Before the legislative session begins each year, a number of bills are pre-filed to give us an idea of what we can expect. After the session begins, more bills are filed. A number of these bills, if passed, would fundamentally alter your way of life as a Washingtonian…and not always for the better.
There are two classification of bad bills:
- Bills that will cost you more money
- Bills that will limit your choices
Bills that will cost you money are those that will raise taxes on you or businesses, deduct money from your paycheck, or increase your costs because businesses will pass them on to you.
Bills that limit your choices are those that tell you what you can and cannot buy, use, and control in other ways some of the most basic aspects of your daily life (for example, banning gas-powered vehicles). The following ‘bad’ bills did not pass out of committee this session:
The Wood Burning Stove Bill
The State Department of Ecology supported Senate Bill 5174, which would have given them the authority to regulate wood, pellet, and other solid fuel burning stoves. Proponents of the bill cited pollution regulations. Opponents claimed Ecology’s rules would have driven manufacturers out of business and forced people to use alternative heating sources.
State Provided Healthcare for Immigrants
House Bill 1482 would have expanded Washington’s Applecare program to cover all immigrants who are ineligible for federal healthcare. Immigrants aged 19 and up who earn at or below 138% of the federal poverty level are eligible. While the bill did not receive a hearing, it may be included as a provision in the budget.
The Cow Farts Bill
House Bill 1630 would have required dairy and feedlot owners in the state to report their cows’ methane emissions to the Department of Ecology. If those methane emissions (cow farts) exceeded a certain threshold, the operations would be subject to the Climate Commitment Act’s guidelines and requirements.
Indoor Climate Change
House Bill 1031 was…a doozy. This bill, sponsored by a State Representative from Federal Way, would have addressed climate change in the classroom. According to the bill, OSPI would have been required to create climate standards for schools.
the realities of climate change, including rising temperatures, are already upon us. Consequently, average and extreme temperatures in Washington state are likely to rise dramatically over the next century.
But wait, there is more:
The legislature further finds that because many of the state’s school facilities lack adequate cooling systems, our teachers and students are likely to experience increasingly negative climate change-related impacts on their ability to teach and learn in the classroom.
This is the first year of the biennial cycle, so just because the bill dies this session does not mean it cannot be brought back in January 2026 for a second chance. We can only hope that the emphatic refusal to pass these bills reduces the likelihood of them becoming zombie bills and rising from the dead.
