Dear friends and neighbors, 

We’re at the midpoint of the legislative session and spending the week on the House floor! I’m excited to share the results from our recent survey (thank you for all the incredible responses!) and highlight the environment and energy bills I’ve been leading through committee.  

Thank you to the 743 community members who shared their thoughts in our recent survey! Your feedback helps guide my work in Olympia and ensures the 22nd District’s values are represented. Here’s what you told us: 

💰 High Earners Income Tax 

• 67% support a tax on individuals making $1 million or more per year. 

• Comments highlighted a strong desire for fairness and funding for education, housing, and healthcare. 

🏢 Payroll Tax on Large Employers 

• 54% support, with many still undecided. 

• Many respondents want large corporations to contribute their fair share, while also ensuring job and business impacts are considered. 

What this tells us: You care about fairness, sustainability, and accountability. These survey results will guide my priorities in Olympia as we work to create policies that reflect our community’s values. 

Thank you for speaking up – your voice matters!  

HB 1903 — Statewide Low-Income Energy Assistance Creates a statewide energy assistance program to help reduce energy burdens for low-income households. By standardizing eligibility and expanding access to bill assistance, this bill ensures families aren’t forced to choose between keeping the lights on and meeting other basic needs. 

HB 2215 — Strengthening Climate Commitment Act Compliance Closes loopholes in Washington’s Climate Commitment Act by ensuring more large fuel suppliers are subject to emissions reporting and reduction requirements. This strengthens accountability, protects the integrity of our climate program, and ensures all major polluters play by the same rules. 

HB 2271 — Expanding Recycled Content Standards Strengthens and expands postconsumer recycled content requirements for plastic. By increasing demand for recycled materials, this bill reduces plastic pollution, supports recycling markets, and helps keep waste out of landfills and waterways. 

HB 2245 — Clean Energy Transformation Act Clarifications (my bill!) Clarifies and updates Clean Energy Transformation Act requirements to ensure all electricity providers are contributing to Washington’s clean energy goals. This bill strengthens fairness, transparency, and accountability as we move toward a 100% clean electricity future. 

HB 2272 — Updating Ski Area Safety Terminology For all my skiing constituents, this bill modernizes state law governing ski lift safety by updating terminology to reflect the equipment currently used at ski areas. This ensures State Parks inspectors can continue to oversee ski lift safety effectively and that operators and skiers are held to clear, up-to-date safety standards. 

HB 2426 — Improving Efficiency in Environmental Permit Appeals Improves efficiency in appeals to the Pollution Control Hearings Board by allowing, with unanimous consent, permit appeals to be heard by alternative combinations of qualified board members or administrative appeals judges. This helps reduce delays in the permitting process while maintaining expertise and fairness in environmental decision-making. 

HB 2367 — Ending Coal-Specific Preferences Removes outdated exemptions and tax preferences for a coal-fired power plant in Washington. This bill helps Washington stay on track with our clean energy transition and ensures fair, consistent rules for utilities and regulators. 

HB 2296 — Expanding Access to Customer-Owned Energy Devices Allows Washington residents to safely install meter mounted devices that will allow you to connect new solar, EV chargers, etc. without having to upgrade your electric panel. This bill helps more households and businesses participate in the clean energy transition, saves energy costs, and supports the growth of distributed energy resources across the state. 

HB 2301 — Expanding Paint Recycling and Producer Responsibility The bill expands the successful paint recycling program that allows for the safe collection, recycling, and proper disposal of leftover paint across the state, providing financial relief to local household hazardous waste facilities.  

HB 2416 — Supporting Waste-to-Energy Facility Compliance Provides Spokane’s waste-to-energy facility a clear pathway for greenhouse gas reductions under the Climate Commitment Act. The bill sets enforceable emission reduction targets, requires long-term waste reduction and recycling planning, and ensures community engagement while protecting local ratepayers from steep cost increases. 

HB 2436 — Strengthening Oil Tanker Safety in Puget Sound Requires oil tankers of 40,000–125,000 deadweight tons entering Puget Sound to have tug escorts with sufficient horsepower to safely guide them. This bill reduces the risk of oil spills in sensitive waterways. 

HB 2496 — Strengthening Tribal Consultation for Energy Projects Requires the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) to conduct formal, government-to-government consultation with federally recognized tribes when reviewing energy projects. By ensuring tribes can share input on cultural, religious, and treaty-protected resources in a private, respectful setting, this bill helps prevent harm to sensitive sites, builds stronger relationships with tribal nations, and supports more thoughtful, responsible development of renewable energy infrastructure. 

HB 2515 – Data Center Energy Use & Clean Energy Standards (my bill!) This bill sets rules for large new or expanding data centers to protect energy customers, support clean energy, and ensure responsible growth. It requires clear policies to serve these facilities without shifting costs to other customers, helping keep energy affordable and the grid reliable. 

HB 2537 – Emissions-Intensive, Trade-Exposed (EITE) Facilities (my bill!) This bill requires large industrial facilities that get free carbon allowances under the Climate Commitment Act to submit plans to reduce their emissions and directs the State Department of Ecology to provide guidance to the legislature on how EITEs are managed in our cap-and-trade program post 2035.  

HB 2575 – Streamlining Energy and Utility Reporting This bill reduces certain reporting requirements for electric and water utilities and the Department of Commerce. It keeps important information public while cutting unnecessary or duplicative reports, making the system more efficient and less burdensome for utilities and state agencies. 

HB 2421 – Phasing Out Harmful Chemicals in Tires This bill sets a 2035 deadline to stop the manufacture, sale, and distribution of vehicle tires containing 6PPD or harmful 6PPD substitutes. 6PPD breaks down in the environment into a chemical toxic to salmon and other aquatic life, so this bill helps protect Washington’s waterways, fish, and communities while encouraging safer alternatives. 

HB 1607 – Bottle Deposit and Recycling Program This bill creates a 10-cent refund program for beverage containers in Washington, designed to reduce litter, improve recycling, and increase reuse, complementing existing extended producer responsibility programs. 

SHB 1302 – Utility Connection Waivers for Sustainable Projects This bill lets local governments waive utility connection fees for properties used by organizations practicing industrial symbiosis. By encouraging collaboration that reduces waste, saves energy, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions, the bill supports sustainable, resource-efficient development and helps Washington communities adopt cleaner, more innovative industrial practices.

Together, your voices and our committee’s work are helping Washington lead on equity, clean energy, and environmental protection – building a healthier, more sustainable future for our communities. 

Best,  

Beth