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 “top priorities” and “other priority legislation." If there are bills you think we should be tracking, please let us know!
POLICY PRIORITY LATEST UPDATE
| PRIORITIES | POSITION | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Accelerating the development of clean energy and transmission To establish a framework for the state to provide the information, planning, and support needed to accelerate the pace of development for clean energy projects and electrical transmission facilities, while also protecting the environment, overburdened communities, and tribal rights, interests, and resources, including cultural resources, and bringing benefits to the communities that host clean energy projects. --- |
Support |
HB 1328: Public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy on Monday, January 27th at 1:30 PM. Audubon Testify (video link) --- SB 5359: Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Friday, January 31st at 10:30 AM. Audubon Testify (video link) |
|
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 in 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 |
HB 1673: Public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy on Monday, February 3rd at 1:30 PM. Audubon Testify (video link) --- SB 5466: Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Friday, January 31st at 10:30 AM. Audubon Testify (video link) |
|
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. --- Legislation: Coming soon |
Support |
More information coming soon. |
|
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. --- Legislation: HB 1409 |
Support |
HB 1409: Public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources on Tuesday, January 28th at 4:00 PM (video link). |
|
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 |
HB 1150: Public hearing in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Tuesday, January 21st at 4:00 PM (video link). ---SB 5284: Public hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on Tuesday, January 28th at 1:30 PM (video link) |
|
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 |
HB 1607: Public hearing in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Monday, February 3rd at 1:30 PM (video link) --- SB 5502: Public hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on Wednesday, January 29th at 8:00 AM (video link) |
|
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 |
SB 5203: Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation on Monday, January 27th at 4:00 PM. (video link) |
|
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 |
HB 1208: Public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources on Tuesday, January 28th at 10:30 AM (video link) ---SB 5155: Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Local Government on Thursday, January 23rd at 1:30 PM (video link). --- |
|
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: SB 1631 |
Support |
Monday, January 27th: First reading, referred to State Government & Tribal Relations. |
|
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. --- Legislation: HB 1670 |
Support |
HB 1670: Public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy on Tuesday, February 2nd at 4:00 PM (video link). |
How you can help, right now
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