Roughly a third of Washington’s residents live in apartments, condominiums or residences governed by homeowner associations.

In policy jargon, these are dubbed “common interest communities.”

A bill to require that common interest communities “reasonably” allow electric vehicle charging stations has begun working its way through the Washington House. The bill (HB 1793) by Rep. David Hackney (D) went through a public hearing Tuesday by the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee, tallying three supporting and one neutral testifiers.

Hackney’s bill would require common interest communities to allow EV charging stations as long as applicants meet “reasonable” rules set by the apartment complex, condominium association or homeowners association. Applicants can be required to pay the installation and maintenance costs, a staff memo on the bill said.

Washington’s government has begun what will be a decades-long push to encourage residents to buy and use electric vehicles. Roughly 45% of the state’s greenhouse gases come from motor vehicles. The state’s heavy reliance on hydroelectric generation translates into an especially low relative share of emissions from the power sector compared with other states.

“Everyone in Washington should have the right to charge their electric vehicles,” Hackney said at Tuesday’s hearing. “Not everyone has access to reliable EV charging,” said Annabel Drayton, policy associate with the Northwest Energy Coalition.

Justin Wilson, director of public policy at ChargePoint, an EV charging network company, supported the bill, saying 85% of charging takes place at homes or workplaces.

Michael Brandt of the Washington chapter of the Community Associations Institute was neutral. The institute wants to see language installed concerning charging stations in common areas, insurance and the metering on the charging stations.