Environment

signed · Washington · Senate Mar 17, 2026

SB 6151: Concerning dedicated accounts for fees collected for the implementation of environmental programs.

SB 6151 creates specific dedicated accounts in the state treasury to manage fees collected for environmental programs. It directs all fees from laboratory accreditation (under RCW 43.21A.230) into a new "laboratory accreditation account," while amending existing accounts for air pollution control and air operating permits. Funds in these accounts can only be spent after legislative appropriation and must directly support the environmental programs they fund - such as air quality initiatives or laboratory accreditation activities - without being diverted to other uses. This bill affects the Department of Ecology and local authorities collecting these fees, ensuring revenue stays tied to the specific environmental programs generating it.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentCreates dedicated accounts for environmental program fees, ensuring funds directly support air quality initiatives and pollution control without diversion.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2515: Addressing emerging large energy use facilities.

HB 2515 requires data centers with 20+ megawatt demand - defined as "emerging large energy use facilities" - to transition to 100% clean energy over time and publicly disclose their electricity, water, and refrigerant usage. The bill aims to protect energy affordability, grid reliability, and environmental health by mandating transparency and clean energy standards for these rapidly growing facilities. It amends existing energy laws to establish new definitions and oversight for data centers, which are projected to become the largest source of electricity demand growth in the Pacific Northwest. The policy applies directly to data center operators, with requirements phased in to align with industry innovation while safeguarding public interests.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates 100% clean energy transition for large data centers, requires public disclosure of energy/water usage, and aims to protect environmental health and grid reliability through clean energy standards.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates 100% clean energy transition for data centers and requires public disclosure of environmental usage to protect environmental health as stated in bill summary.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HB 2619: Reducing regulatory stress in agriculture.

HB 2619 establishes a joint legislative task force to review agricultural regulations causing stress for farmers and workers. The task force, composed of legislative members and agency directors (including departments of agriculture, ecology, and labor), will study specific areas like land use, water stewardship, grazing rights, and pesticide rules. It must submit recommendations by November 1, 2028, and the task force expires June 30, 2029. This bill creates a review process but does not change existing regulations.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill creates task force to review agricultural regulations causing stress, implying potential deregulation of environmental rules like water stewardship and pesticide controls without strengthening protections.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

passed · Washington · House Mar 12, 2026

HJM 4004: Requesting Congress to modify the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Washington State's HJM 4004 is a joint memorial requesting Congress to amend the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It asks for expanded authority allowing state and tribal managers to use adaptive management tools - including lethal removal of sea lions - to protect endangered salmon stocks across all Washington marine waters and Puget Sound, beyond the current limited Columbia River authorization. The memorial cites a 2022 study showing pinniped populations contribute to salmon declines and a 2018 law that successfully reduced sea lion predation on the Columbia River. This request seeks to extend similar flexibility statewide for salmon recovery efforts. (Procedural memorial; not a bill with binding effect.)

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill explicitly requests to amend MMPA to allow lethal removal of sea lions, weakening current protections for marine mammals despite salmon conservation goals.92% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2367: Eliminating preferential treatment related to a coal-fired electric generating plant.

HB 2367 eliminates special reporting exemptions for coal-fired power plants in Washington State's emissions tracking system. It amends reporting thresholds to remove preferential treatment, requiring coal plants to follow the same emissions reporting rules as other large emitters (like natural gas suppliers or railroads) once they exceed 25,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually. The bill repeals previous sections (RCW 82.08.811 and 82.12.811) that provided this preferential treatment, directly affecting coal-fired electricity generators by ending their distinct reporting pathway. This change ensures coal plants are subject to the same compliance obligations as other covered entities under the state's emissions program.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEliminates exemptions for coal plants, requiring emissions reporting like other large emitters, reducing fossil fuel advantages and aligning with cleaner energy standards.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves preferential emissions reporting exemptions for coal plants, requiring full tracking like other large emitters, strengthening environmental oversight and transparency.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

signed · Washington · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2554: Recognizing judicially affirmed and treaty-reserved fishing rights and promoting state-tribal cooperative agreements in the management of salmon, trout, and steelhead resources.

