2023 Weekly Legislative Update
Track the progress of Audubon Washington's priority bills below.
If you haven't already, please join our ACTION NETWORK.
Note: we’ve broken the following table into “top priorities” and “other priority legislation." If there are bills you think we should be tracking, please let us know!
POLICY PRIORITY LATEST UPDATE
| TOP PRIORITIES | POSITION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Climate and Clean Energy An interagency clean energy siting coordinating council is created and will be co-chaired by the Department of Ecology and the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce will establish a new program for the designation of Clean Energy Projects of Statewide Significance (CEPSS). The CEPSS projects will be eligible for a coordinated permitting process overseen by Ecology after an initial assessment of the projects' permit application and review process. Non-project environmental impact statements will be developed for specific types of clean energy in certain geographies, including solar energy in the Columbia Plateau. These processes will lead to the identification of clean energy preferred zones that are low-conflict and low-impact. --- Legislation: HB 1216 |
Support |
This bill passed out of the Senate and recieved concurrence from the House. The next step is Governor Inslee's desk! |
|
Climate and Growth Management This bill updates adds a climate change and resiliency goal to the Growth Management Act (GMA). Certain counties and cities must adopt a comprehensive plan under the GMA, including a climate change and resiliency element. The climate change and resiliency element must address the impacts of climate change on people, property, and ecological systems, and identify actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled. Local governments are required to include sea-level rise in the Shoreline Master Programs. --- Legislation: HB 1181 |
Support |
This bill passed out of the Senate and recieved concurrence from the House. The next step is Governor Inslee's desk! |
|
Puget Sound Shoreline Protection The Department of Ecology is directed to conduct a baseline survey of Puget Sound marine shorelines and create a comprehensive on-the-water view of the shoreline by June 30, 2024. Ecology is also tasked with updating the marine surveys of Puget Sound shorelines on a regular two-year cycle. --- Legislation: SB 5104 |
Support |
This bill passed out of the House and recieved concurrence from the Senate. The next step is Governor Inslee's desk! |
| OTHER PRIORITY LEGISLATION | POSITION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Electric Transmission Planning This legislation requires electric utility Integrated Resource Plans (IRPs) to include a 20-year forecast of the availability and requirements for regional generation and transmission capacity, and requires electric utilities to consider conditional firm transmission services when selecting and acquiring renewable resources. The Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) will oversee the siting of multi-county and multi-utility transmission facilities that are at least 500,000 volts, and will coordinate state agency environmental review for federally-proposed or sited transmission projects. --- Legislation: SB 5165 |
Support | This bill passed out of the House and recieved concurrence from the Senate. The next step is Governor Inslee's desk! |
|
Climate Strategy Response The Department of Ecology must update the Integrated Climate Change Response Strategy by September 2024 and every four years thereafter. The update must include expanded collaboration and engagement requirements, and coordination with the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group. The update must also include a state response to climate resilience-related federal funding opportunities and the development of an interagency work group structure. --- Legislation: HB 1170 |
Support | This bill passed out of the Senate and recieved concurrence from the House. The next step is Governor Inslee's desk! |
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