Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 14, 2026

HB 1311: Concerning the implementation of the recommendations of the department of fish and wildlife regarding the gray wolf.

HB 1311 changes the regulatory status of gray wolves in Washington from "endangered" to "sensitive" under state wildlife law. This directly affects gray wolves by prohibiting hunting and harassment while prioritizing their conservation, as the "sensitive" classification requires cooperative management and protection under existing law. The bill amends state code to implement the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s 2024 recommendation, maintaining current protections without allowing hunting. The status must be reviewed within two years, and wolves cannot revert to "endangered" unless population declines below current levels. This is a procedural change to wildlife classification, not a new hunting regulation.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMaintains gray wolf protections under 'sensitive' status, prohibiting hunting and prioritizing conservation per DFW recommendation, aligning with environmental conservation goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Wildlife

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 20, 2026

HB 1210: Concerning targeted urban area tax preferences.

HB 1210 modifies existing targeted urban area tax preferences, primarily to include "clean energy transformation businesses." The bill defines these businesses as those involved in nuclear operations, green or renewable hydrogen production equipment, or high-voltage energy storage equipment. It allows cities to grant these specific businesses up to two additional 24-month extensions to complete projects under the tax preferences, beyond the standard extension period. Additionally, the bill updates the requirements for receiving an exemption, emphasizing verification of community workforce agreements, post-construction family living wage jobs, and compliance with prevailing wage and apprentice standards during construction.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesExpands tax incentives for clean energy businesses via extended tax preferences, directly modifying tax policy to promote targeted economic development.95% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly includes clean energy businesses (nuclear, hydrogen, storage) in tax incentives and allows project extensions, directly promoting renewable energy infrastructure investment.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill incentivizes clean energy businesses (nuclear, green hydrogen, energy storage) via tax extensions, directly promoting environmental protection through clean energy development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Tax Incentives Energy Storage Renewable Energy Transmission

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5640: Requiring proof of adequate water supply before permitting new energy facilities.

SB 5640 requires new energy facilities in Washington to provide proof of adequate water supply before receiving permits. It directly affects developers of new energy projects, including biofuel plants, clean energy manufacturing facilities, and major electrical transmission projects (e.g., 500,000-volt lines). Applicants must submit detailed water plans showing sources, conservation methods, air-cooling alternatives, and valid water rights permits or applications to the Department of Ecology. The bill updates existing permitting rules to mandate this water supply verification as a condition for certification, replacing the previous process.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires water conservation plans and adequate supply proof for energy projects, preventing overuse and protecting water resources as part of environmental conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5359: Accelerating the development of clean energy and transmission.

SB 5359 directs Washington's Department of Commerce to accelerate clean energy project development and transmission planning. It establishes the department as the lead agency to provide information, support tribes and communities, develop community benefit tools, and address siting challenges for projects like battery storage systems. The bill directly affects clean energy developers, local governments, tribes, and communities hosting projects by creating a state coordination framework for faster permitting and equitable benefits. Key provisions include requiring a 2026 report on battery storage best practices and developing guidance for community agreements to ensure local economic benefits.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill explicitly accelerates clean energy project development and transmission planning, establishing state coordination for renewable infrastructure and community benefits.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill accelerates clean energy development, directly promoting environmental protection and climate change mitigation through project facilitation and transmission planning.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Energy Storage Renewable Energy Transmission

Track

signed · Washington · Senate Apr 22, 2025

SB 5175: Concerning the photovoltaic module stewardship and takeback program.

Senate Bill 5175 establishes a photovoltaic module stewardship and takeback program in Washington state. It requires manufacturers of photovoltaic modules to finance and implement a system for the convenient, safe, and environmentally sound recycling of these modules. Manufacturers, individually or through a stewardship organization, must submit a plan to the Department of Ecology detailing how they will cover the costs of collection, management, and recycling, ensuring no charge to the last owner. The program aims to minimize hazardous substances and maximize the recovery of valuable materials, including rare earth elements, from used solar panels.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill mandates recycling program for solar modules, supporting renewable energy infrastructure sustainability and responsible end-of-life management.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates manufacturer-financed recycling of solar panels to prevent pollution and promote clean energy lifecycle management, directly protecting environment.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Solar Recycling

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5208: Establishing a new clean energy fund program.

