You are here

Home » Budget » Budget-related information » Environmental justice and the HEAL Act » Environmental justice assessment notices

Environmental justice assessment notices

The Healthy Environment for All Act (HEAL Act) requires specific state agencies to conduct an environmental justice assessment for significant agency actions.

  • The development and adoption of significant legislative rules as defined in RCW 34.05.328.
  • The development and adoption of any new grant or loan program that the agency is explicitly authorized or required by statute to implement.
  • A capital project, grant, or loan award costing at least $12,000,000.
  • A transportation project, grant, or loan costing at least $15,000,000.
  • The submission of agency request legislation to the Office of the Governor or OFM for approval.

An environmental justice assessment is a process to:

  • identify and assess the impacts of a significant agency action on overburdened communities, vulnerable populations, and Tribes;
  • solicit community and tribal input in the development of the action and on options to mitigate, reduce or eliminate harms and equitably distribute benefits associated with the action;
  • report on how the agency did or did not modify the action based upon community and tribal input.

The goal of an EJ assessment is to help a state agency make decisions and to assist with:

  • equitably distributing environmental benefits;
  • reducing environmental harms;
  • identifying and reducing environmental and health disparities through the implementation of the action.

Agencies covered by the HEAL Act or who have opted in to the HEAL Act requirements include these departments:

  • Agriculture (WSDA)
  • Commerce
  • Ecology
  • Health (DOH)
  • Natural Resources (DNR)
  • Transportation (WSDOT)
  • Office of the Attorney General
  • Puget Sound Partnership (PSP)

Under RCW 70A.02.090 each covered agency must file a notice with us of significant agency actions for which the agency is initiating an environmental justice assessment. We prepare a list of all filings received from covered agencies each week to post here every Friday.

Below is list of state agency environmental justice assessments that you can filter by agency or type of action, or use the search bar to find certains terms. Select the "+" symbol for desciptions of the action, how the public can provide input, and a link to the EJ assessment when completed. For a dashboard summarizing the assessments received to date, see the HEAL Act dashboards.

