Environment

in committee · Washington · House Jan 23, 2026

HB 2642: Exempting emissions associated with lubricants from coverage under the cap and invest program.

HB 2642 exempts emissions from lubricants (and certain other fuel products) combusted outside Washington from the state's cap-and-invest program requirements. It amends the definition of "covered entities" under Washington's climate law to exclude emissions associated with lubricants produced or imported for use outside the state. This means companies manufacturing or importing lubricants that are shipped out of Washington for combustion elsewhere would no longer have those emissions counted toward the 25,000 metric ton CO2e threshold that triggers participation in the cap-and-invest program. The bill directly affects lubricant producers and importers whose products are delivered outside Washington for end-use. This change reduces reporting obligations for these entities under the program's current structure.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyExempts lubricant emissions from cap-and-invest, weakening climate program scope by reducing regulatory coverage of emissions.85% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentExempts lubricant emissions from cap-and-invest program, reducing regulatory scope of Washington's climate law and weakening emissions coverage.90% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 4, 2026

SB 6171: Addressing emerging large energy use facilities.

SB 6171 regulates large data centers (defined as facilities with ≥20 megawatts of energy demand) by requiring transparency about their electricity, water, and refrigerant use, and mandating that they transition to 100% clean energy over time. The bill directly affects data centers, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence growth, which are projected to become the largest source of new electricity demand in the Pacific Northwest. Key provisions include setting policy priorities for energy affordability, grid reliability, and environmental protection, while ensuring these facilities disclose resource consumption data to the public. The legislation aims to balance the industry’s economic benefits with safeguards for consumers and communities.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyMandates 100% clean energy transition for large data centers, directly advancing renewable energy adoption and reducing fossil fuel dependence per bill's core provisions.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates 100% clean energy transition for data centers, reducing emissions and promoting renewable energy adoption in a growing electricity demand sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Grid Renewable Energy

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 26, 2026

SB 6050: Expanding the use of distributed energy resources.

SB 6050 allows homeowners to use portable solar devices (like plug-in panels under 1,200 watts) without costly electrical panel upgrades by setting safety standards for these devices. It also creates financial incentives for landlords to install energy efficiency measures in rental properties, reducing energy costs for tenants - particularly low-income households and vulnerable communities. The bill aims to lower barriers to small-scale solar adoption and grid-connected energy upgrades while requiring portable solar systems to meet national safety codes. These changes directly affect residential electricity users, landlords, and utility companies in Washington State.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEnables portable solar adoption, creates incentives for energy efficiency in rentals, and lowers barriers to distributed energy resources - directly advancing renewable energy access and efficiency.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentPromotes clean energy adoption through solar incentives and energy efficiency measures, reducing emissions and lowering barriers for low-income households.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates financial incentives for landlords to install energy efficiency measures, reducing tenant energy costs for low-income households, directly advancing housing affordability.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Electric Vehicles Energy Efficiency Solar

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 6168: Providing cost relief to Washingtonians by suspending certain requirements in the climate commitment act.

SB 6168 temporarily suspends specific requirements under Washington's Climate Commitment Act (sections 70A.65.060 through 70A.65.210 and related rules) from its effective date until December 31, 2027. This suspension aims to provide cost relief by halting compliance costs that the bill states are increasing fuel, utility, and essential goods prices for households. The measure directly affects the implementation of the Climate Commitment Act, which would have required certain emissions reductions and reporting from utilities and businesses. By pausing these requirements, the bill targets relief for working families, fixed-income individuals, rural residents, and small businesses disproportionately impacted by rising costs. The suspension is declared an emergency to take effect immediately.

Topics ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergySuspends Climate Commitment Act requirements, weakening emissions standards and reducing compliance costs that increase utility prices.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentSuspends emissions requirements of Climate Commitment Act, weakening environmental protections by halting compliance costs tied to emissions reductions.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Washington · House Jan 26, 2026

HB 2662: Ensuring that responsible principles of investing are incorporated into the investment decision making of the Washington state investment board.

HB 2662 requires Washington's state investment board to integrate environmental, social, and governance principles into managing public retirement and trust funds. It prohibits investments in companies involved in forced labor, coal production, tobacco manufacturing, severe environmental harm, or violations of international humanitarian law, while still prioritizing strong financial returns. The board must annually report on how these principles guide investment decisions and develop proxy voting guidelines to address related risks. This directly affects the board’s management of billions in state funds, including retirement accounts and public trust assets.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires ESG integration in state investments while prioritizing financial returns, promoting fiscal responsibility in fund management.85% confidence ✗ EnergyOpposes EnergyProhibits investments in coal production, a major fossil fuel energy source, directly restricting a key energy production method per bill's explicit language.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentProhibits investments in companies causing severe environmental harm, directly advancing environmental protection through state investment policies.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProhibits investments in forced labor, directly protecting workers' rights under social ESG criteria as part of investment policy.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SB 6321: Sustaining life-saving and prosperity-building scientific research in Washington by establishing the Washington institute for scientific advancement.

