With the 2026 legislative session just four weeks away, Sen. Mark Schoesler has filed legislation that aims to make lubricants for vehicles and other machinery more affordable.

Senate Bill 5856 would exempt emissions associated with lubricants from coverage under the state’s “cap-and-tax” policy, formally known as the Climate Commitment Act enacted by legislative Democrats in 2021.

Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said his bill would have Washington join California and Oregon in exempting lubricants, including motor oil, hydraulic fluid, transmission fluid and grease, from surcharges created by each state’s carbon-pricing system.

“California and Oregon don’t impose a carbon-pricing surcharge on vehicle and machinery lubricants but Washington does,” said Schoesler, a member of the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. “Removing this surcharge wouldn’t only help our state’s agricultural industry, which can’t pass along these extra costs – it also would improve affordability for Washington drivers whether they have conventional, hybrid or electric vehicles. Changing the oil and other fluids is part of routine maintenance, and the hidden carbon taxes add up.”

Schoesler said SB 5856 would not harm the state’s general fund, considering how much the state is collecting by auctioning carbon credits.

The 2026 legislative session begins Jan. 12 and is scheduled to last 60 days.

Schoesler represents the 9th Legislative District, which covers all or part of Adams, Asotin, Columbia, Garfield, Lincoln, Spokane and Whitman counties.