Date submitted Date initiated Date completed Agency Type Agency action Description Methods for providing public comment Status
01/12/2024 01/08/2024 10/23/2024 Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Aligning electric vehicle supply equipment rules in chapter 16-662 WAC with federal technical requirements Amends chapter 16-662 WAC, Weights and Measures, to align with the Federal Highway Administration's National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program's technical requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment payment methods. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Completed
An Environmental Justice Assessment Of the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Amendments to Chapter 16-662 WAC
09/05/2024 09/05/2024 Ongoing Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Rule Making to Amend Chapter 16-202 WAC, Application of Pesticides and Plant Nutrients through Irrigation Systems The Department is considering modifying the rules for chemigation and fertigation monitoring to incorporate present technological capabilities and potential future automation capabilities for application of pesticides and fertilizers through irrigation systems. Govdelivery notification and website posting. Ongoing
02/06/2024 01/01/2024 07/19/2024 Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Japanese Beetle Quarantine Expansion Amends and expands the Japanese beetle quarantine to include additional portions of Yakima and Benton Counties, as well as a portion within the city Pasco. Soil samples will be added to the list of regulated articles, and a clarification will be made that cut flowers exposed to open air environments are a regulated article. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Completed
An Environmental Justice Assessment Of the 2024 Japanese Beetle Quarantine Expansion
07/19/2024 04/23/2024 Ongoing Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Amending the Apple Maggot Quarantine Boundary in chapter 16-470 WAC. As a result of a petition for rule making, the department is considering expanding the apple maggot quarantine area in Okanogan County. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Ongoing
05/21/2024 03/22/2024 06/25/2024 Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules WSDA Grain Inspection Program’s Rulemaking for Chapter 16-240 WAC: Definitions, Standards, and Fees WSDA is proposing to amend Chapter 16-240 WAC by increasing some of the Grain Inspection Program fees, revising some of the fee structures to more accurately reflect the scope of services provided (including but not limited to adding fees for services that are not specifically identified) and to clarify language to ease in the understanding of the rule. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Completed
An Environmental Justice Assessment Of the Rulemaking for Chapter 16-240 WAC, WSDA Grain Inspection Program - Definitions, Stand
07/19/2024 03/24/2024 Ongoing Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Amending the commercial feed and pet food/specialty pet food rules in chapters 16-250 and 16-252 WAC. Adopts the latest version of the Association of American Control Officials (AAFCO) Official Publication (OP), clarifying areas of the rule regarding livestock feed and including additional categories of product types that were previously absent. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Ongoing
10/14/2024 08/12/2024 Ongoing Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Establishing a quarantine to prevent untreated firewood from entering Washington State The department is considering establishing a quarantine of untreated out-of-state firewood to prevent the introduction of plant pests and bee pests. The movement of firewood containing plant pests and bee pests poses a threat to Washington’s forests, agricultural, and environmental interests. Eggs, larvae, and adult stages of many invasive insect pests can be carried on or inside firewood and are easily spread when firewood is moved from one location to another. Introductions of these invasive insect pests have destroyed forests and are costly to control. Such invasive plant pests include emerald ash borer, spongy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, spotted lanternfly, pine wood nematode, Sirex woodwasp, Japanese cedar longhorn beetle, and other insects and organisms that can directly or indirectly injure or cause disease or damage in plants or parts of plants or in processed, manufactured, or other products of plants, or that can be considered bee pests. Many states, including Oregon, have already enacted firewood quarantines that prohibit out-of-state firewood that has not been properly heat-treated against pest organisms. These quarantines seek to prevent potentially infested firewood from entering the state and introducing invasive plant pests and bee pests. This firewood quarantine is necessary to disrupt a dispersal pathway for several invasive plant pests, especially wood-boring insects, and will help prevent their introduction into Washington. TBD Ongoing
07/19/2024 06/24/2024 Ongoing Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Amending the fees that support the Fruit & Vegetable Inspection Program in chapter 16-390 WAC. Increases Fruit & Vegetable Program fees and revises the fee schedule to more accurately reflect the scope of services provided, including but not limited to adding fees for services that are not specifically identified in current rule. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Ongoing
