Energy

signed · Washington · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2354: Concerning common interest communities.

HB 2354 modifies Washington law to limit restrictions on electric vehicle (EV) charging station installations in common interest communities (like HOAs and condominiums). It prohibits associations from unreasonably restricting personal, noncommercial EV charging within a unit or designated parking space, unless the station is on common elements or connected to shared power. Associations may require applications for approval but must process them within 60 days, cannot charge fees for installation (only reasonable processing fees), and must approve if the unit owner agrees to follow architectural standards. This directly affects unit owners seeking to install EV chargers and associations managing community rules. The bill focuses on removing barriers to EV adoption by standardizing approval processes.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyRemoves barriers to personal EV charging in HOAs/condos, enabling cleaner transportation infrastructure and aligning with renewable energy adoption goals.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

signed · Washington · House Mar 18, 2026

HB 2338: Authorizing community scaled weatherization projects.

HB 2338 authorizes community-scale weatherization projects that cover multiple homes in the same neighborhood facing shared environmental, social, or economic challenges. Sponsors like community groups, tribes, or utilities can apply for state funds to implement energy efficiency upgrades, structural repairs, and healthy housing improvements across entire neighborhoods - rather than just single homes. The department must prioritize proposals serving areas with environmental health disparities and low-income households (defined as 80% of median income), requiring data-driven community assessments. Projects must include energy audits and avoid charging households for weatherization services, while aligning with federal energy efficiency programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes state funding for community weatherization projects, directing government spending toward essential housing and environmental improvements in disadvantaged areas.90% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill authorizes state funding for neighborhood energy efficiency upgrades, directly advancing energy conservation goals through weatherization projects.92% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAuthorizes neighborhood weatherization for energy efficiency and healthy housing, explicitly prioritizing areas with environmental health disparities to reduce emissions and address inequities.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingFunds neighborhood-scale housing improvements including structural repairs and healthy housing upgrades, targeting areas with environmental disparities to enhance housing quality and accessibility.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 16, 2026

SB 5922: Authorizing transportation vehicle fund transfers.

SB 5922 allows Washington school districts to transfer funds from fully depreciated student transportation vehicles to other purposes, such as purchasing electric buses or installing charging stations, after receiving approval from the superintendent of public instruction. The bill modifies existing rules to permit this transfer when a district reduces its fleet due to declining enrollment or changing transportation needs. Funds in the dedicated "transportation vehicle fund" must still be used exclusively for school bus-related expenses, including electric vehicle conversions, major repairs, or charging infrastructure. It directly affects school districts managing student transportation fleets, ensuring funds remain tied to transportation purposes while enabling modernization efforts. The change streamlines how districts reallocate resources from older vehicles without compromising future transportation planning.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows school districts to redirect funds for electric buses/charging stations, improving school transportation infrastructure and access, a direct educational infrastructure support.85% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly permits funds for electric buses and charging stations, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure investment in transportation.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationAuthorizes fund transfers for electric buses/charging stations, promoting sustainable transportation infrastructure and modernizing school transit fleets.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

passed · Washington · Senate Mar 12, 2026

SB 5971: Establishing a green fertilizer incentive program to support the production and adoption of low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer in Washington state.

SB 5971 establishes a Washington state program to incentivize the production and use of low-carbon nitrogen fertilizer, defined as fertilizer with at least 80% lower life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil-fuel-based options. The program, administered by the Department of Agriculture, will provide rebates to farmers purchasing green fertilizer, payments to in-state manufacturers, and equipment grants for adoption, targeting Washington farmers, producers, distributors, and tribal agricultural entities. Funding will come from the Climate Commitment Act accounts, with implementation required by July 2028. The bill aims to reduce reliance on imported fertilizer, strengthen agricultural supply chains, and support clean energy manufacturing jobs.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyPromotes low-carbon fertilizer to reduce fossil fuel dependence in agriculture, lowering emissions by 80% vs conventional methods through rebates and grants.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill establishes incentive program for low-carbon fertilizer with 80% lower emissions, directly reducing greenhouse gases and advancing climate goals per summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

Track

signed · Washington · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 5431: Modifying tax and revenue laws in a manner that is not estimated to affect state or local tax collections.

