Climate Bills in the 2023 Washington State Legislative Session
Recommendations for Which Bills Should Be Supported and Which Ones Should Be Opposed
January 15, 2023 – One of the questions asked at the January 11 Panorama Green Team Meeting was “Can you provide recommendations regarding which climate-related bills being considered by the State Legislature this year we should support to help reduce our carbon emissions?” The paragraphs below describe an excellent resource for tracking climate-related bills, followed by my personal recommendations on bills introduced as of this date which I believe meet the questioner’s criteria.
I strongly recommend that you explore the website “Climate at the Legislature” ( WaClimateLeg.info ), an excellent way to keep up on legislative bills now being introduced daily. Even better, at that website, sign up for the emailing list to receive updates as they occur.
That website summarizes each bill, tracks the bill’s path through the required committees, and lists hearings schedules. The website also has a link to the Legislature’s primary public page where you can submit a comment for a hearing, sign up to testify online, or simply indicate your support or opposition for any specific bill.
For background, see Gov Inslee’s 2023 Budget Proposal – Climate-related portion: ofm.wa.gov/sites/default/files/public/budget/statebudget/highlights/budget23/09-Climate.pdf, which contains pages 78-93 of the Proposed 2023-25 Budget and Policy Highlights.
My recommendations for bills to SUPPORT:
HB1078 – Concerning urban forest management ordinances (My note: to optimize carbon sequestration)
SB5093 / HB1170 – Update to state’s integrated climate response strategy.
HB1135 – Authorizing using impact fees for bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
HB1176 / SB5247 – Creating a Washington Climate Corps and evaluating climate and energy transition workforce requirements.
HB1164 – Creates a producer responsibility program for appliance refrigerants and insulating foam. (My note: Leaking refrigerants are many times more potent than CO2 as a Greenhouse Gas.)
SB5203 / HB1181 – Updating planning requirements to improve the State’s climate response.
HB1192 / SB5165 – Improving electric power system transmission planning.
HB1131 / SB5154 – Improving solid waste management outcomes.
HB1185 – Updating and expanding the state’s producer stewardship program for lighting products.
SB5312 – Creates a residential property assessed clean energy and resiliency (R-PACER) program.
SB5309 – Eliminates the public utility tax exemption for the in-state portion of interstate oil shipments. (My note: removes a public subsidy for fossil fuel use.)
HB1216 / SB5380 – Consolidating and streamlining the siting of clean energy projects
HB1236 – Improving access to renewable hydrogen for public transportation.
HB1391 – Creating a state-wide building energy upgrade assistance program (“concerning energy in buildings”)
HB1427 – Expanding utility net-metering
HB1433 – Adopting a standard method for use in programs for the energy labeling of existing residential buildings
HB1509 – Fair access to community solar
HB1553 / SB5144 – Requires battery producers to participate in and to fund a stewardship program
HB1589 / SB5562 – Supporting Washington’s clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future (Requiring steps to transition off natural gas)
My recommendations for bills to OPPOSE:
SB5037 – Preventing the Energy Code from prohibiting the use of natural gas in buildings. (My note: Building sector emits 23% of the total Washington State carbon emissions, primarily for heating by gas; best alternative is heat pump using electricity generated by renewable energy sources = zero emissions.)
HB1181 – Prohibiting Washington from adopting California vehicle emissions standards. (My note: Transportation sector represents 45% of Washington State’s carbon emissions. Current WA/CA (plus 20+ nations) pathway is to ban sales/registration of NEW internal combustion engine (ICE) cars as of 2035. EVs greatly reduce carbon emissions, especially when recharged by carbon-free electricity grid.)
HB1193 – Prohibiting the Building Code Council from restricting the use of natural gas or natural gas appliances in residential construction. (My note: This is part of the 23% source of Washington State carbon emissions, and also a major health/safety concern. For example, 12% of childhood asthma cases are attributed to use of natural gas in the home.)
How to Express Your Opinion on These Bills:
To find out how to contact your state senator or representatives about these bills or to submit a letter to the editor, see Contact Information for Issues.
A quick way to get your comments on individual bills to all legislators of your district is to go to website WaClimateLeg.info and search for the bill number. Then click on the bill number to go to the page devoted to the bill. Then click on “Legislative tracking page for the bill”. This will take you to a page on app.leg.wa.gov for the specific bill you requested. That page will list the current status of the bill. On this page, click on the button “Comment on this bill”, which provides the options available to leave a comment or just indicate your support or opposition to the bill.
Wayne Olsen
January 15, 2023 – Updated January 26, 2023