Electric Vehicle Charging And Parking Requirements

Section 2 of the bill requires the state electrical board (board) to adopt rules requiring compliance, starting January March 1, 2024, with the provisions of the model electric ready and solar ready code that require multifamily buildings to be electric vehicle (EV) capable and EV ready and to have EV supply equipment installed comply with the EV power transfer infrastructure requirements. The board is precluded from adopting rules that prohibit the installation or use of EV charging stations unless the rules address a bona fide safety concern.

Current law prohibits a landlord from unreasonably prohibiting the installation of EV charging equipment in the leased premises. This prohibition applies only to residential rental property. Section 3 broadens this prohibition to apply to an assigned or a deeded parking space for the leased premises, to parking spaces accessible to both the tenant and other tenants, and to commercial rental property. Section 3 also requires a landlord to allow an EV or a plug-in hybrid vehicle to park on the premises.

Current law prohibits, when a person owns a unit in a common interest community, such as a condominium, the association that manages the community (association) from unreasonably prohibiting the installation of EV charging equipment in the unit. Section 4 broadens this prohibition to apply to assigned or deeded parking spaces for the unit or parking spaces accessible to both the unit owner and other unit owners. Section 4 also requires a common interest community to allow an EV or a plug-in hybrid vehicle to park at the premises.

Current law grants a local government the ability to regulate parking, and this regulation includes requiring that buildings meet minimum parking standards. Sections 5, 6, and 7 require the local government, when counting minimum parking spaces, to count:

• Any parking space that is served by an EV charging station as at least one standard automobile parking space; and
• Any van-accessible parking space that is wheelchair accessible and served by an EV charging station as at least 2 standard automobile parking spaces.

Sections 8 and 9 prohibit local governments from adopting an ordinance or a resolution that prohibits the installation or use of EV charging stations or restricts parking based on a vehicle being a plug-in hybrid vehicle or plug-in electric vehicle unless the ordinance or resolution addresses a bona fide safety concern.Sections 10 and 11 give local governments that have electrical and plumbing codes by reference to state codes the option to not adopt certain energy efficiency codes when their electrical and plumbing codes are automatically updated because the state has updated these codes.Section 10 12 exempts, until 2030, EV charging systems from the levy and collection of property tax.

Federal law prohibits the construction of automotive service stations or other commercial establishments for serving motor vehicle users along interstate highway rights-of-way, including rest areas. Due to this prohibition, the state cannot construct EV charging systems along interstate highway rights-of-way, including rest areas, in the state. Section 11 13 specifies that, when the federal law no longer prohibits the construction of EV charging systems along interstate highway rights-of-way, the department of transportation may collaborate with public or private entities to develop projects for the construction of EV charging systems along interstate highway rights-of-way. In addition, the department of transportation may develop these types of projects along state highways.

(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)