SB 6079 Washington Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Creating a wildfire mitigation grant program.

SB 6079 creates the "Strengthen Washington Homes" program, a grant initiative to help homeowners, contractors, nonprofits, and tribes reduce wildfire risks at their properties. The program provides financial grants for retrofitting or rebuilding homes to meet specific wildfire preparedness standards set by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. Grants are contingent on meeting these standards and obtaining required permits, and the bill also prohibits insurers from denying coverage based on wildfire risk for properties that achieve these designations. Funding will come from state appropriations and grants, with pilot projects planned to test equitable implementation before full rollout.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Mar 12, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Bill Substitute Bill · 5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was amended to expand eligibility to include tribes and strengthen equity requirements for the wildfire mitigation grant program. The changes also add specific mandates for the program's pilot projects to prioritize underserved populations and require a detailed report on how equity and access were addressed.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include 'tribes' as eligible recipients of grants alongside property owners, contractors, and nonprofits.
ELIGIBILITY

Added 'tribes' to the list of eligible entities that can receive financial grants for wildfire risk mitigation.

REQUIREMENT

Updated grant conditions to require compliance with federal, state, local, and tribal building codes, expanding the previous requirement to only local codes.

Added new requirements for pilot projects to prioritize high-hazard areas, low-income areas, and underserved populations, and to consider financial accessibility and equity in funding mechanisms.

Mandated that the commissioner engage nonprofit, local, state, tribal, and federal entities with local knowledge to help determine pilot project locations.

Required the submission of a detailed report by November 1, 2029, covering how locations were selected, interactions with local communities, types of mitigation provided, and how equity was considered.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 13, 2026

How they voted

3911
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 51
Feb 13, 2026
D Democratic31
31 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican20
8 Yea 11 Nay 1
55% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
10
Committee
11
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Public hearing in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM.
lower
Feb 13, 2026
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (39-11-1)
senate
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
WM - Majority; do pass 1st substitute bill proposed by Business, Trade & Economic Development.
upper
Feb 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:30 AM.
upper
Feb 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Minority; without recommendation.
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Committee
And refer to Ways & Means.
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development at 8:00 AM.
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Upper · Passed
Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Business, Trade & Economic Development at 8:00 AM.
upper
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors

Sponsors