2022 Washington State Legislative Report- Week 1

Week One

 

The first week of the 2022 legislative session is complete. The week began Monday with most legislators participating remotely. The House started  with Speaker Laurie Jinkins (D-27), delivering opening day remarks, where she stated the theme of the short session is about moving everyone in the state forward. The Senate session began with the swearing in of new Senators John Lovick (D-40) and Yasmin Trudeau (D-27), the election of officers, and the adoption of new rules. You can watch the opening ceremony here. Following the opening day ceremonies both chambers adjourned and began virtual committee hearings.  

On Tuesday virtual committee hearings in both the House and the Senate continued and Governor Jay Inslee delivered his state of the state address. Following the state of the state address Republican leaders held a press conference where they discussed their priorities for the 2022 legislative session which include restoring public safety, trust, and affordability. Also on Tuesday Simon Sefzik of Ferndale, WA was named as Senator Doug Erickson’s replacement. Sefzick was sworn in on Tuesday following a 4-2 vote from the Whatcom County Council. At 22, he is the youngest Senator to serve in WA state. 

In the first week the legislature considered many important bills including HB 1732 that would delay the implementation of the Washington Cares Fund premium assessment by 18 months. The bill was heard and moved out of committee in week one and can now be pulled to the House floor for a vote. In the meantime employers are faced with the decision on whether or not to collect the tax. Both House and Senate leadership have stated that they intend to pass the bill in week two. 

Other important issues that were discussed in week one include police reform bills that focus on providing clarity for laws that passed in 2021. The new Senate Transportation Chair Senator Marko Liias (D-21) held a hearing on the Governor’s proposed transportation budget, SB 5689. House Transportation Chair Jake Fey (D-27) held a public hearing on the House companion. The Senate Transportation Committee also received an update on federal dollars and implementation of the climate commitment act and LCFS. Both the House and the Senate held public hearings on the Governor’s Operating Budget, SB 5693/HB 1816

The January 2022 Economic & Revenue monthly update report came out on Friday, January 14th. The report showed that major General Fund-State (GF-S) revenue collections for the December 11, 2021 – January 10th, 2022 were $260.9 million (12.7%) higher than forecasted in November. Most of the surplus came from Revenue Act taxes including, B&O, sales, use, utility, and tobacco products. The report also showed that Washington employment growth has been below the November forecast and Seattle-area consumer price inflation outpaced the national average. You can read the full report here. On Thursday, January 20th the House Finance Committee will hold a work session where they hear from the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.   

Next week committee hearings and executive sessions will continue. As a reminder all bills without a fiscal impact need to be voted out of their policy committee by February 3rd in order to stay alive this session.

Important Dates:

 Feb 3 – House of Origin Policy Cutoff

Feb 7 – House of Origin Fiscal Cutoff

Feb 15 – House of Origin Floor Cutoff

Feb 24 – Opposite House Policy Cutoff

Feb 28 – Opposite House Fiscal Cutoff

March 4 – Opposite House Floor Cutoff

Hearings of Interest:

House Environment & Energy – 1/18/2022 8:00 AM

Public Hearing:

  • HB 1682 – Concerning a compliance pathway specific to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed businesses for achieving their proportionate share of the state’s emissions reduction limits through 2050.
  • HB 1792 – Expanding the production, distribution, and use of hydrogen not produced from a fossil fuel feedstock. 

House Environment & Energy – 1/20/2022 1:30 PM

Public Hearing:

  • HB 1799 – Concerning organic materials management. 
  • HB 1686 – Allowing the labeling of biodegradable products that are supported by recognized national or international test methods. 

Possible Executive Session:

  • HB 1663 – Reducing methane emissions from landfills.
  • HB 1691 – Concerning financial responsibility requirements related to oil spills.
  • HB 1767 – Concerning the authority of publicly owned electric utilities to engage in targeted electrification through the adoption of plans that establish a finding that utility outreach and investment in the conversion of its customers’ end use equipment from fossil fuels to electricity will provide net benefits to the utility.
  • HB 1768 – Updating definitions applicable to energy conservation projects involving public entities.

House Environment & Energy – 1/21/2022 10:00 AM

Public Hearing:

  • HB 1812 – Modernizing the energy facility site evaluation council to meet the state’s clean energy goals. 
  • HB 1871 – Establishing a moratorium on the siting of alternative energy facilities through the energy facility site evaluation council process pending a comprehensive performance report on the effects of the energy independence act and the recommendations of a joint legislative committee. 
  • HB 1814 – Expanding equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects. 

Possible Executive Session:

  • HB 1792 – Expanding the production, distribution, and use of hydrogen not produced from a fossil fuel feedstock.

Senate Environment, Energy & Technology – 1/19/2022 8:00 AM

Public Hearing:

  • SB 5590 – Eliminating the 2022 expiration date of the marine resources advisory council.
  • SB 5744 – Concerning tax deferrals for investment projects in clean technology manufacturing, clean alternative fuels production, and renewable energy storage.
  • SB 5666 – Concerning the authority of publicly owned electric utilities to engage in targeted electrification through the adoption of plans that establish a finding that utility outreach and investment in the conversion of its customers’ end use equipment from fossil fuels to electricity will provide net benefits to the utility. 
  • SB 5492 – Providing for the recycling of wind turbine blades. 

Senate Environment, Energy & Technology – 1/20/2022 10:30 AM

Public Hearing:

  • SB 5813 – Establishing data privacy protections to strengthen a consumer’s ability to access, manage, and protect their personal data. 
  • SB 5533 – Concerning online marketplace consumer product theft and safety protection. 
  • SB 5834 – Implementing enterprise-wide technology policies in state government to ensure consistency, security, and responsible use of data. 

