Climate policy/reporting

AN ACT Relating to making the implementation of climate policy 1
contingent on the department of ecology reporting greenhouse gas 2
emissions in a manner that allows for measuring the effectiveness of 3
those policies in a timely manner; amending RCW 70A.45.020; adding a 4
new section to chapter 70A.30 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 5
70A.60 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 70A.65 RCW; adding a new 6
section to chapter 70A.535 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 7
19.405 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 19.27A RCW; and creating 8
a new section. 9
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:10
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) The legislature finds that Washington 11
state has enacted numerous greenhouse gas emissions reduction 12
policies in recent years, including programs that impose substantial 13
compliance costs on consumers, businesses, utilities, fuel suppliers, 14
and local governments. These policies have contributed to significant 15
increases in energy costs, including higher electricity rates and 16
fuel prices borne directly by Washington households and employers.17
(2) The legislature further finds that accountability and 18
transparency are essential to ensuring that state climate policies 19
are both effective and fiscally responsible. The statutory framework 20
governing Washington's climate laws requires the department of 21
H-2521.1
HOUSE BILL 2150
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Representatives Manjarrez, Jacobsen, Chase, Keaton, Graham,
Marshall, and Couture
Prefiled 12/16/25. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Environment & Energy.
p. 1 HB 2150
ecology to produce a comprehensive, science-based greenhouse gas 1
emissions inventory, and to update that inventory on a regular 2
schedule so that policymakers and the public may evaluate whether 3
emissions reduction policies are achieving their intended outcomes.4
(3) The legislature finds that, despite these clear statutory 5
obligations, the department of ecology has failed to produce the 6
required inventory in a timely manner, resulting in a multiyear 7
delay. This delay has been the subject of substantial public concern 8
and litigation seeking to compel the state to comply with existing 9
law. The public currently lacks reliable information necessary to 10
determine whether Washington's high-cost emissions reduction policies 11
are reducing emissions, and policymakers lack the data required to 12
measure cost-effectiveness or make evidence-based adjustments.13
(4) The legislature finds that effective public policy must be 14
grounded in timely, accurate, and transparent data. Without the 15
greenhouse gas emissions inventory, the public cannot evaluate 16
whether the costs imposed through utility bills, transportation 17
fuels, and other sectors are resulting in measurable emissions 18
reductions, nor can the state assess whether regulatory approaches 19
are working as intended or require modification. 20
(5) Therefore, the legislature intends to restore public trust 21
and ensure accountability by requiring the state to publish a 22
complete greenhouse gas emissions inventory and update it on a 23
quarterly basis beginning January 1, 2027. The legislature further 24
intends that certain statewide greenhouse gas emissions reduction 25
policies that impose costs on Washington consumers or businesses 26
shall be of no further force or effect if the state fails to produce 27
such inventory updates. Publication of greenhouse gas emissions 28
inventories on the required timelines is essential to ensuring that 29
the public receives timely and transparent evidence that state-30
imposed costs are producing the emissions reductions promised by law.31
(6) It is the intent of the legislature that climate policy in 32
Washington be data-driven, transparent, cost-effective, and 33
accountable to those who ultimately bear its financial burden. The 34
people of Washington deserve clear and timely information 35
demonstrating whether the policies they are paying for are reducing 36
emissions, and that information must be made public as a condition of 37
continuing to enforce high-cost regulatory programs.38
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Sec. 2. RCW 70A.45.020 and 2025 c 195 s 2 are each amended to 1
read as follows: 2
(1)(a) The state shall limit anthropogenic emissions of 3
greenhouse gases to achieve the following emission reductions for 4
Washington state: 5
(i) By 2020, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the 6
state to 1990 levels, or 90,500,000 metric tons; 7
(ii) By 2030, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the 8
state to 50,000,000 metric tons, or 45 percent below 1990 levels;9
(iii) By 2040, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in 10
the state to 27,000,000 metric tons, or 70 percent below 1990 levels;11
(iv) By 2050, reduce overall emissions of greenhouse gases in the 12
state to 5,000,000 metric tons, or 95 percent below 1990 levels.13
(b) By December 1, 2008, the department shall submit a greenhouse 14
gas reduction plan for review and approval to the legislature, 15
describing those actions necessary to achieve the emission reductions 16
in (a) of this subsection by using existing statutory authority and 17
any additional authority granted by the legislature. Actions taken 18
using existing statutory authority may proceed prior to approval of 19
the greenhouse gas reduction plan. 20
(c) In addition to the emissions limits specified in (a) of this 21
subsection, the state shall also achieve net zero greenhouse gas 22
emissions by 2050. Except where explicitly stated otherwise, nothing 23
in chapter 14, Laws of 2008 limits any state agency authorities as 24
they existed prior to June 12, 2008. 25
(d) Consistent with this directive, the department shall take the 26
following actions: 27
(i) Develop and implement a system for monitoring and reporting 28
emissions of greenhouse gases as required under RCW 70A.15.2200; and29
(ii) Track progress toward meeting the emission reductions 30
