2022 Legislative Session
Climate Related Legislation That Passed
Land Use
Growth Management Act
SB 5042 Closing the GMA Loophole
This loophole allows development outside urban growth boundaries by taking advantage of the appeals process. The county can allow development (e.g. to meet growth goals), and then groups can appeal to the GMA board (e.g., because its outside the urban growth boundary). While the appeal is being heard, the county can issue building permits, and even if the appeal is upheld, the building permits are grandfathered in.
Affordable Housing Next Steps
Last year, the Legislature passed HB 1220, which was a huge step forward, but there was no funding for local jurisdictions to implement it. This year the Legislature passed funding for it.
Building Decarbonization
Last year's Healthy Homes and Clean Buildings omnibus bill failed to pass due to stiff opposition from fossil fuel companies and labor unions. In 2022, the same basic policies were split into four different bills, all of which failed to pass.
Transportation
SB 5974 & SB 5975: State Transportation Package. The new package has $16B of spending spread out over 16 years, with no bonding, so it is a "pay as you go" agreement on spending. Spending is a mix of highway expansion, highway maintainance, active transportation, local transit, and ultra-high speed rail. Revenue is from the gas tax, supplemented by the General Fund, and from the Climate Committment Act (Cap & Trade). More info
HB 1644 – Student transportation. The bill specifies that the transportation vehicle fund can also be used to complete a feasibility plan to transition from gas or diesel student transportation vehicles to electric or alternative fuel ones; and for the purchase, installation, and repair of charging and fueling stations for those, as well as other costs necessary for station installation. (source: Climate at the Legislature)
SB 5528 – Allow Regional Transit Authority (such as Sound Transit) sub-areas.
HB 1389 Reduce insurance requirements for peer to peer car rentals. Amended to require cars to have a twice the minimum level of insurance.
Other Bills
HB 1753 – Reinstate tribal veto in Washington Climate Commitment Act.
HB 1663 Reducing methane emissions from landfill.
HB 1280 GHG emissions reductions in construction and leasing of public buildings. Includes the cost of greenhouse gas emissions and the consideration of all-electric systems in the analysis of buildings the State’s constructing or leasing.
HB 1793 Concerning electric vehicle charging stations in common interest communities. The bill prevents an apartment owners’ association from prohibiting or unreasonably restricting the installation or use of an electric vehicle charging station in a designated parking space for the personal use of an apartment owner.
SB 5616 Allows using the energy efficiency account permanently for loans, loan guarantees, and grants that reduce greenhouse gas emissions for emissions-intensive, trade-exposed industries.
HB 1753. Creates requirements for consultation with tribes on expenditures from the Climate Commitment Act.
HB 1768. Update definition of energy conservation projects. Expanding the definition of the conservation projects that the Department of Enterprise Services and school districts are to implement (if they’re cost effective) to include projects reducing energy demand or greenhouse gas emissions.
SB 5590. Eliminating the 2022 expiration date of the marine resources advisory council. Allows continued study of ocean acidification.
SB 5678. Provides for preliminary declarations by the UTC on whether proposed energy projects would comply with a utility’s requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Energy Transformation Act
HB 1619. Update appliance efficiency standards.
SB 5818 Limits review and appeals under the State Environmental Policy Act and Growth Management Act to promote housing construction in cities.
SB 5619 Protecting kelp forests. Develops a plan to conserve and restore at least 10,000 acres of kelp forests and eelgrass meadows by 2040.
SB 5722 Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Creates a benchmarking and energy management program (and eventual performance standards) for multifamily buildings of at least 50,000 sq. ft. and other buildings between 20,000 and 50,000 sq.ft.
HB 1799. Concerning organic materials management. Increases food composting and reduces food waste.
HB 1988. Defer taxes for clean energy projects. Creates a ten year sales and use tax deferral for projects investing at least $2 million in clean technology manufacturing, clean alternative fuels production, generating renewable electricity, or storing it, with options for reducing or eliminating the deferred taxes.
SB 5849. Tax break for solar. Extends the reduced B&O tax rate for manufacturers of solar systems and components for five years; creates 10 year property tax exemption for new industrial or manufacturing facilities in designated areas. Passed the Senate, referred to House Finance.
SB 5714. Creating a sales and use tax deferral program for solar canopies placed on large-scale commercial parking lots and other similar areas. Passed Senate, in House Finance.