HB 1670 Washington House · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Increasing transparency regarding sewage-containing spills.

HB 1670 increases public transparency regarding sewage spills in Washington state, directly affecting the Department of Ecology, wastewater operators, and the public who rely on clean water. By July 1, 2026, it mandates the Department of Ecology to create a public-facing website. This website will display notices of reported sewage spills, including details such as the estimated volume, treatment level, location, and the date and time of the incident. The Department must update the site with final spill information and design it to be accessible for people with limited English proficiency.

Issues: ✓ Environment

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 28, 2025 Signed May 17, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Substitute Bill → Substitute Passed Legislature · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was finalized and passed by the legislature, adding a certification of enrollment to the text. The substantive policy changes include a reduction in the scope of definitions to apply only to Section 3, the removal of a requirement for real-time public notifications within four hours, and the deletion of a mandate for an annual report due by March 15, 2027.

Scope change

The definitions in the bill were narrowed to apply only to Section 3, and two separate sections regarding public notification timelines and annual reporting were removed entirely.

TECHNICAL

Added a formal 'Certification of Enrollment' page at the beginning of the document to certify that the bill passed both the House and Senate.

DEFINITION

Changed the scope of the definitions section so that terms now apply only to Section 3, rather than Sections 3 through 5.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for the department to implement a public notification system that sends alerts within four hours of a spill.

TIMELINE

Removed the mandate for the department to publish an annual report of sewage spills by March 15, 2027, and every year thereafter.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 16, 2025 · House Apr 22, 2025

How they voted

51–0

Passed

Total votes 51

Apr 16, 2025

D Democratic31

31 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican20

20 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

May 17, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

executive

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed final passage; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

House concurred in Senate amendments.

lower

Apr 16, 2025

Upper · Passed

Floor amendment(s) adopted.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

WM - Majority; do pass.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

upper

Mar 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ways & Means.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Committee

And refer to Ways & Means.

upper

Mar 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

ENET - Majority; do pass.

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

Feb 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules 2 Review.

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

APP - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Environment & Energy.

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.

lower

Feb 22, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

lower

Feb 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Appropriations.

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive action taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 8:00 AM.

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 PM.

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 PM.

lower

1 primary · 19 co-sponsors