes by rule, using criteria from Washington’s safer alternatives law; the Department of Revenue may certify tires as 6PPD-free to exempt them from the mitigation fee.
- Civil penalties up to $5,000 (first offense) or $10,000 (repeat) may be imposed for violations, with penalties deposited into the Model Toxics Control Operating Account.
- Fees collected under the 6PPD mitigation fee go into a new 6PPD Mitigation Account, used for administration, monitoring of 6PPD-quinone in stormwater, salmonid mortality surveys, and illegal tire cleanup near fish-bearing streams.
Who is affected
- Tire manufacturers and distributors — Tire manufacturers and distributors will face new requirements to avoid using 6PPD and regrettable substitutes, and must comply with certification, fee payment, and reporting rules.
- Retail tire sellers — Retailers must collect and remit fees on tire sales, maintain certification records for 6PPD-free tires, and may retain a small per-tire amount to cover tire management costs.
- State agencies (Ecology and Revenue Departments) — State agencies—especially the Department of Ecology and Department of Revenue—will gain new authority to regulate 6PPD, collect fees, certify tires, and fund monitoring and cleanup efforts.
- Tribal nations and fishing communities — Tribal nations and commercial/recreational fishing communities are impacted through protections for salmon and other aquatic species, which are culturally, economically, and ecologically vital.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The bill establishes a dedicated funding stream for monitoring 6PPD-quinone in stormwater and salmonid mortality, directly supporting ecosystem recovery and protecting endangered salmon populations — a critical ecological and cultural priority for Washington. This is the first state-level policy specifically targeting 6PPD-quinone as a toxicant, and the funding mechanism ensures sustained, dedicated resources.
EnvironmentPeopleRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(c)-(e)Funding for illegal tire cleanup near fish-bearing streams helps reduce public health hazards (e.g., mosquito breeding, fire risk, flooding) in communities adjacent to waterways — many of which are low-income or tribal communities. This addresses a visible, high-impact environmental justice issue that has persisted for years.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(f)The bill funds Department of Ecology work on safer alternatives to 6PPD, which could catalyze innovation in green chemistry and create high-skilled jobs in R&D, testing, and regulatory compliance — particularly in western Washington tech and science sectors. While not guaranteed, this aligns with Washington’s leadership in sustainability and could attract green investment.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(b)The bill authorizes use of mitigation account funds for administrative costs of the Department of Revenue and Ecology, which reduces the need for local governments to fund enforcement or compliance verification — though this is indirect and limited in scope.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(a)By funding illegal tire cleanup near fish-bearing streams, the bill helps protect communities living in flood-prone or low-lying areas (often marginalized or tribal communities) from health hazards associated with tire piles — including water contamination, pests, and fire risk. This is a targeted environmental justice intervention.
HousingPeopleRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(f)
Potential Concerns (5)
Retail tire sellers are prohibited from passing the 6PPD mitigation fee to consumers, which means they absorb the cost burden without compensation — potentially squeezing margins for small shops that already operate on thin margins. This restriction applies only to the new mitigation fee, not the existing $5 tire fee, creating an uneven compliance burden.
Business & EmploymentPeopleRef: Section 4, RCW 70A.205.405(4)(c)Funds from the 6PPD mitigation account may be used for illegal tire cleanup near fish-bearing streams, but this does not directly address tire dumping in residential areas or housing-adjacent zones where tire piles pose health and safety hazards (e.g., flooding, pest breeding). Low-income communities near waterways may still face disproportionate exposure to pollution and illegal dumping if cleanup is narrowly focused on salmonid habitats.
HousingRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(f)Monitoring of 6PPD-quinone in stormwater and salmonid mortality surveys is scientifically valuable but does not directly improve public safety for everyday Washingtonians in daily life — e.g., it won’t reduce traffic accidents, crime, or immediate environmental hazards like chemical spills or air pollution. The benefit is ecological and long-term, not proximate or tangible to most residents.
Public SafetyRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(c)-(d)The bill does not provide direct funding or technical assistance to local governments for enforcement of the tire restrictions or fee collection, despite requiring retailers (including local businesses) to comply with certification, reporting, and fee-remittance rules. Local governments may face added administrative burden without additional resources.
Local GovernmentRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(a)While illegal tire cleanup near fish-bearing streams is funded, the bill does not mandate or fund broader stormwater infrastructure upgrades or tire waste recycling facilities — meaning tire-derived pollution may persist in non-stream urban waterways, and tire stockpiles may still accumulate in non-fish-bearing areas.
EnvironmentRef: Section 7, Sec. 8(2)(f)
Who Is Most Affected
Tire manufacturers and distributors must redesign products to avoid 6PPD and regrettable substitutes by 2035, invest in certification, and absorb compliance costs. While large global tire makers can absorb these costs, smaller domestic suppliers may face competitive pressure or exit the market. The fee structure does not exempt them, and the 2035 deadline is tight for R&D and retooling.
Retail tire sellers must comply with fee collection and certification recordkeeping but cannot pass the mitigation fee to consumers — squeezing margins, especially for small shops. However, they retain 25 cents per tire on the existing $5 fee to offset compliance costs, and may benefit from reduced liability if tires are certified 6PPD-free.
Tribal nations and fishing communities benefit significantly: the bill directly addresses the cause of coho salmon die-offs, supports treaty-reserved fishing rights, and funds cleanup near fish-bearing streams — many of which border tribal trust lands. This is a major win for cultural preservation and economic resilience in tribal communities.
State agencies (Ecology and Revenue) gain new authority and dedicated funding to implement a high-priority environmental protection program. This strengthens their capacity to address toxics and aquatic health, but also increases regulatory burden and requires new staffing and oversight systems.
Consumers face higher tire prices indirectly (due to absorbed fees by sellers) and may see reduced tire choices if manufacturers exit the market. However, they benefit from cleaner water, healthier salmon runs, and reduced public health hazards from illegal tire dumps — especially in vulnerable communities.