2022 Washington State Legislative Report-Week 4

Week Four

 

We are now four weeks into session with only five more weeks to go. Thursday, February 3rd was the House of Origin Policy Committee cutoff – where all bills needed to be out of their original policy committee in order to stay alive this session. Following Thursday’s cutoff, the focus has now shifted to fiscal committees as we approach the House of Origin Fiscal Committee cutoff on Monday, February 7th. Fiscal committees are meeting over the weekend to hear and take action on bills before Monday. 

House and Senate Democratic leaders came together for their weekly media availability on Monday, January 31st  to discuss the 2022 legislative session and take questions from reporters. On Wednesday, House and Senate Republican leadership came together for their weekly media availability where they discussed a recent data incident and answered questions from reporters. On Thursday, February 3rd, House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox discussed his top priorities; the Chair of the House Education Committee Rep. Santos and Ranking Member Rep. Ybarra discuss K-12 education priorities. You can watch that interview here. 

This week, the Senate Ways and Means Committee held a work session where the  bipartisan Tax Structure Work Group reported their findings on Washington’s tax structure (watch that here). To learn more about the workgroup, click here. The Ways and Means Committee also held a public hearing on SB 5426 which establishes a 1% wealth tax on intangible financial assets of more than $1 billion. 

On Wednesday afternoon both House and Senate took action on the floor to pass bills out of their respective chambers.  On Wednesday, the House unanimously passed HB 1957 sponsored by Rep. Alicia Rule (D-42), which will create a program to assist small businesses after a natural disaster. The Senate passed SB 5615  sponsored by Sen. John Lovick (D-40), which will declare pickleball as the Washington state sport. 

Priority bills continue to move quickly through the legislative process, including two bills that clarify sections of the police reform package that passed in 2021. HB 1719 sponsored by Rep. Bronoske (D-38) clarifies that the prohibition on .50 caliber weapons and HB 1735 sponsored by Rep. Jesse Johnson (D-30) clarifies peace officers can use force in behavioral health and other related circumstances both passed the House last week and have already been scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Law and Justice Committee on Thursday, February 8th. 

Two bills related to the Governor’s emergency powers saw action this week. First the House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee heard HB 1772 sponsored by Rep. Corry which increases legislative involvement in the gubernatorial emergency powers. In the Senate a similar bill, SB 5909, sponsored by Sen. Emily Randall (D-26) passed out of committee on Wednesday, February 2nd with a near unanimous vote. 

Following the fiscal cutoff both chambers will head to the floor to pass bills until the House of Origin cutoff on February 15th. We expect the House and Senate Transportation Chairs to release a package sometime next week and then hold a hearing soon after. We also expect to see House and Senate supplemental budget proposals the week of February 21st. 

We will continue to monitor as these bills continue to move through the legislative process:

SB 5910 – Accelerating the availability and use of renewable hydrogen in Washington state

This legislation, sponsored by Senator Carlyle, establishes the Office of Renewable Fuels as well as the Renewable Fuels Accelerator Account.  It also aims to assist in securing federal funding for clean hydrogen in our state, and authorizes municipal and public utility districts to produce, use, sell, and distribute renewable and electrolytic hydrogen.  After passing the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee with a do pass recommendation on Wednesday, February 2nd, public hearing was held in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Saturday, February 5th.  Executive action is scheduled for Monday, February 7th.

HB 1896 – Providing for responsible environmental management of batteries

This legislation, sponsored by Representative Harris-Talley, intends to create a stewardship program around batteries and guidelines around disposal.  During executive session in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Thursday, February 3rd, the bill received a do pass recommendation on the 1st substitute, and was referred to the House Appropriations Committee.  Public hearing was held there on Saturday, February 5th, and executive session is scheduled for Monday, February 7th.

SB 5842 – Concerning state laws that address climate change

The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee gave a do pass recommendation on the proposed 1st substitute on Wednesday, February 2nd.  The bill has now been referred to the Senate Ways & Means Committee, with public hearing held on Friday, February 4th.  Executive session is scheduled for Monday, February 7th.

