Environment

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SJM 8013: Requesting Congress to amend the marine mammal protection act and the migratory bird act to allow the lethal removal of pinnipeds and predatory birds in Puget Sound in a manner similar to the recent changes authorized in the Columbia river to protect endangered salmon populations.

This Washington State Senate Joint Memorial (SJM 8013) requests Congress to amend two federal laws - the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Act - to allow lethal removal of seals, sea lions, and predatory birds in Puget Sound. It directly affects endangered salmon populations by seeking to replicate a 2018 Columbia River policy that permits targeted removals to protect salmon. Key provisions include authorizing Washington State and tribal governments to remove these animals in salmon habitats, requiring the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to process permits within six months, and eliminating lengthy environmental reviews. The request aims to address pinniped and bird predation on critically endangered salmon listed under the Endangered Species Act. This is a non-binding memorial seeking federal legislative action, not a passed law.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill seeks to weaken Marine Mammal Protection Act and Migratory Bird Act by allowing lethal removal of protected species, directly opposing their conservation mandates to protect salmon populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5896: Modifying the standards for determining water quality pollution.

SB 5896 amends Washington State's water pollution law (RCW 90.48.080) by removing the phrase "or tend to cause" from the definition of unlawful discharges. This change requires that pollution be actual, not merely potential, to violate the law. The bill directly affects businesses, industries, and anyone discharging organic or inorganic matter into state waters. The bill was prefaced in December 2025 and referred to the Environment, Energy & Technology committee for review.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRemoves 'or tend to cause' from pollution definition, requiring actual pollution to violate law, weakening environmental protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Water Quality

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5856: Exempting emissions associated with lubricants from coverage under the cap and invest program.

SB 5856 exempts emissions from lubricants (like motor oil or industrial grease) from Washington's cap-and-invest program, which regulates greenhouse gas emissions from large polluters. This means companies using lubricants will no longer need to account for emissions from these products when calculating their total emissions under the program. The bill amends the definition of "covered entities" in the cap-and-invest law to exclude lubricant-related emissions from the 25,000 metric ton annual threshold that triggers regulatory coverage. It directly affects businesses that use or produce lubricants, such as manufacturing facilities, automotive services, or industrial operations. The change simplifies compliance for these entities by removing a specific emissions source from the program's requirements.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts lubricant emissions from cap-and-invest program, weakening emission regulations under energy policy.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts lubricant emissions from cap-and-invest program, reducing regulatory coverage and weakening greenhouse gas emission controls.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Climate Change

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1324: Funding the state transportation system using climate commitment act revenues.

HB 1324 redirects revenues from Washington's Climate Commitment Act (CCA) auction system to fund major state transportation projects, including the I-5 Columbia River bridge replacement and the US 395 North Spokane corridor. The bill amends existing law to require that CCA auction proceeds - previously restricted from road projects - be allocated specifically to highway and bridge infrastructure, rather than solely to climate or environmental programs. Key provisions mandate that funds support projects improving freight movement (like the Gateway freight project) and reducing congestion, which the bill states contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions. This reallocation changes how CCA revenue is spent but does not alter the underlying auction system or funding amounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects Climate Commitment Act auction revenues (previously restricted) to fund transportation infrastructure, increasing budget allocation for highways/bridges per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyRedirects Climate Commitment Act revenues (intended for climate/environmental programs) to transportation infrastructure, diverting funds from energy/climate initiatives.90% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentRedirects Climate Commitment Act revenues from environmental programs to transportation infrastructure, defunding climate initiatives per bill's mandate to allocate CCA funds to highways/bridges instead of climate programs.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationRedirects Climate Commitment Act revenues to fund highway/bridge infrastructure projects (I-5 bridge, US 395 corridor), explicitly allocating funds to transportation infrastructure per bill's core purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Climate Change Bridges Freight Transportation Funding

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

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

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Transmission Conservation

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5590: Protecting livestock from wolf predation.

SB 5590 creates a three-year pilot program allowing livestock owners, their immediate family, agents, or documented employees to take the first wolf returning to a site where livestock was previously preyed upon. Participants must monitor the site, report the wolf kill to the Department of Fish and Wildlife within 24 hours, and surrender the carcass. The program requires the Department to report on its effectiveness to the legislature by December 2028, and the law expires July 1, 2029. This directly affects Washington livestock producers facing wolf predation, modifying existing wildlife laws to exempt authorized wolf takings under this specific program from unlawful taking penalties.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill permits killing wolves (a protected species) to protect livestock, undermining wildlife conservation efforts and prioritizing industry over environmental protection.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5703: Concerning fair treatment of municipal solid waste systems.

SB 5703 exempts Washington’s only waste-to-energy municipal solid waste facility from the state’s cap-and-invest program requirements. The bill adds a narrow exemption for this specific facility, based on a 2024 Ecology study finding it emits fewer greenhouse gases than landfill alternatives. It directly affects the county and city solid waste management program operating this facility by removing its emissions reporting obligations under the cap-and-invest program. The exemption applies to the facility’s emissions exceeding 25,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, aligning it with other covered entities under the program. This change ensures the facility is treated equally with other waste systems under the cap-and-invest framework.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts facility from cap-and-invest emissions reporting, weakening regulatory scope of climate program despite study findings on lower emissions.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Waste Management

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 12, 2026

SB 5354: Providing flexibility for the department of fish and wildlife to collaborate with local governments to manage gray wolves.

SB 5354 allows counties in Washington to stop treating gray wolves as state-endangered when specific population thresholds are met (15 statewide breeding pairs for 3 years and at least 3 breeding pairs locally). Once these criteria are satisfied, counties must notify the Department of Fish and Wildlife and enter into collaborative agreements with the department, tribes, and local stakeholders to co-manage wolves through regional plans. These plans must address livestock protection, minimize lethal wolf control, improve compensation for livestock losses, and maintain stable wolf populations. The bill directly affects rural counties, ranchers, tribes, and wildlife management, shifting wolf management from state-led to localized, cooperative efforts while preserving recovery goals.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill removes state-endangered status for gray wolves upon population thresholds, weakening legal protections and shifting management to local agreements that prioritize livestock over conservation, reducing regulatory safeguards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Wildlife

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 12, 2026

HB 1164: Expanding urban growth area boundaries for residential development.

HB 1164 requires Washington cities and counties to expand urban growth area (UGA) boundaries to include land adjacent to existing residential areas with access to urban services, enabling more residential development. Specifically, it mandates adding parcels sharing boundaries with residential land or located across roads from such areas, while allowing cities to maintain existing density and service connections. The bill excludes protected natural areas (like critical aquifers), agricultural lands, and designated resource zones from expansion. This policy aims to increase housing supply near existing infrastructure without raising local government costs, directly affecting land-use planning in participating municipalities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExpands development into natural areas, potentially increasing habitat loss and pollution, despite excluding some protected zones. Prioritizes residential growth over environmental conservation.85% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingMandates expansion of UGA boundaries to enable more residential development, increasing housing supply and aligning with affordable housing goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Land Use Property Development Zoning

Track