SB 6321 establishes the Washington Institute for Scientific Advancement to address funding shortfalls in state research caused by federal grant cuts. It authorizes $6 billion in state bonds (capped at $1 billion annually) to fund research at public universities and labs, targeting critical areas like cancer treatment, veterinary medicine, climate science, and semiconductor technology. The bill directly affects Washington’s research institutions, including WSU’s veterinary diagnostic lab, which faces potential closure due to lost federal funding. It aims to sustain ongoing projects and prevent loss of research capacity and economic benefits, such as the University of Washington’s $2.6 billion annual economic contribution.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAuthorizes $6B in state bonds for research funding, directly increasing budget allocation to scientific programs at public institutions.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $6B for research at public universities (higher education), directly funding institutions like WSU's labs to advance scientific research and education infrastructure.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentBill explicitly targets climate science research as a funding priority, directly advancing environmental protection through scientific advancement.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly targets cancer treatment research as a critical funding area, directly advancing healthcare innovation through state-funded scientific research.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill allocates $6B for semiconductor technology research, directly funding a core technology sector per its summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 15, 2026

SB 6156: Concerning postconsumer recycled content requirements for plastic products.

SB 6156 requires minimum levels of postconsumer recycled content (PCRC) in specific plastic products: trash bags, household cleaning and personal care product containers, and beverage containers. It directly affects manufacturers of these products, with exemptions for items like food-contact packaging, medical products, and hazardous material containers. The bill includes a small business exemption for producers with under $5 million in annual revenue (adjusted for inflation) and aims to reduce plastic waste while strengthening the recycled plastics market. Key provisions set environmental goals by decreasing virgin plastic use and supporting recycling infrastructure, without specifying exact recycled content percentages.

Topics ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentMandates minimum recycled content in plastic products to reduce waste and pollution, directly advancing conservation and pollution control goals per bill's requirements.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hazardous Materials Recycling Waste Management

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 11, 2026

HB 2367: Eliminating preferential treatment related to a coal-fired electric generating plant.

HB 2367 eliminates special reporting exemptions for coal-fired power plants in Washington State's emissions tracking system. It amends reporting thresholds to remove preferential treatment, requiring coal plants to follow the same emissions reporting rules as other large emitters (like natural gas suppliers or railroads) once they exceed 25,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually. The bill repeals previous sections (RCW 82.08.811 and 82.12.811) that provided this preferential treatment, directly affecting coal-fired electricity generators by ending their distinct reporting pathway. This change ensures coal plants are subject to the same compliance obligations as other covered entities under the state's emissions program.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyEliminates exemptions for coal plants, requiring emissions reporting like other large emitters, reducing fossil fuel advantages and aligning with cleaner energy standards.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRemoves preferential emissions reporting exemptions for coal plants, requiring full tracking like other large emitters, strengthening environmental oversight and transparency.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Coal Oil & Gas

in committee · Washington · Senate Jan 22, 2026

SB 6273: Concerning accountability for waste tire removal funds.

SB 6273 requires Washington’s Department of Ecology to publicly list all known unauthorized tire piles on its website, including location, duration, tire count, environmental risks, and cleanup timelines. It mandates the department to report annual tire recycling rates, authorized storage sites, and state/local cleanup efforts funded by a $5-per-tire fee (increased from $1 in 2025). The law aims to increase transparency about waste tire cleanup priorities and fund allocation for communities with the most severe tire pile problems. This directly affects the public, legislators, and local governments seeking to address tire waste through accessible data.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill increases $5-per-tire fee to fund waste tire cleanup programs, directly advancing fiscal management for environmental services.90% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRequires public listing of tire piles, mandates cleanup reporting, and funds recycling via increased fee - directly addresses pollution control and environmental protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Recycling

Track

signed · Washington · House Mar 25, 2026

HB 2416: Concerning fair treatment of waste to energy facilities under the climate commitment act.

HB 2416 adjusts Washington's climate emissions program to fairly treat the state's only waste-to-energy facility under the Climate Commitment Act. It requires the state's Department of Ecology to recognize in the emissions reporting system that this facility produces fewer greenhouse gases than landfilling its waste, as confirmed by a 2024 department study. The bill amends emissions reporting rules (RCW 70A.65.080) to create special provisions for this facility, ensuring its unique status is reflected in the state's cap-and-invest program. This directly affects the facility's municipal solid waste management system and ensures it is not unfairly burdened compared to other waste management methods under the climate law.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill ensures waste-to-energy facility's lower emissions are recognized under climate act, supporting renewable energy infrastructure by preventing unfair penalties in emissions reporting.95% confidence ✓ EnvironmentSupports EnvironmentRecognizes waste-to-energy facility's lower GHG emissions vs landfilling, ensuring emissions reporting reflects reduced climate impact.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Waste Management