08/25/2023 08/01/2023 03/04/2024 Agriculture, Department of Agency-request legislation Agricultural Pest and Disease Revolving Funds This significant agency action establishes permanent funding to prepare for, prevent, detect, contain, and eradicate identified agricultural pest and disease threats before they become established and authorizes funding for WSDA to take immediate actions to build capacity, execute rapid response, and maintain trade resiliency. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly in communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Completed
An Environmental Justice Assessment of the Establishment of an Agricultural Pest & Disease Revolving Fund
10/14/2024 10/17/2023 Ongoing Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Amending chapter 16-303 WAC to increase seed certification fees In response to a petition for rule making submitted by the Washington State Crop Improvement Association (WSCIA), the department is considering amending WAC 16-303-340 by increasing fees to align with the current cost of providing certification services, add quinoa as a crop that is certified under this section and otherwise align with the department’s seed certification rules and fees. TBD Ongoing
04/16/2024 04/11/2024 04/25/2024 Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Accreditation of Cannabis Laboratories The WA State Department of Agriculture is proposing a new ruleset to establish a state program for the accreditation of cannabis laboratories in accordance with the standards set forth in 16-309 WAC. The purpose of the program is to ensure that laboratory standards described in chapter 16-309 WAC are followed when testing cannabis and cannabis products in Washington State. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Completed
An Environmental Justice Assessment of the Establishment of Chapter 16-310 WAC, Accreditation of Cannabis Laboratories
07/19/2024 04/17/2024 Ongoing Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Amending chapter 16-752 WAC, by adding species to the prohibited plants list. Adds additional species to the noxious weed seed and plant quarantine, which would prohibit their sale and distribution. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Ongoing
08/25/2023 08/01/2023 09/13/2023 Agriculture, Department of Agency-request legislation Private Cannabis Lab Accreditation Transition from Ecology to WSDA This significant agency action moves the authority to conduct lab accreditation of private cannabis laboratories from the Dept. of Ecology to WSDA. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly in any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Completed
An Environmental Justice Assessment of Transferring the Authority to Accredit Cannabis Labs from ECY to WSDAs
01/10/2024 12/04/2023 Ongoing Agriculture, Department of Significant legislative rules Aligning general pesticide rules with federal certification and training standards Amends chapter 16-228 WAC, General Pesticide Rules, to align with SB 5330 (Chapter 186, Laws of 2023), the federal certification and training standards in 40 CFR 171 passed in 2017, and the Washington Plan for Certification of Pesticide Applicators approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in December 2022. Members of the public can direct their comments on this significant agency action to envjustice@agr.wa.gov. Community engagement, particularly for any communities identified as overburdened for this significant agency action, will also occur as part of the development of the environmental justice assessment. Ongoing
06/27/2024 06/27/2024 Ongoing Board of Health, Washington State Significant legislative rules Primary and Secondary School Environmental Health and Safety Standards The State Board of Health (Board), in collaboration with the Department of Health (Department) is conducting an Environmental Justice Assessment for proposed rules regulating environmental health and safety standards for K-12 schools. This rulemaking is required by a budget proviso that was included in the Washington State 2024 supplemental operating budget, (Section 222, subsection 159, page 492). The new chapter will establish updated, minimum statewide health and safety standards for schools and formalize school environmental health and safety inspection procedures. Topics that may be addressed in proposed rules are: • Indoor air quality including heating, cooling, and ventilation • Water quality • Noise • Moisture and mold • Lighting • Restrooms/showers • Playgrounds • Laboratory and shop safety • Sewage • Food safety ~ May 2024: Invite Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Members - The proviso named specific organizations to work in collaboration with the Board to update the rules as part of a technical advisory committee (TAC). A full list of required representatives can be found on the agency webpage linked. The Board will include additional members such as Parent-Teacher Organizations, Teachers Unions, Students, and private schools. ~ Aug 2024 – Nov 2024: TAC Meetings - Work with members of the TAC to draft rule language and discuss implementation. TAC meetings are open to the public and everyone is welcome to join. ~ Dec 2024: Focus Groups- Virtual and in-person meetings will be held to discuss preliminary draft language to help the Board rulemaking team make informed decisions about finalized draft rule language. These meetings will take place across Washington state. All members of the public are welcome to participate in these focus groups. ~ Dec 2024: Informal Comment Period - Invite all interested parties to review and share feedback on the draft rule language. All members of the public are welcome to provide comments during the informal comment period. Ongoing