Substitute Senate Bill 5431 modifies certain tax and revenue laws without impacting state or local tax collections. It updates legislative intent regarding the extension of preferential tax rates for manufacturers and wholesalers in the solar silicon industry, tying future extensions to employment and wage growth criteria. Additionally, the bill amends rules for sellers concerning their personal liability for uncollected sales tax. It clarifies conditions for sellers to be relieved from this liability, including removing the requirement for them to renew blanket exemption certificates for recurring customers.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides preferential tax rates for solar silicon manufacturers, tying extensions to employment/wage growth, directly supporting renewable energy production infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly ties tax incentives to employment and wage growth criteria, directly advancing labor and employment outcomes through policy design.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

signed · Washington · House May 17, 2025

HB 1975: Amending the climate commitment act by adjusting auction price containment mechanisms and ceiling prices, addressing the department of ecology's authority to amend rules to facilitate linkage with other jurisdictions, and providing for market dynamic analysis.

HB 1975 amends Washington's Climate Commitment Act, primarily affecting the Department of Ecology and businesses covered by the act. The bill requires the Department of Ecology to conduct ongoing analysis of compliance instrument markets, including prices and supply/demand trends. It adjusts the percentage of allowances placed into the "allowance price containment reserve" for 2027-2040 to between two and five percent. The bill also directs the department to make all future reserve allowances available in the second compliance period to help manage prices before linking with other carbon markets. Additionally, it clarifies the department's authority and requirement to synchronize Washington's compliance periods if linking with other jurisdictions.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyAmends Climate Commitment Act to maintain market stability for emissions pricing, supporting renewable energy transition through adjusted allowance mechanisms and ongoing market analysis.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentAmends Climate Commitment Act to maintain market stability for emissions reductions, strengthening regulatory mechanisms through price containment adjustments and market analysis requirements.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

signed · Washington · House May 15, 2025

HB 1253: 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.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly permits joint agreements for renewable energy sources, storage, and transmission infrastructure development, advancing renewable energy infrastructure expansion.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1018: Adding fusion energy to facilities that may obtain site certification for the purposes of chapter 80.50 RCW.

HB 1018 expands Washington state's energy facility site certification process to include fusion energy facilities. This means that proposed fusion energy projects will now be eligible for review and approval by the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC). The bill integrates fusion energy into the existing framework for siting major energy infrastructure, aiming to streamline the application process for such facilities. This policy change aligns with the state's goals to develop clean energy sources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyIntegrates fusion energy into siting process, advancing clean energy infrastructure development per state's clean energy goals.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentIntegrates fusion energy (clean, low-emission) into site certification process, advancing clean energy infrastructure per state environmental goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

signed · Washington · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 5445: Encouraging utility investment in local energy resilience.

SB 5445 encourages utility investment in local energy resilience throughout Washington State. The bill defines specific "distributed energy priorities," including solar energy on landfills or existing structures, agrivoltaic facilities, and small-scale wind energy. It provides greater incentives for electric utilities under the Energy Independence Act when they invest in these designated priority projects. The legislation also streamlines the development of certain small-scale solar energy generation projects by exempting them from some environmental review requirements. This aims to promote the development of decentralized energy sources, affecting utilities, clean energy developers, and local communities.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill provides incentives for solar/wind projects and defines renewable priorities under Energy Independence Act, directly advancing clean energy infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes renewable energy investment (solar, wind) through incentives, directly advancing clean energy adoption and environmental protection per bill's focus on distributed energy priorities.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy

signed · Washington · House May 13, 2025

HB 1514: Encouraging the deployment of low carbon thermal energy networks.

HB 1514, titled "Encouraging the deployment of low carbon thermal energy networks," amends state law to explicitly allow existing electrical and gas companies to own, operate, or manage thermal energy networks within Washington state. The bill expands the definitions of "electrical company" and "gas company" in RCW 80.04.010 to include this authority. This change aims to encourage the deployment of low-carbon heating and cooling infrastructure by enabling utility companies to develop and provide these services. This legislation became Chapter 263, 2025 Laws, and will be effective on July 27, 2025.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly enables utility companies to deploy low-carbon thermal networks, promoting clean energy infrastructure development per its title and summary.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly promotes low-carbon thermal energy networks, enabling utilities to develop clean heating/cooling infrastructure to reduce emissions and advance climate goals.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✓ Supports Energy