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

Clean Tech Alliance Bill Status & Upcoming Events Report

Bill #Abbrev. TitleShort DescriptionStatusSponsor
HB 1036 (Dead)Transportation fuel/carbonReducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel.H Env & EnergyFitzgibbon
HB 1046 (Dead)Community 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 XTharinger
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 1094 (ESSB 5092)Operating budgetMaking 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.H Rules XOrmsby
SHB 1103 (SB 5366)Building materialsImproving environmental and social outcomes with the production of building materials.H AppropsDuerr
HB 1125 (Dead)Energy 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 1130 (Dead)Energy supply/consumersConcerning consumer affordability and reliability in energy supply.H Env & EnergyDye
SHB 1135 (SSB 5165)Transp. budget 2021-2023Making transportation appropriations for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.H Rules XFey
2SHB 1173State lands development authConcerning state lands development authorities.H Rules 3CBerry
SHB 1204 (SB 5256)Transp. electrificationConcerning the electrification of transportation.H Rules XMacri
HB 1280Greenhouse gas/facilitiesConcerning greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the design of public facilities.S Environment, EnRamel
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 1513 (Dead)Carbon 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 1534 (Dead)Carbon pollution taxEstablishing a carbon pollution tax that recognizes the nature of energy-intensive, trade-exposed industries.H Env & EnergyShewmake
HB 1766 (Dead) (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 Rules RRamel
SHB 1768Energy conservation projectsUpdating definitions applicable to energy conservation projects involving public entities.H Rules RDuerr
SHB 1770 (SB 5669)Energy codesStrengthening energy codes.H Rules RDuerr
HB 1774 (Dead) (SSB 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
SHB 1812Energy facility site councilModernizing the energy facility site evaluation council to meet the state’s clean energy goals.H AppropsFitzgibbon
HB 1964Alternative energy decomm.Concerning the decommissioning of alternative energy facilities.H Rules RCorry
HB 1988 (SSB 5744)Clean tech. tax deferralsConcerning tax deferrals for investment projects in clean technology manufacturing, clean alternative fuels production, and renewable energy storage.H FinanceShewmake
HB 2002 (Dead)Energy infrastructure sitingConcerning the siting of energy infrastructure necessary for the fulfillment of the state’s decarbonization goals.H Env & EnergyFitzgibbon
ESSB 5083 (SHB 1080)Capital budget 2021-2023Concerning the capital budget.S Rules XFrockt
SB 5091 (HB 1093)Operating budget, 2nd supp.Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.S Ways & MeansRolfes
SB 5093 (Dead) (SHB 1084)Building decarbonizationReducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by achieving greater decarbonization of residential and commercial buildings.S Environment, ELiias
SB 5168 (Dead)Electric utility advisoryConcerning renewable and nonemitting resources analysis and advisory opinions.S Environment, EShort
SB 5206 (Dead)Energy 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 (Dead) (E3SHB 1091)Transportation fuel/carbonReducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel.S Environment, EStanford
SB 5244 (Dead)Nuclear reactor productionEncouraging the production of advanced nuclear reactors, small modular reactors, and components through the invest in Washington act.S Environment, EBrown
SB 5256 (Dead) (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 5373 (Dead)Carbon pollutionConcerning carbon pollution.S Environment, ELovelett
SB 5415 (Dead)Energy facil site eval cnclConcerning the energy facility site evaluation council.S Environment, ELovelett
SB 5493 (Dead)Residential 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 (Dead) (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 (Dead) (HB 1766)Gas companiesModifying the regulation of gas companies to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.S Environment, ELovelett
SB 5669 (Dead) (SHB 1770)Energy codesStrengthening energy codes.S Environment, EnLiias
SSB 5678Energy project ordersConcerning energy transformation, nonemitting electric generation, and renewable resource project analysis and declaratory orders.S Ways & MeansShort
SSB 5722 (HB 1774)Greenhouse gases/buildingsReducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings.S Ways & MeansNguyen
SSB 5744 (HB 1988)Clean tech. tax deferralsConcerning tax deferrals for investment projects in clean technology manufacturing, clean alternative fuels production, and renewable energy storage.S Ways & MeansNguyen
SSB 5835Workers’ comp marriage studyConcerning workers’ compensation.S Rules 2Saldana
SB 5908Clean car authorityCreating the clean car authority as a new state government agency.S TransportationLiias
SSB 5910HydrogenAccelerating the availability and use of renewable hydrogen in Washington state.S Ways & MeansCarlyle