08/26/2024 03/01/2024 10/02/2024 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Establish a Clean Energy Development Office within Commerce The Clean Energy Development Office would promote and support statewide clean energy planning (i.e., identify preferred areas for clean energy development and transmission corridors); develop incentives and other mechanisms to guide clean energy development to appropriate areas (tax policy, community benefits, zoning, workforce development, etc.); support transmission planning and interconnection to the grid; and manage a dashboard to track clean energy development and progress toward meeting clean energy goals. It would also lead Build- Ready development (modeled on a NY Program) that pre-permits sites and then auctions them to developers to reduce time and risk for clean energy projects. The CEDO concept is an outgrowth of previous engagement work conducted for the Low Carbon Siting Study (2022) and an independent assessment required by HB 1216 (Beveridge & Diamond, 2024). The concept is also reflected in letters sent by a coalition of environmental organizations including TNC, Audubon and others. In addition, the concept is reflected in recommendations from the Clean Energy Siting Council, established under HB 1216, which includes representatives from the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs and the Environmental Justice Council. Additional feedback will be sought from tribes and members of overburdened communities and vulnerable populations as this concept is developed. Commerce has been reaching out directly to stakeholders and fielding public comments. Completed
Establish a Clean Energy Development Office within Commerce
03/27/2025 03/27/2025 Ongoing Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Develop and adopt Tribal Electric Boats Program Commerce and tribal leaders are developing the Tribal Electric Boats Program (TEBP) to fund the purchase of new electric boats as well as electrification and hybridization projects. Eligible applicants are tribal governments, tribal enterprises, and tribal citizens with tribal government support. The intent of the proviso is to decarbonize tribal marine vessels for fishing and related purposes (enforcement, patrol, research, etc.). Email comments; GovDelivery emails; Stakeholder Interviews; Web-based comment form; Other Ongoing
01/14/2025 01/14/2025 Ongoing Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Green Jobs Infrastructure Grants Grants to projects that demonstrate high-wage, clean job creation in Washington, provide risk reduction for investments in public and private infrastructure in order to increase a community's capacity for clean manufacturing, or provide investments in workforce development to attract and train the workforce required to grow the clean energy economy Public comments period on the draft EJA has opened. Hosting of public Q / A Email Gov delivery WEBS notification Community Networking Ongoing
05/10/2024 04/10/2024 02/26/2025 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Legal Assistance: Community Reinvestment Program Provides outreach and education to support the vacating of criminal records and legal financial obligations relief and aims to address the needs of Black, Indigenous and Latino individuals impacted by the criminal justice system in disproportionately affected neighborhoods in Tacoma and Seattle. Advisory Groups Community Meetings (as guest), GovDelivery, Office Hours posted on the Department of Commerce Community Reinvestment Project website, Email through Dept of Commerce Community Reinvestment Project Website. DRAFT EJA for PUBLIC COMMENT IS NOW OPEN. CLICK HERE: https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/file/1737472417484 Completed
Legal Assistance: Community Reinvestment Program
01/22/2025 01/22/2025 Ongoing Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program Cohort 3 The Innovation Cluster Accelerator Program Cohort 3, administered by Washington State Department of Commerce, aims to assist organizations with growing cluster operations, driving innovation in key sectors around the state, and attracting talent and capital. Public Comment Period on the EJA draft is open. Commerce sponsored tribal briefing, Commerce pre-proposal conference Ongoing
06/25/2025 06/20/2025 Ongoing Commerce, Department of Significant legislative rules Enabling Compliance with the Clean Buildings Performance Standard This rulemaking will introduce a number of statutory changes to the Clean Buildings Performance Standard based on the recommendations of the Clean Buildings Workgroup and as passed in HB 1543 (2025). These changes are made with the intent of making it easier for buildings to comply with the standard. For example, the passage of HB 1543 gave Commerce the authority to grant extensions to buildings where there are circumstances that prevent compliance. Email comments GovDelivery Emails Commerce-hosted Listening Sessions, including the Fall 2025 Community Involvement Session Ongoing
08/29/2024 08/29/2024 Ongoing Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Cannabis Technical Fix The RCW 43.330.540 Section 1(ii) states “Cannabis licensees holding a license issued after April 1, 2023, and before July 1, 2024, who meet the social equity applicant criteria under RCW 69.50.335” we are expanding this to match the Bill 5080 to extend the timeline to 2032. In addition, we are expanding grantee recipients to include Research Stipends and Renewal Energy construction. The program is based on the Social Equity Task Force. This Task Force will make recommendations to promote business ownership among individuals who have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, in order to remedy the harms resulting from the enforcement of cannabis-related laws. The Task Force will work to center the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities that have been most impacted by enforcement of cannabis-related laws. Ongoing
