SB 5971 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

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.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 5, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Substitute Bill · 4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was renumbered from S-3666.1 to S-4179.2 and updated to reflect its status as a substitute bill with new reading dates. The text was streamlined by removing specific sponsorship lists and the requirement for a July 2028 rulemaking deadline, replacing it with a mandate for the department to establish implementation criteria by that date instead. A new constraint was added limiting consultation with the Department of Commerce to 40 hours of staff time per year.
Scope change
The bill's scope shifted from requiring the creation of specific rules to requiring the establishment of implementation criteria, offering the department more flexibility in how the program is structured while maintaining the same July 2028 deadline.
TECHNICAL

Bill number changed from S-3666.1 to S-4179.2 and title updated to 'Substitute Senate Bill 5971'.

Sponsorship information was condensed to list the committee and original sponsors, and the reading date was updated to February 3, 2026.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the specific instruction to implement the program 'by rule' and replaced it with a requirement to 'establish criteria' by July 1, 2028.

Added a specific limit requiring that consultation with the Department of Commerce under the program administration cannot exceed 40 hours of staff time per year.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026

How they voted

500
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Feb 13, 2026
D Democratic31
31 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
19 Yea 1
95% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
9
Committee
11
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Referred to Appropriations.
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
AGNR - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive action taken in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 9:00 AM.
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM.
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (50-0-1)
senate
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Agriculture & Natural Resources.
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 3, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.
upper
1 primary · 3 co-sponsors

Sponsors