Track the progress of Audubon Washington's priority bills below during the 2025 legislative session.
- Step 1: Join our ACTION NETWORK to receive weekly legislative update emails in your inbox with the key action that we need that week to pass this agenda.
- Step 2: Learn about our 2025 legislative priorities.
- Step 3: Support bills below by clicking "Take Action" in the "Status" column. We will update the column weekly throughout the legislative session with the most impactful action you can take to support that bill.
Note: we’ve broken the following table into “Climate Action" priorities, "Habitat Conservation" priorities, and "Urban Conservation" priorities. If there are bills you think we should be tracking, please let us know!
A Bill's Path in the Washington Legislature:
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| Passed Legislature | On Governor's Desk | Governor Acted | Bill Becomes Law | |
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POLICY PRIORITY LATEST UPDATE
| PRIORITIES | POSITION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
Climate Action |
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Accelerating the development of clean energy and transmission To establish a framework for the state to provide the information, planning, and support needed to responsibly accelerate clean energy project development and electrical transmission facilities in ways that protect the environment, support tribally-led clean energy development, and support local communities. --- |
Support |
Did not advance this session. |
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Improving reliability and capacity of the electric transmission system in Washington state To improve reliability and capacity of the electric transmission system in Washington state, which will contribute to improving resilience, including during extreme weather events, increasing access to low-cost renewable energy, achieving clean electricity requirements and greenhouse gas emissions limits, supporting economic growth, and maintaining affordable energy rates. --- |
Support |
Did not advance this session. |
|
Invest in Climate Action
62% of voters upheld the state’s Climate Commitment Act to reduce dangerous climate pollution and invest in clean air, public health, job creation, and transportation. As the state faces a large funding shortfall, this legislation ensures that budget writers uphold the people’s will: Climate funds should be used for their intended purpose. --- |
Support |
More information coming soon. |
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Improving accessibility of community solar projects in Washington state
The purpose of community solar programs is to facilitate broad, equitable community investment in and access to solar power. This bill would update programs by increasing the size of projects eligible, adding to the eligible administrators, requiring biennial reporting, adding labor requirements, and modifying the amounts, timing of, and set asides for incentive payments. --- |
Support |
Did not advance this session. |
|
Concerning fair access to community solar
In addition to contributing towards the state's clean energy goals, community solar expands equitable access to the benefits of clean energy for investor-owned utility ratepayers and communities, particularly for income-qualified households, renters, and other individuals unable to install on-site solar. This act would improve the rules for community solar projects to benefit the subscribers with consumer protections, ensuring they are effectively and equitably receiving credits from participating in the program. It would also increase the maximum allowable size of non-utility community solar projects from 1000 kilowatts to 5000 kilowatts. --- |
Support |
Did not advance this session. |
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Concerning the sustainable farms and fields grant program
The Sustainable Farms and Fields Grant Program was created in 2020 to provide competitive grant opportunities enabling farmers and ranchers to adopt practices that increase appropriate quantities of carbon stored in and above their soil and to initiate or expand the level of precision agriculture on their farms. This bill would amend allowable uses of funding, prioritization criteria, and timelines in the program to benefit grant recipients. --- Legislation: SB 5391 |
Support |
SB 5391: ✔ Passed Senate --- ✔ Passed House --- Governor signed into law on April 22nd. |
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Concerning the clean fuels program.
The Clean Fuel Standard cuts climate pollution from transportation - the largest source of greenhouse gases in Washington - through reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuels and increasing the use of low-carbon fuels and electricity. HB 1409 strengthens the program, providing for more investment in clean fuels. --- Legislation: HB 1409 |
Support |
HB 1409: ✔ Passed House --- ✔ Passed Senate --- Governor signed into law on May 21st. |
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Protect Advanced Clean Trucks & Climate Progress
The Advanced Clean Truck rule is critical for Washington to meet its climate targets in law and for improving our health. Delaying this rule by even two years would create $67.6-83.7 million in health costs. Protecting this rule will also help spur market demand and certainty up and down the West Coast, making cleaner vehicles more accessible, visible, and exciting. This legislation will protect both the Advanced Clean Truck rule and investments of Climate Commitment Act revenue in programs supporting energy efficiency in our homes and businesses. --- |
Support | Learn more: Protect Advanced Clean Trucks & Climate Progress |
Habitat Conservation |
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Concerning special license plates and personalized license plates.