SB 5208 creates a new clean energy fund program in Washington state that provides loans to support clean energy projects. The fund offers loans for specific initiatives like acquiring electric vehicles, installing solar/wind equipment, decarbonizing facilities, and modernizing the grid, with eligibility for utilities, businesses, government agencies, and national labs in Washington. Loans must be repaid with principal and interest, which cycle back into the fund, and interest rates are capped for public entities while private loans must be at prime rate plus two percent. The program aims to advance the state’s environmental goals by financing projects that reduce emissions and foster a clean energy economy.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyCreates clean energy fund with loans for renewables, EVs, solar/wind, decarbonization - directly advances clean energy infrastructure funding.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill creates clean energy fund for loans supporting EVs, solar/wind, decarbonization, and grid modernization - directly advancing environmental protection through clean energy funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Renewable Energy Solar

Track

signed · Washington · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 1631: Establishing the state marine forest.

House Bill 1631 designates bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) forests as the official state marine forest of Washington. This designation aims to raise awareness of bull kelp's vital role in the state's marine ecosystems, culture, and economy, and its deep cultural significance for tribal nations.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill designates bull kelp forests as state marine forest to protect ecosystem, raise awareness of environmental role, and honor tribal cultural significance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1678: Providing funding for enhanced wastewater treatment infrastructure for salmon recovery.

HB 1678 imposes a 10-cent fee per gallon on municipal wastewater treatment plants and combined sewer systems discharging untreated sewage into Puget Sound or connected waterways. The funds collected will be deposited into a dedicated account to provide grants for municipalities to upgrade infrastructure that removes excess nutrients from discharges. This aims to improve water quality by reducing nutrient pollution that harms salmon habitats and causes low-oxygen conditions in Puget Sound. The bill directly affects municipal wastewater systems within the Puget Sound watershed and requires annual reporting on untreated sewage discharges.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes 10-cent fee (tax) on wastewater plants to fund grants for infrastructure upgrades, directly allocating tax revenue for public environmental program.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentImposes 10-cent fee on wastewater systems to fund infrastructure upgrades reducing nutrient pollution, directly protecting salmon habitats and improving Puget Sound water quality.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1749: Ensuring consideration of climate change, carbon sequestration, environmental health disparities, and treaty-protected and cultural resources in the state environmental policy act.

HB 1749 requires Washington state agencies to consider four new factors in environmental reviews: climate change impacts (including life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions), carbon sequestration in forests and soils, tribal treaty-protected resources and access, and pollution exposure in overburdened communities. For example, agencies must assess if a timber sale harms mature forest carbon storage or if a project disproportionately increases pollution in vulnerable neighborhoods. The bill mandates updates to the state environmental policy checklist to ensure these considerations are integrated into all project reviews, including timber sales and development permits. It directly affects state agencies like the Department of Natural Resources and local governments conducting environmental reviews.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates assessment of climate impacts and carbon sequestration in projects, directly promoting cleaner energy development by requiring GHG consideration in environmental reviews.85% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates agencies to assess climate impacts, carbon sequestration, tribal resources, and pollution disparities, strengthening environmental reviews per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Forestry

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1417: Establishing an embodied carbon tax on cigarettes.

HB 1417 imposes a new $0.0015 per cigarette tax based on the carbon emissions from cigarette production ("embodied carbon"), starting October 1, 2025. The tax increases every five years beginning October 2030 by 25% plus the annual inflation rate (measured by CPI), rounded to the nearest cent. This tax applies to cigarette manufacturers or sellers who collect it at the point of sale, with all revenue deposited into the state's general fund. The bill directly affects cigarette producers and retailers by adding this carbon-based tax to existing cigarette excise taxes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new carbon-based cigarette tax, directing revenue to general fund, increasing state tax revenue and budget resources.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentTax on cigarette production carbon emissions incentivizes emission reduction, directly advancing environmental protection through carbon pricing.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes State Budget Climate Change

Track