Legislative Work

Bills that did not advance

The Re-WRAP Act (HB 2049 / SB 6005 – Washington Recycling And Packaging Act.  Officially: Improving Washington’s solid waste management outcomes. Last year the WRAP Act bill numbers were HB 1131/SB 5154): This is our #1 priority bill. Championed by Representative Liz Berry and Senator Liz Lovelett, and includes product stewardship for packaging and printed paper, including recycling and reuse targets, accurate labeling provisions and requirements for post-consumer recycled content in plastic tubs, thermoform containers (e.g., clamshells), and single-use cups.This bill implement top recommendations in Ecology’s Plastics Study (October 2020) which was required by Senator Rolfes’ SB5397 in 2019 to address our recycling crisis and the increasing amount of plastic pollution. Here is a WRAP Act factsheet. Watch the WRAP Act launch last year on TVW (January 4, 2023) at the Seattle Aquarium here (24 minutes):  click here STATUS: Senate: Heard in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 pm on January 24, 2024. House: Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading on February 9, 2024. Did not get placed for a vote on the House floor.

Right to Repair (SB 6276 / HB 1933 – Supporting the servicing and right to repair of certain products with digital electronics in a secure and reliable manner): Championed by Representative Gregerson and Senator Derek Stanford. This bill requires digital electronic product manufacturers, such as Apple and Microsoft, and manufacturers of wheelchairs, appliances, and tractors to make repair information, parts and tools available to independent repair businesses and owners. There’s a huge amount of e-waste! For example, on average, Washington disposes of 8,700 phones every day. This bill would make it possible for small businesses to repair these items. Extending the life of computers, tablets and cellphones, farm equipment, wheelchairs, and appliances will decrease the need for more resources, energy and transportation to manufacture new products – therefore also decreasing greenhouse gas. This bill will lower costs for consumers, get used computers, tablets and cell phones into the hands of people who need them, and help overcome digital inequities in Washington. This way, people will keep using their items instead of tossing them! STATUS: Senate: Heard in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 8:00 am on January 24, 2024. House: Heard in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 8:00 am on January 9, 2024.

Beverage deposit aka Bottle Bill (HB 2144 – Providing for a deposit return program for qualifying beverage containers to be implemented by a distributor responsibility organization): Championed by Representative Stonier, this bill would establish a system that facilitates the return of beverage containers, with a 10 cent refund. Bottle bills are known to help reduce litter and also increase recycling. In addition, reuse (i.e., sanitizing the containers and refilling with beverage) can work well in these systems. We are concerned, however, that convenience for residents to return their containers be improved in the current proposed policy. STATUS: Referred to Rules 2 Review on February 5, 2024.

Refrigerant recycling (HB 2401 – Providing for the responsible management of refrigerant gases with a higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide that are used in appliances or other infrastructure): Championed by Representative Davina Duerr, this bill would create a producer responsibility program for refrigerants. STATUS: Passed off House floor (57-40-0-1) on February 9, 2024. In the Senate: Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 9:00 am on February 21, 2024.

PFAS in biosolids (SB 6163 – Concerning biosolids):  Led by Sen Wilson, this establishes a monitoring program for PFAS (i.e., the forever chemicals) in biosolids from wastewater treatment facilities. Biosolids are spread in forests and on farms … and we are concerned about the impacts of these bioaccumulating toxic chemcials.  STATUS: Passed off the Senate floor (49-0-0-0) on February 12, 2024. In the House:  Executive action taken in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 4:00 pm on February 20, 2024.

Improving tire efficiency (HB 2262– Reducing the rolling resistance of motor vehicle replacement tires and SB 6304 – Implementing certain recommendations of the transportation electrification strategy (not a companion bill)): The way a tire is made can significantly impact gas mileage for the vehicle using the tire and other factors such as how much the tire sheds (microplastics). This bill, championed by Rep. Street, requires that tires sold in Washington meet a minimum efficiency standard for rolling resistance, improving gas mileage for all vehicles. Tires sold with most cars (original equipment tires) already have low rolling resistance, due to federal regulation.This bill ensures that replacement tires are just as efficient as those that came with a new car. While not yet studied, likely the features of tires that result in lower rolling resistance (i.e., essentially less friction) will result in fewer particles shedding.  We are concerned, though, that the chemicals used must be screened to ensure we are not creating another 6ppd situation – that is, shifting to more toxic chemicals.  SB6304, championed by Sen. Liias is a much broader bill and includes rolling resistance standards as one component. STATUS: Senate: Placed on second reading by Rules Committee on February 7, 2024.  House: Senate Rules “X” file on February 15, 2024.