09/13/2023 09/13/2023 11/28/2023 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Repealing the greenhouse gas content calculation requirement in RCW 19.405.070 This bill repeals a statute enacted in 2019 that requires that electric utilities submit to Commerce a calculation of the greenhouse gas content of the electricity they supply to their customers. This report is unnecessary because more complete and stringent reporting requirements were enacted by the Legislature in 2021. This bill would not result in any positive or negative environmental or health outcomes for communities in Washington and is therefore found to not be SAA. The public may provide comments during committee public hearings in the legislative session, but Commerce does not plan to conduct additional outreach. Completed
Repealing the greenhouse gas content calculation requirement in RCW 19.405.070
02/06/2024 01/08/2024 02/20/2025 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program State Home Energy Assistance Program State appropriation provided solely for the department to administer grant funding through the existing network of federal low-income home energy assistance program grantees to provide low-income households with energy utility bill assistance. Under the grant program, each household accessing energy bill assistance must be offered an energy assessment that includes determining the household's need for clean cooling and heating system upgrades that improve safety and efficiency while meeting Washington's climate goals. Virtual meetings and post plan to website for review Completed
State Home Energy Assistance Program
11/28/2023 09/01/2023 12/05/2023 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Solar Consumer Protections This legislative proposal would establish solar consumer protections in statute. Commerce has developed this proposal after hearing about an increase in problematic sales and installation practices of distributed solar energy systems. The proposal focuses on contracts between solar energy contractors and residential or commercial property owners. The language would establish required contract provisions to make customers aware of what services they will and will not receive. The contract provisions would be enforceable in a legal proceeding or under RCW 19.86 (the Consumer Protection Act). Commerce held a public workshop on the proposal on September 27, 2023 to share information and collect input. This fall, Commerce's Energy Division has been hosting meetings around the state on a potential statewide energy bill assistance program. At those meetings, we are sharing a fact sheet on the solar consumer protections legislative proposal and information on how to provide input. Commerce is continuing to accept public input through this smartsheet form: https://tinyurl.com/solarleg. Completed
Solar Consumer Protections
06/27/2024 05/30/2024 10/25/2024 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Washington Families Clean Energy Credits Grant Program The Washington Families Clean Energy Credits Grant Program dedicates $150 million to assist low- and moderate-income households with the clean energy transition. This initiative will offer bill credits of $200 per income qualified household to eligible residential customers through their electric utility provider.The Department of Commerce will distribute grants to all utility companies in Washington, enabling them to pass on $200 bill credits to customer accounts by September 15, 2024. March - September 2024: Community Meetings (as guest) Email comments OTHER Print Media Web-based comment form A call center may be supported and furnished with Commerce's administrative funding. However, this has not yet established in contract. Completed
WA Families Clean Energy Credits Grant Program
07/30/2024 05/10/2024 10/02/2024 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Direct Cash Transfer for Youth Pilot Program Agency Request Legislation with funds appropriated to implement a pilot program during 2025-2027 to give direct cash transfers to youth experiencing homelessness or housing instability Currently, the funds passed during the 2023-2024 legislative session to contract and design a direct cash transfer program are being utilized to host a team of individuals with lived experience to host focus groups and decide how to design the pilot program. OHY has agreed that we can utilize the existing planned focus groups which will occur in late August to specifically ask about environmental justice and health in relation to the proposed program to utilize for the final EJA. Completed
Direct Cash Transfer for Youth Program ARL
02/04/2025 02/04/2025 Ongoing Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program 2025 Clean Energy Community Grants The Clean Energy Community Grants is a new program established to award $41,116,360 to the planning, design, and implementation of clean energy technologies through a non-competitive solicitation. Applicants will be invited to submit project proposals on an invitation-only basis. Commerce hosts a Listening Session and public comment can be submitted via email. Ongoing
08/30/2024 08/30/2024 10/25/2024 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation ARL - Increase ADO Funding & Update Governing Statute Proposed bill addresses inequitable reporting requirements, provides equitable funding floors and ceilings, and addresses ADO match requirements that provide greater discretion to the agency to define. Open meeting, written comment, and solicitation through ADO association. Completed
ARL - Increase ADO Funding & Update Governing Statute
