2021 Washington State Legislative Report- Week 11

Week Eleven

Friday March 26th was the opposite house policy committee cut off, where all bills that passed the House needed to be out of their Senate policy committee and all bills that passed the Senate needed to be out of their House policy committee in order to stay alive. The next cut off is on April 2nd where all bills need to be out of their opposite house fiscal committee. As a reminder all bills deemed necessary to implement the budget are not subject to these cut offs. 

This week the House and Senate Democrats released their respective Transportation, Capital, and Operating Budget proposals for the fiscal years 2021-2023. The Operating Budget proposal introduced by Senator Rolfes (SB 5092) estimates appropriations of $59.2 billion over the next two-year biennium. Rolfes’ proposal also leverages an additional $7 billion in one-time federal funds from the American Rescue Plan and a one-time transfer of $1.8 billion from the Budget Stabilization Account to the General Fund in fiscal year 2021. You can read more about the Senate proposal here and you can watch the Senate Democratic press conference on their budget release here. 

The House budget introduced by Rep. Ormsby (HB 1094) appropriates $58.3 billion for the 2021‐23 biennium. Some investments are temporary, relying on one-time funds from the  American Rescue Plan Act and/or Washington state’s Budget Stabilization Account. Other investments are long-term and require permanent funding sources. You can read more about the House Democrats “Washington Recovery Budget” here and you can watch the press conference here. 

Both the House and Senate proposals assume passage of a capital gains tax. Both budget proposals fund the Fair Start for Kids Act and the Working Families Tax Credit. The House proposal was heard this weekend on Saturday in the House Appropriations Committee and is scheduled for executive session on March 29th. The Senate proposal is scheduled to receive a hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Friday at 1:00PM.

House Democrats’ proposed capital budget (HB 1080) would fund $5.7 billion in construction projects throughout the state, including $400 million in federal funding for investments in water, sewer, and broadband service. Senate Democrats’ proposed capital budget (SB 5083), which would be the largest in state history, would build $6.2 billion in priority infrastructure across the state. 

On Monday Rep. Fey released his proposal (HB 1135) for the second supplemental transportation budget for the 2019-21 biennium which would spend $9.4 billion and the new transportation budget for the 2021-23 fiscal biennium which would spend $10.933 billion. On Sunday what will include the spending portion of the statewide revenue package was introduced (HB 1564) and it is scheduled for a public hearing on Thursday at 9am, language should be available by Wednesday.  On Tuesday Senator Hobbs released his proposal (SB 5165) for the second supplemental transportation budget for the 2019-21 biennium which would spend $9.08 billion and the new transportation budget for the 2021-23 fiscal biennium which would spend $10.7 billion.

Now that all the budget proposals have been released negotiations will begin. Both chambers will work to pass their respective budgets out of the House of Origin however ultimately only one negotiated version of each budget proposal will pass. Week twelve will be focused on fiscal committees as the fiscal committee cut off is April 2nd. From there both chambers will head back to the virtual floor to work on passing bills from the opposite house. Session is scheduled to end on April 25th.

Important Dates:

 Feb 15 – House of Origin Policy Cutoff

 Feb 22 – House of Origin Fiscal Cutoff

 March 9 – House of Origin Floor Cutoff

 March 26 – Opposite House Policy Cutoff

 April 2 – Opposite House Fiscal Cutoff April 11 – Opposite House Floor Cutoff April 25 – Sine Die

The low carbon fuel standard legislation from Representative Fitzgibbon, HB 1091, had a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means committee on Saturday, March 27th. Testimony was consistent with previous public hearing on the bill. The bill is scheduled for executive action on Tuesday March 30th. 

Senator Carlyle’s Cap & Invest legislation, SB 5126, was voted out of the Senate Ways & Means committee on Monday, March 22nd. The bill is now in Rules where it can be pulled to the Senate floor at any time for a vote. 

Decarbonization of buildings legislation brought forward by Representative Ramel (HB 1084) remains in the House Appropriations committee.  The HEAL Act legislation from Senator Saldana, SB 5141, concerns implementing recommendations from the environmental justice task force. This legislation saw executive action in the House Environment & Energy committee on Thursday, March 25th. The bill is now scheduled for public hearing in the House Appropriations committee on Tuesday, March 30th.

