In 2024, the Legislature adopted three emergency management bills, largely in response to recent significant events in Washington including the 2023 wildfires and a hazardous spill.
HB 1012, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D–University Place), establishes an Extreme Weather Response grant program to help communities respond to hot or cold weather events or severe poor air quality due to wildfire smoke. AWC fully supported this bill as a small but important step to ensuring that cities have access to state funding when needed to take steps to protect their residents during extreme weather events and wildfires. The supplemental operating budget appropriated $1.5 million for FY 2025 for these grants.
The state established another emergency response grant program in HB 2020, sponsored by Rep. Joe Timmons (D–Bellingham). This bill creates a grant program for emergency assistance to county governments and tribes that experience public infrastructure damage due to natural, technological, or human-caused disasters.
Lastly, SB 6164, sponsored by Sen. Keith Wagoner (R–Sedro Woolley), requires local comprehensive emergency management plans to require expeditious public notification in the event of a Type 1 or Type 2 hazardous spill or release. The intent is to ensure the public is promptly notified about a potentially hazardous situation and can attend a public meeting to learn more about the spill or release.
Bill # | Description | Status |
|---|
HB 1012 | Extreme weather response grant program | Law; effective June 6, 2024. |
HB 2020 | Creating a public infrastructure assistance program within the emergency management division | Law; effective June 6, 2024. |
SB 6164 | Public notification requirements in emergency hazardous spills | Law; effective June 6, 2024. |
HB 1952 | Long-term community recovery after disasters | Did not pass. |
HB 2330 | Wildfire mitigation and resiliency workgroup | Did not pass. |