OLYMPIA — The House yesterday passed an amended version of a bill that would adopt most of California's vehicle-emission standards, the toughest in the world. The bill now goes to the governor.

The House approved the bill 53-42 last month, but the Senate attached amendments to ease the impact on Washington car dealers. One amendment, for example, would ban the purchase of cars from Idaho or elsewhere that don't meet tough new standards. Another would erase the California requirement that 10 percent of new vehicles meet a zero-emissions standard.

The House concurred with the Senate's changes on a 66-31 vote but only after debate from some Republicans who implied that Democrats were backtracking.

House Transportation Chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, and other backers originally said Washington had two options: to adopt federal standards or the tougher standards pioneered by California. The Senate essentially picked a third path, an amended version of the California code.

The measure would take effect beginning with the 2009 model year and would hinge on the neighboring state of Oregon also adopting the new standards.

The onus would be on auto manufacturers who produce cars, SUVs and light trucks, and not on motorists to bring their current vehicles up to snuff.

All new vehicles would need to comply with the standards by 2016.