For many years, residents have had the option to purchase personalized license plates that help support vital conservation activities through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. A small, but overdue increase in renewal fees for these personalized license plates is being proposed to help meet this need. --- Legislation: SB 5444 |
Support |
SB 5444: ✔ Passed Senate --- ✔ Passed House --- Governor signed into law on May 21st. |
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Protect the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) from harmful budget cuts Our legislators face tough decisions in light of a significant projected budget shortfall over the next eight years. Washington’s birds—and the ecosystems they depend on—are at a critical juncture. Now is the time to urge our State Legislature to protect the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) from harmful budget cuts that would jeopardize biodiversity restoration, including vital bird conservation efforts. What's good for birds is good for people and the planet, and we are calling on legislators to fully fund WDFW at the agency’s requested level, with a special emphasis on providing an additional $10 million for the Recovering Washington’s Biodiversity program. This initiative is crucial to the protection and restoration of habitats that support our birds and other wildlife. --- Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) Budget Factsheet |
Support |
More information coming soon. |
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Ensuring connectivity for Washington wildlife through safe passages The Department of Fish and Wildlife shall develop an integrated strategy to implement and periodically update the Washington wildlife habitat connectivity action plan. In developing the strategy, the department shall consult with tribal governments, federal agencies, and nongovernmental partners representing nonprofit conservation organizations and academia, for recommending funding strategies and priorities to the legislature, and developing agency budget requests. --- Legislation: SB 5203 |
Support |
Did not advance this session. |
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Extending a program to streamline the environmental permitting process for salmon recovery projects This bill would make the salmon habitat recovery pilot program created in 2021 permanent and streamline project permitting for habitat restoration projects that have been determined to contribute to the recovery of watersheds throughout the state. --- |
Support |
Did not advance this session. |
|
Kelp Bill - Establishing the state marine forest The foundational species of the state's underwater forests, bull kelp, has declined dramatically throughout south and central Puget Sound in recent years, endangering its crucial role in our marine and coastal ecosystems. Conserving and recovering this vital species relies on awareness that our bull kelp forests are critical to Washington's identity, culture, economy, and ecology. In recognition of this important habitat, the state legislature hereby designates bull kelp forests as the official state marine forest. --- Legislation: HB 1631 |
Support |
HB 1631: ✔ Passed House --- ✔ Passed Senate --- Governor signed into law on May 21st. |
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Expanding opportunities for organic, regenerative, climate-smart, and sustainable producers
Organic agriculture offers an opportunity for farmers, ranchers, food processors, and other businesses to diversify their operations and participate in higher value markets. However, producers face a significant expense in achieving organic certification. This bill will identify and remove existing regulatory and market barriers that are preventing agricultural producers from integrating organic and regenerative practices and accessing certified organic markets. It will also enable more efficient, more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agriculture, to effectively contribute to food availability, accessibility, affordability, and allow our farms to continue to thrive. --- |
Support |
Did not advance this session. |
Urban Conservation |
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The Recycling Reform Act: Improving Washington's solid waste management outcomes More than 50% of Washington’s consumer packaging and paper products are landfilled or incinerated, wasting an estimated $104 million in valuable materials. The Recycling Reform Act will require packaging and paper product companies and brands to fund our recycling system. This will bring consistent and accessible recycling to all state residents. It will reduce packaging and excess waste and create education programs to reduce confusion. --- |
Support |
SB 5284: ✔ Passed Senate --- ✔ Passed House --- Governor signed into law on May 21st. |
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Recycling Refunds Washington's current recycling system does not collect and recycle the majority of containers to their highest and best use in order to optimize the economic and environmental benefits of recycling for Washington residents. This bill would enact a recycling refund program for glass, plastic, and metal beverage containers within an extended producer responsibility framework. These systems will help companies who manufacture these products meet recycled content goals and reduce their environmental footprint, as well as drive up recycling rates by providing a direct financial incentive for residents to return used containers. --- |
Support |
Did not advance this session. |
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Sewage Spill Right-to-Know Hundreds of sewage overflows occur every year, and few are widely reported to the general public. Sewage discharges contribute to a range of environmental harms including toxics exposure and bacterial pollution. Spill reports to the Department of Ecology are not searchable or compiled and available in a timely way to the public to use for active decision-making for personal pollution exposure. This policy would require the Department of Ecology to establish a public-facing website with maps and searchable sewage spill records. --- |
Support |
HB 1670: ✔ Passed House --- ✔ Passed Senate --- Governor signed into law on May 21st. |
How you can help, right now
Be the Voice for Birds
Decision makers need to hear from you. Sign up for Audubon Washington's Action Alerts and you will have an opportunity to weigh in on proposals that impact birds.
Get Involved
Birds need YOU! Get involved in helping to preserve our birds and their habitats today. There is something for everyone!
Take Action on Climate Change
Does your decision maker know that climate change is number one threat to birds? Ask for their help to protect the birds, the places, and the planet we love.
