2022 Washington State Legislative Report-Week 2

Week Two

 

January 17th, MLK Day marked the start of the second week of the legislative session. Both chambers started the week by honoring late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr by adopting resolutions on the floor. On Monday Democratic leaders in both the House and the Senate gathered for media availability where they answered questions about their priorities and various bills moving through the legislative process.  This week was again full of virtual committee hearings and executive sessions and also included floor action on some priority bills.

Legislators continue to prioritize legislation that would delay implementation of Washington State’s WA Cares long term care payroll tax. HB 1732 that would delay implementation by 18 months and HB 1733 that would establish voluntary exemptions, passed the House. Both bills have been referred to the Senate Ways and Means Committee and are scheduled for public hearings on Monday, January 24th and the executive action the next day. Employers throughout the state continue to watch closely as they struggle with the decision on whether or not to collect the tax in anticipation of legislative action. 

This week we also saw hearings on “middle housing” proposals including HB 1782/SB 5670 which is Governor request legislation and HB 1981 sponsored by Rep. Gerry Pollet. All of the proposals were heard in their respective chambers on January 18th. All of these proposals have the same goal of creating additional middle housing in areas typically designated for single-family homes. While there is broad support for the proposals, local jurisdictions expressed concerns with applying the same standards to all cities that meet the criteria. Sponsors of the bill are working with various stakeholders, at this point it is unclear which proposal will be the vehicle, but this issue will continue to be a priority for the legislature. 

On Wednesday, the Senate State Government and Elections Committee heard SB 5560, which aims to promote transparency in the redistricting process. The bill would require the Commission to release the final plan to the public at least three days before they vote. The bill is sponsored by Senator Jamie Pedersen (D-43) in response to last year when the commission failed to meet their deadline. 

Both Republicans and Democrats continue to express interest in passing a transportation revenue package this session, however it could be challenging to reach an agreement in the short 60-day session. Democrats are expected to release their proposal later this session. New Senate Transportation Chair Marko Liias (D-21) has expressed the possibility of using dollars from the state’s operating budget yet it remains unclear if the House will be supportive of that approach. 


Next week committee hearings and executive sessions will continue. As a reminder this is a 60-day session and all bills that are not considered necessary to implement the budget must be out of their house of origin policy committee by February 3rd in order to stay alive.

This week, the House held hearings on EITE related to the Climate Commitment Act, while the Senate focused on recycling and navigating the decarbonization policies for both buildings and utilities.   

Hearings of Interest:

House Environment & Energy – 1/25/2022 8:00 AM

Public Hearing:

  • HB 1896 – Providing for responsible environmental management of batteries. (Remote testimony.)
  • HB 1822 – Improving Puget Sound water quality. (Remote testimony.)

Possible Executive Session:

  • HB 1694 – Concerning logistical processes for the regulation of priority chemicals in consumer products.

House Environment & Energy – 1/27/2022 1:30 PM

Public Hearing:

  • HB 2002 – Concerning the siting of energy infrastructure necessary for the fulfillment of the state’s decarbonization goals. (Remote testimony.)
  • HB 1964 – Concerning the decommissioning of alternative energy facilities. (Remote testimony.)

Possible Executive Session:

  • HB 1812 – Modernizing the energy facility site evaluation council to meet the state’s clean energy goals.

House Environment & Energy – 1/28/2022 10:00 AM

Public Hearing:

  • HB 1869 – Encouraging salmon recovery through voluntary stewardship. (Remote testimony.)
  • HB 1606 – Concerning the correction of culverts. (Remote testimony.)
  • HB 1766 – Modifying the regulation of gas companies to achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. (Remote testimony.)

Senate Environment, Energy & Technology – 1/26/2022 8:00 AM

Public Hearing:

  • SB 5842 – Concerning state laws that address climate change. (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute.) (Remote testimony.)
  • SB 5732 – Concerning green roofs on large commercial and multifamily buildings. (Remote testimony.)
  • SB 5910 – Accelerating the availability and use of renewable hydrogen in Washington state. (Remote testimony.)
  • SB 5715 – Modifying the definition of broadband or broadband service. (Remote testimony.)

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

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 Passed 3rdRamel
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.S Ways & MeansSullivan
ESHB 1733Long-term care/exemptionsEstablishing voluntary exemptions to the long-term services and supports trust program for certain populations.S Ways & MeansPaul
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 ENVIDPRamel
HB 1768Energy conservation projectsUpdating definitions applicable to energy conservation projects involving public entities.H Exec ActionDuerr
HB 1770 (SB 5669)Energy codesStrengthening energy codes.H Exec ActionDuerr
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
HB 1988 (SB 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 2002Energy infrastructure sitingConcerning the siting of energy infrastructure necessary for the fulfillment of the state’s decarbonization goals.H Env & EnergyFitzgibbon
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, ELovelett
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, ENguyen
SB 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 Environment, ENguyen
SB 5835Workers’ compensationConcerning workers’ compensation.S Labor, Comm &Saldana
SB 5910HydrogenAccelerating the availability and use of renewable hydrogen in Washington state.S Environment, ECarlyle