We continue to monitor HB 1513 and HB 1534 brought forward by Representatives Lekanoff and Shewmake concerning a proposed carbon tax and bond legislative package.  Neither bill is scheduled for public hearing at this time.

On Tuesday, March 23rd the Senate Energy, Environment and Technology Committee took executive action on HB 1280, giving a do pass recommendation. The bill passed committee on a party line vote and was referred to the Rules committee. This legislation sponsored by Representative Ramel would set requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in public facilities design. The bill has now been referred to the Senate Rules committee.

HB 1393, related to delaying the stewardship plan and annual report for solar panel manufacturers, remains in the Senate Rules committee where it can be pulled to the floor at any time for a vote.

Both Senate and House capital budgets were released this week.  At this point, the House version contains $65 million for Clean Energy, and we will push towards recommending that the legislature fund at that level.

Clean Tech Alliance Bill Status & Upcoming Events Report

Upcoming Events

Capital Budget (House) – Virtual, – 3/29 @ 9:00am

  1. HB 1080 – Public Hearing – Concerning the capital budget.  (Remote testimony.)

Appropriations (House) – Virtual, – 3/29 @ 1:30pm

  • HB 1094 – Exec Session – Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.

Ways & Means (Senate) – Virtual, – 3/29 @ 1:30pm

  • SB 5092 – Exec Session – Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.

Ways & Means (Senate) – Virtual, – 3/30 @ 1:30pm

  • E2SHB 1050 – Public Hearing – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from fluorinated gases. (Remote testimony.)
  • E3SHB 1091 – Exec Session – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel.

Capital Budget (House) – Virtual, – 3/31 @ 9:00am

  • HB 1080 – Exec Session – Concerning the capital budget.
  • HB 1081 – Exec Session – Concerning state general obligation bonds and related accounts.

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
E2SHB 1050Fluorinated gasesReducing greenhouse gas emissions from fluorinated gases.S Ways & MeansFitzgibbon
HB 1080 (SSB 5083)Capital budget 2021-2023Concerning the capital budget.H Cap BudgetTharinger
HB 1081 (SSB 5084)State gen. obligation bondsConcerning state general obligation bonds and related accounts.H Cap BudgetTharinger
SHB 1084 (SB 5093)Building decarbonizationReducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by achieving greater decarbonization of residential and commercial buildings.H AppropsRamel
E3SHB 1091 (SB 5231)Transportation fuel/carbonReducing greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel.S Ways & MeansFitzgibbon
HB 1093 (SB 5091)Operating budget, 2nd supp.Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.H AppropsOrmsby
HB 1094 (SB 5092)Operating budget 2021-2023Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium 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
SHB 1135 (SSB 5165)Transp. budget 2021-2023Making transportation appropriations for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.H Rules RFey
SHB 1204 (SB 5256)Transp. electrificationConcerning the electrification of transportation.H Rules RMacri
HB 1280Greenhouse gas/facilitiesConcerning greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the design of public facilities.S Rules 2Ramel
HB 1393Photovoltaic module programDelaying certain implementation dates for the photovoltaic module stewardship and takeback program.S 2nd ReadingShewmake
HB 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 FinanceFrame
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
SSB 5083 (HB 1080)Capital budget 2021-2023Concerning the capital budget.S WMDPSFrockt
SSB 5084 (HB 1081)State gen. obligation bondsConcerning state general obligation bonds and related accounts.S WMDPSFrockt
SB 5091 (HB 1093)Operating budget, 2nd supp.Making 2019-2021 fiscal biennium second supplemental operating appropriations.S Ways & MeansRolfes
SB 5092 (HB 1094)Operating budget 2021-2023Making 2021-2023 fiscal biennium 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
2SSB 5126Climate commitment actConcerning the Washington climate commitment act.S Rules 2Carlyle
SSB 5165 (SHB 1135)Transp. budget 2021-2023Making transportation appropriations for the 2021-2023 fiscal biennium.S 2nd ReadingHobbs
SB 5168Electric utility advisoryConcerning renewable and nonemitting resources analysis and advisory opinions.S Environment, EShort
SSB 5174Wind turbine blade recyclingProviding for the recycling of wind turbine blades.S Rules XWilson
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