HB 2554 repeals five sections of Washington State law (RCW 77.110.010-040 and 900) that conflicted with judicially confirmed tribal fishing rights and existing state-tribal cooperative agreements. The bill directly affects tribal nations and state fisheries management by removing outdated legal barriers. It eliminates provisions that declared state policy on fish management, denied rights based on cultural heritage, and required congressional transmittal, aligning state law with treaty obligations and current cooperative agreements for salmon, trout, and steelhead resources.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill removes legal barriers to tribal-state cooperative management of salmon/trout resources, directly conserving natural fish populations through aligned fisheries management.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment

passed both · Washington · House Mar 9, 2026

HB 2675: Concerning accounts.

HB 2675 repeals seven existing state accounts (including the Climate Resiliency Account and COVID-19 Unemployment Account) and creates a new "abandoned recreational vehicle disposal account" in the state treasury. This account funds reimbursements for registered tow truck operators and licensed dismantlers who remove abandoned recreational vehicles when owners cannot be located, covering up to 100% of reasonable costs per vehicle (capped at $10,000). Funds may also cover department administrative expenses (up to 15% of spending) and must be used solely for this purpose after appropriation. The bill directly affects tow operators, dismantlers, and state agencies managing vehicle removal programs, streamlining fund management by consolidating related accounts into a single dedicated fund.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRepeals Climate Resiliency Account (defunding climate resilience efforts); new account unrelated to environment. No environmental protections advanced.90% confidence ✗ Labor & EmploymentOpposes Labor & EmploymentRepeals COVID-19 Unemployment Account, defunding unemployment benefits which directly weakens labor/employment support.90% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

passed · Washington · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 1819: Increasing transmission capacity.

HB 1819 aims to increase electric transmission capacity in Washington State. It exempts certain utility actions, such as upgrading existing powerlines and deploying grid-enhancing technologies within existing rights-of-way, from some environmental review requirements. Before these projects commence, utilities must notify the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and tribal nations to protect archaeological and cultural resources. The bill also updates requirements for electric utilities' integrated resource plans, mandating that they assess opportunities to optimize existing transmission capacity through improved operating practices and grid modernization.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyExempts utility upgrades from environmental reviews, streamlining transmission projects to support renewable energy integration and grid modernization.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts utility projects from environmental reviews, weakening regulatory safeguards for ecosystems and resources despite cultural resource notifications.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 2285: Concerning the use of carbon capture and utilization, mineralization, or sequestration technologies under the Washington clean energy transformation act.

HB 2285 amends Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act to allow electric utilities to count electricity from natural gas power plants using carbon capture, utilization, mineralization, or sequestration technology toward the state’s 2030 and 2045 clean energy targets. This directly affects utilities required to meet the 100% clean electricity standard by 2045 under the Act. The bill clarifies that carbon capture technologies can be used to offset emissions from natural gas generation, making such projects eligible for compliance. It responds to legislative findings about energy reliability needs during extreme weather and Washington’s potential for carbon storage. The policy change does not alter existing emissions limits but expands eligible resources for meeting clean energy goals.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyAllows natural gas with carbon capture to count toward clean energy targets, weakening the 2045 standard by permitting fossil fuel use to meet requirements.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentAllows natural gas with carbon capture to count toward clean energy targets, weakening the 100% clean electricity standard under the Clean Energy Transformation Act.85% confidence | Rep's Stance ✓ Voted Yes ✗ Opposes Environment

Track

signed · Washington · House May 19, 2025

HB 1837: Establishing intercity passenger rail improvement priorities.

HB 1837 establishes specific improvement priorities for the Amtrak Cascades intercity passenger rail service, aiming to enhance the state's transportation system. It mandates the Washington State Department of Transportation to work towards target goals by 2035, including increasing on-time performance to 88% and boosting daily round trips between Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver, British Columbia. The department must also improve multimodal connections at stations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the bill requires the department to report annually on its progress and directs the Joint Transportation Committee to conduct an independent review of the Amtrak Cascades service development plan.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly mandates GHG emissions reduction through rail service improvements, aligning with environmental protection goals.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationMandates improved Amtrak Cascades rail service goals, including increased daily trips, 88% on-time performance, and reduced emissions, directly advancing public transit infrastructure.95% confidence | Rep's Stance ✗ Voted No ✗ Opposes Environment