established in this subsection, including the results from policies 31
currently in effect that have been previously adopted by the state 32
and policies adopted in the future, and report on that progress. 33
Progress reporting should include statewide emissions as well as 34
emissions from key sectors of the economy including, but not limited 35
to, electricity, transportation, buildings, manufacturing, and 36
agriculture. 37
(e) Nothing in this section creates any new or additional 38
regulatory authority for any state agency as they existed prior to 39
January 1, 2019. 40
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(2)(((a))) The department and the department of commerce shall 1
post and maintain on the department's website and report to the 2
governor and the appropriate committees of the senate and house of 3
representatives the total emissions of greenhouse gases for the 4
((most recent two years for which such data are available )) preceding 5
two years, updated on a quarterly basis , and totals in each major 6
source sector, including emissions associated with leaked gas 7
identified by the utilities and transportation commission under RCW 8
81.88.160. The report must include greenhouse gas emissions from 9
wildfires, developed in consultation with the department of natural 10
resources. The department shall ensure the reporting rules adopted 11
under RCW 70A.15.2200 allow it to develop a comprehensive inventory 12
of emissions of greenhouse gases from all significant sectors of the 13
Washington economy. The report required under this section must be 14
completed by December 31st of each even-numbered year through 15
((2030)) 2026, and must be completed ((by December 31st of each year 16
beginning December 31, 2031 )) on a quarterly basis by March 31st, 17
June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st of each year beginning 18
in 2027. Each quarterly update published by the department must 19
catalog the total emissions of greenhouse gases through the calendar 20
quarter that ended exactly one year prior to the quarterly update.21
(((b) In addition to the report required in (a) of this 22
subsection, by December 31, 2027, and December 31, 2029, the 23
department and the department of commerce shall post and maintain on 24
the department's website and provide notification to the governor and 25
the appropriate committees of the senate and the house of 26
representatives summarizing the total emissions of greenhouse gases 27
for the most recent year for which such data is available, and totals 28
in each major source sector reported as required under (a) of this 29
subsection.))30
(3) Except for purposes of reporting, emissions of carbon dioxide 31
from industrial combustion of biomass in the form of fuel wood, wood 32
waste, wood by-products, and wood residuals shall not be considered a 33
greenhouse gas as long as the region's silvicultural sequestration 34
capacity is maintained or increased. 35
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 70A.30 36
RCW to read as follows: 37
Effective immediately upon a failure by the department and the 38
department of commerce to publish a quarterly report on greenhouse 39
p. 4 HB 2150
gas emissions as required under RCW 70A.45.020, the department must 1
cease implementation, administration, and enforcement of zero 2
emission vehicle program requirements under this chapter.3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 70A.60 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
Effective immediately upon a failure by the department and the 6
department of commerce to publish a quarterly report on greenhouse 7
gas emissions as required under RCW 70A.45.020, the department must 8
cease implementation, administration, and enforcement of the programs 9
and standards authorized under this chapter, including the 10
refrigerant management program authorized in RCW 70A.60.030 and the 11
requirements and standards under RCW 70A.60.020, 70A.60.060, 12
70A.60.070, 70A.60.080, 70A.60.090, 70A.60.100, and 70A.60.120.13
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 70A.65 14
RCW to read as follows: 15
Effective immediately upon a failure by the department and the 16
department of commerce to publish a quarterly report on greenhouse 17
gas emissions as required under RCW 70A.45.020, the department must 18
cease implementation, administration, and enforcement of the cap and 19
invest program authorized under this chapter. 20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 70A.535 21
RCW to read as follows: 22
Effective immediately upon a failure by the department and the 23
department of commerce to publish a quarterly report on greenhouse 24
gas emissions as required under RCW 70A.45.020, the department must 25
cease implementation, administration, and enforcement of the clean 26
fuels program authorized under this chapter. 27
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 19.405 28
RCW to read as follows: 29
Effective immediately upon a failure by the department and the 30
department of commerce to publish a quarterly report on greenhouse 31
gas emissions as required under RCW 70A.45.020, the department must 32
cease implementation, administration, and enforcement of the 33
requirements of this chapter, including the standards established in 34
RCW 19.405.030 and 19.405.040. 35
p. 5 HB 2150
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 19.27A 1
RCW to read as follows: 2
Effective immediately upon a failure by the department and the 3
department of commerce to publish a quarterly report on greenhouse 4
gas emissions as required under RCW 70A.45.020: 5
(1) The department must cease implementation, administration, and 6
enforcement of the energy performance standards for covered buildings 7
under this chapter, including RCW 19.27A.200 through 19.27A.260; and8
(2) The department and local governments must cease 9
implementation, administration, and enforcement of the state energy 10
code adopted under this chapter, and the department and local 11
governments must instead apply the most recent version of the 12
international energy conservation code. 13
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p. 6 HB 2150