Expanding the ability of consumer-owned utilities to enter into joint use agreements.
House Bill 1253 expands the authority of consumer-owned electric utilities in Washington, including first-class cities and public utility districts. It allows these utilities to enter into a wider range of joint agreements for the development, use, and ownership of various electric infrastructure. This includes facilities such as power plants, renewable energy sources, energy storage, and transmission lines. The bill explicitly permits modern collaboration structures like joint venture agreements and limited liability company agreements, and enables partnerships with a broader array of public and private entities.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 10, 2025
Signed May 15, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Substitute Bill
→
Substitute Passed Legislature
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was certified as passed by the legislature and includes a key substantive change requiring entities to own 'at least' the percentage of a common facility equal to their financial contribution, rather than exactly that percentage. This modification provides greater flexibility for cities, utility districts, and joint operating agencies to negotiate agreements where their ownership stake exceeds their direct financial input, potentially allowing for more complex partnership structures.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on public power entities in Washington State, but the eligibility criteria for ownership stakes in joint projects have been broadened.
REQUIREMENT
Changed ownership requirements from 'equal to' the percentage of money or property supplied to 'at least equal to' that percentage, allowing entities to own a larger share of a project than their direct financial contribution.
ENFORCEMENT
Added a formal 'Certificate of Enrollment' at the beginning of the document to certify that the bill has passed both the House and Senate and is ready for the Governor's signature.
TECHNICAL
Minor formatting adjustments were made to section numbering and text cleanup throughout the document.
Floor votes · Senate Apr 4, 2025 · House Apr 19, 2025
How they voted
51–0
Passed
Total votes 51
Apr 4, 2025
D
Democratic31
100% Yea
R
Republican20
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
28
Key actions
12
Committee
7
May 15, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
executive
Apr 23, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Apr 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed final passage; yeas, 94; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 3.
lower
Apr 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendments.
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments.
upper
Apr 4, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (51-0)
senate
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
ENET - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
upper
Mar 21, 2025
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM.
upper
Mar 14, 2025
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM.
upper
Jan 31, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
lower
Jan 28, 2025
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 PM.
lower
Jan 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 8:00 AM.
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
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