Promoting regenerative agriculture (SB 6278– Promoting organic agriculture): Championed by Sen. Liias, this bill establishes an Organic and Regenerative Agriculture Task Force, and requires WSDA to develop an Organic Agriculture Action Plan and submit the plan to the Legislature by November 1, 2025. Critical to regenerative agriculture is compost! STATUS: Senate: Passed off Senate floor (49-0-0-0) on February 6, 2024. In the House: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 am on February 20, 2024.

Disclosure and tracking of fashion impacts (HB 2068 / SB 5965– Concerning the environmental impacts of fashion): Championed by Rep. Mena and Sen. Nguyen. Fashion retail sellers or fashion manufacturers with annual worldwide gross income greater than $100,000,000 must disclose its environmental due diligence policies, processes, and outcomes, including  significant real or potential adverse environmental impacts and disclose targets for prevention and improvement. STATUS: Senate: Heard in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 8:00 am on January 12, 2024. House: Heard in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 8:00 am on January 11, 2024.

Farm and fields program enhancement (SB 5484 – Supporting Washington’s food production system by providing technical assistance in support of improved voluntary environmental stewardship): Led by Senator Sharon Shewmake, this bill established a network of sustainable farms and fields advisors through conservation districts and increases specificity in the farms and fields grant program related to technical assistance to farms including carbon sequestration and organic matter in soil.  This will help increase use of compost. STATUS: Carried over from last session. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status on January 8, 2024.

Adding to farm and fields program (SB 5551 / HB 1574 (not a pure companion) Supporting Washington’s crop and livestock farms, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and generating renewable energy by capturing methane): Led by Senator Shewmake and Representative Rule, this bill provides cost-share grants and technical assistance via the state conservation commission’s sustainable farms and fields program to support alternative manure and agricultural waste management which is a suite of practices that collect, treat, and store manure and agricultural waste to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on crop and livestock farms. Status: Senate: Carried over from last session: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status on January 8, 2024. STATUS: House: Executive action taken in the House Committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources at 8:00 am on January 31, 2024.

Large highway debris (SB 5178 – Concerning large debris removal from interstate highways):  Led by Senator Fortunato, this bill would significantly increase litter fines (and directs where the fines go). STATUS: Heard in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 pm on January 30, 2024.

Volunteer litter cleanup (SB 5222 – Concerning the “pick it up, Washington” litter control program):  Led by Senator Wilson, this bill creates network of volunteers who agree to participate in the “pick it up, Washington” program. STATUS: Carried over from last session: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status on January 8, 2024.

Mowing and litter cleanup (SB 6174 – Coordinating the scheduling of mowing and litter pickup along state highways):  Led by Senator Wilson, this bill prioritizes coordinating mowing after litter cleanup. Mowing over roadside litter spreads litter, makes it more difficult to collect and breaks it down into smaller pieces, that then gets carried by stormwater into our waters – and thus creates the pathway for more microplastic pollution. STATUS: Heard in the Senate Committee on Transportation at 4:00 pm on January 30, 2024.

Municipal wastewater waste heat (HB 1836 – Concerning the treatment of waste1574 heat under the clean energy transformation act): Led by Representative Hackney, this bill designates municipal wastewater facility that generates waste heat to be considered a thermal renewable energy credit under the clean energy transformation act. Status: House: Carried over from last session: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status on January 8, 2024.

Solid waste collection rates (HB 1264 – Encouraging equitable treatment for different categories of solid waste utility customer under local solid waste collection rates): Sponsored by Representative Walen, this bill would require counties to publish on their website whether fees and rates for single-family residential, multifamily residential and commercial customers are proportional to costs of providing services STATUS: Carried over from last session: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status on January 8, 2024.