Update on Priority Climate and Clean Energy Legislation

Clean & Prosperous Washington is providing an update on the major legislation we are tracking this session in Olympia. This issue focuses on bill progress as we await the release of updated budget packages. 

Here’s where the key bills we’re tracking stand as of April 25: 

• House Bill (HB) 1975, which builds resilience against carbon market volatility and takes interim action while we prepare to link with California and Québec, passed 45-3 in the Senate, was concurred by the House, and is now with the Governor for signature. We are grateful to the Legislature – in particular Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon and Rep. Mary Dye – for their leadership in making continued refinements to ensure the long-term viability of our cap-and-invest system. 
• HB 1409, which amends the Clean Fuel Standard to create a steadier compliance schedule, passed out of the Senate, was concurred by the House, and currently sits on the Governor’s desk. 

• HB 1912, which addresses the implementation of promised Climate Commitment Act (CCA) exemptions for agricultural producers, passed the Senate unanimously and was concurred by the House. The bill now sits on the Governor’s desk for signature. Clean & Prosperous Washington has been working with the Legislature and a broad coalition of partners to ensure these promised and needed exemptions are implemented. 
• HB 1018 supports the development of fusion energy facilities in Washington. The House concurred on the Senate’s amendments to the bill, and it now heads to the Governor. 
• Senate Bill (SB) 5036 requires annual reporting of statewide emissions data. The Senate concurred on the House’s amendments, and it now sits with the Governor.
• HB 1302 on industrial symbiosis and SB 5466, which would have created a new Electric Transmission Office, did not make it beyond policy cutoff and are dead for this session.

What’s Next

Lawmakers are wrapping up budgets and any bills necessary to implement the budget for the conclusion of the regular legislative session – sine die – this Sunday, April 27. Once delivered, it is onto the Governor for review and bill action.

Clean & Prosperous Washington will provide a breakdown of any updates to CCA expenditures in next week’s newsletter.

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