Clean Tech Alliance Bill Status Report

Bill #Abbrev. TitleShort DescriptionStatusSponsor
HB 1036Transportation fuel/carbonReducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel.H Env & EnergyFitzgibbon
HB 1046Community solar programsConcerning community solar programs.H Env & EnergyBateman
SHB 1081 (ESSB 5084)State gen. obligation bondsConcerning state general obligation bonds and related accounts.H Rules CTharinger
SHB 1084 (SB 5093)Building decarbonizationReducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by achieving greater decarbonization of residential and commercial buildings.H AppropsRamel
HB 1093 (SB 5091)Operating budget, 2nd supp.Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.H AppropsOrmsby
SHB 1103 (SB 5366)Building materialsImproving environmental and social outcomes with the production of building materials.H AppropsDuerr
HB 1125Energy investmentsIncentivizing investment in energy conservation and efficiency measures and expanding opportunities for energy rate discounts to, among other objectives, reduce the energy burden of low-income customers and vulnerable populations.H Env & EnergyShewmake
HB 1130Energy supply/consumersConcerning consumer affordability and reliability in energy supply.H Env & EnergyDye
2SHB 1173State lands development authConcerning state lands development authorities.H Rules 3CBerry
HB 1280Greenhouse gas/facilitiesConcerning greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the design of public facilities.H Rules 3CRamel
SHB 1406 (SB 5426)Wealth taxImproving the equity of Washington state’s tax code by creating the Washington state wealth tax and taxing extraordinary financial intangible assets.H AppropsFrame
HB 1513Carbon emissionsImproving environmental health by reducing carbon emissions through increasing climate resilience and mitigating the effects of climate change by levying a carbon pollution tax, authorizing a climate finance bond program, and investing in clean economic growth.H Env & EnergyLekanoff
HB 1534Carbon pollution taxEstablishing a carbon pollution tax that recognizes the nature of energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries.H Env & EnergyShewmake
SHB 1732Long-term care/delayDelaying the implementation of the long-term services and supports trust program by 18 months.H Rules RSullivan
SHB 1733Long-term care/exemptionsEstablishing voluntary exemptions to the long-term services and supports trust program for certain populations.H Rules RPaul
HB 1766 (SB 5668)Gas companiesModifying the regulation of gas companies to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.H Env & EnergyRamel
HB 1767 (SB 5666)Targeted electrificationConcerning the authority of publicly owned electric utilities to engage in targeted electrification through the adoption of plans that establish a finding that utility outreach and investment in the conversion of its customers’ end use equipment from fossil fuels to electricity will provide net benefits to the utility.H Env & EnergyRamel
HB 1768Energy conservation projectsUpdating definitions applicable to energy conservation projects involving public entities.H Env & EnergyDuerr
HB 1770 (SB 5669)Energy codesStrengthening energy codes.H Local GovtDuerr
HB 1774 (SB 5722)Greenhouse gases/buildingsReducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings.H Env & EnergyHackney
HB 1781 (SB 5651)Capital budget, supplementalConcerning the capital budget.H Cap BudgetTharinger
HB 1812Energy facility site councilModernizing the energy facility site evaluation council to meet the state’s clean energy goals.H Env & EnergyFitzgibbon
HB 1964Alternative energy decomm.Concerning the decommissioning of alternative energy facilities.H Env & EnergyCorry
SB 5091 (HB 1093)Operating budget, 2nd supp.Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.S Ways & MeansRolfes
SB 5093 (SHB 1084)Building decarbonizationReducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by achieving greater decarbonization of residential and commercial buildings.S Environment, ELiias
SB 5168Electric utility advisoryConcerning renewable and nonemitting resources analysis and advisory opinions.S Environment, EShort
SB 5206Energy facility evaluationEliminating expedited processing of an alternative energy resource facility fueled by solar energy on certain designated lands before the energy facility site evaluation council.S Environment, EWarnick
SB 5231 (E3SHB 1091)Transportation fuel/carbonReducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel.S Environment, EStanford
SB 5244Nuclear reactor productionEncouraging the production of advanced nuclear reactors, small modular reactors, and components through the invest in Washington act.S Environment, EBrown
SB 5256 (SHB 1204)Transp. electrificationConcerning the electrification of transportation.S Environment, ELiias
SB 5308Hybrid vehicle feesReducing certain transportation electrification fees on hybrid vehicles.S TransportationShort
SB 5373Carbon pollutionConcerning carbon pollution.S Environment, ELovelett
SB 5415Energy facil site eval cnclConcerning the energy facility site evaluation council.S Environment, ELovelett
SB 5493Residential renewable energyReopening the renewable energy system incentive program for residential-scale systems.S Environment, EnWilson
SB 5651 (HB 1781)Capital budget, supplementalConcerning the capital budget.S Ways & MeansFrockt
SB 5666 (HB 1767)Targeted electrificationConcerning the authority of publicly owned electric utilities to engage in targeted electrification through the adoption of plans that establish a finding that utility outreach and investment in the conversion of its customers’ end use equipment from fossil fuels to electricity will provide net benefits to the utility.S Environment, ELiias
SB 5668 (HB 1766)Gas companiesModifying the regulation of gas companies to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.S Environment, EnLovelett
SB 5669 (HB 1770)Energy codesStrengthening energy codes.S Environment, EnLiias
SB 5678Energy project ordersConcerning energy transformation, nonemitting electric generation, and renewable resource project analysis and declaratory orders.S Environment, EnShort
SB 5722 (HB 1774)Greenhouse gases/buildingsReducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings.S Environment, EnNguyen
SB 5835Workers’ compensationConcerning workers’ compensation.S Labor, Comm &Saldana