04/09/2024 04/09/2024 08/16/2024 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Law Enforcement Vehicle Pursuit Technology Grant Program New program to provide law enforcement with grants for modern vehicle pursuit management technology (for example: GPS tracking equipment, automated license plate readers, aircraft, and non-armed and non-armored drones, etc.). Grants are for local law enforcement agencies (including tribal law enforcement agencies). Proposals must include a request for specific technology and a specific plan for implementation, use, and effectiveness reporting of that technology. Local law enforcement agencies seeking grants must: 1) Establish data-sharing and management policies; and (2) Establish policies ensuring all operating personnel are trained to use the requested technology and comply with the data-sharing and management policies mentioned in item 1 above. This program is expected to reduce the danger of pursuits in communities by giving law enforcement more efficient and modern tools. More technology being implemented may track additional data that may not have been historically tracked. Following a competitive process (RFP S24-34444-001) 18 contractors were selected for SFY '24. These are listed below: Omak Police Department Monroe Police Department Benton County Sheriff's Office Marysville Police Department Kirkland Police Department Woodland Police Department Everett Police Department Reardan Police Department Lake Forest Park Police Department Puyallup Police Department Cowlitz County Sheriff's Office Port Angeles Police Department in partnership with Lower Elwha Tribal Police Richland Police Department Washougal Police Department Olympia Police Department Yakima Police Department West Richland Police Department Spokane County Sheriff's Office In process: setting up a webpage, email engagement, and working with community engagement team internally. Completed
Law Enforcement Vehicle Pursuit Technology Grant Program
11/28/2023 09/01/2023 12/05/2023 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Codifying the Clean Energy Fund This legislative proposal would codify the Clean Energy Fund as a permanent program at the Department of Commerce and establish the central principles and rules of the program. The Clean Energy Fund (CEF) was established as a Governor Inslee initiative in 2013 and has been championed by his administration. It is critical to establish permanence for this program so that it can continue to provide the investments needed to accelerate Washington’s transition to clean energy and ensure that all communities are able to participate in and benefit from this transition. CEF not only catalyzes the development of new technologies needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions but it also enables adaptation of these technologies to suit the different needs and conditions of communities throughout the state. The Legislature has provided biennial funding for investments through the CEF which has resulted in a reincarnation of the program every two years. Establishing the CEF program in statute creates continuity, establishes clear objectives for a permanent program, and enables the program to be responsive to policy, market transformation and local needs. It also signals the Legislature's enduring commitment to partner with communities to achieve a clean, affordable, resilient and just energy future. The Department of Commerce seeks regular feedback and community input on how we design and implement Clean Energy Fund (CEF) grant opportunities. This includes workshops on funding opportunities and regular engagement with entities participating in and interested in applying to CEF. In 2020, an Energy and Climate Advisory Committee was convened to evaluate how CEF could be improved and made more accessible. Many of the recommendations of the Committee's report have been incorporated into this proposal. Most recently, the Department of Commerce issued a Request for Information this fall on how to implement the latest round of funding under the Clean Energy Fund. Commerce's overarching goal is to ensure that access to CEF funds is equitable and that implementation of CEF reduces burdens that can prevent communities from participating in clean energy innovation. Notably, the proposed legislative language would require Commerce to give priority to applications for projects that benefit vulnerable populations and overburdened communities. Completed
Codifying the Clean Energy Fund
07/11/2024 06/25/2024 09/12/2024 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation WSBO Program Update, including SBO Goals Update and Transfer of the administrative duties for the Digital Equity Forum to the Office of Equity This Agency Request Legislation will accomplish two things. First, to formally move the administration of the Digital Equity Forum to the Office of Equity. Second, we also plan to update WSBO goals in RCW 43.330.536 to better align with the current work in PWB, CERB and the SBO. Input for this ARL can be provided using our public comment form. https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/78649f9ca0b74d35854a7e817bd0e349 Completed
State Broadband Office Program Update ARL
10/03/2024 04/01/2024 Ongoing Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Consolidated Permit Grant Commerce was tasked by the Legislature with implementing a new grant program to cities and counties through the provisions of RCW 36.70B.240. An appropriation of $1.5 million dollars was designated for this grant program. This grant is intended to help jurisdictions consolidate various permit approval processes for individual projects into a unified and streamlined approach. This way a new development that needs perhaps a building permit, plumbing permit, grading permit, demolition permit, etc. can make one application for the project and all approvals will be processed concurrently reducing the approval time for new development. Public comments were taken by the Legislature during adoption of SB 5290 which was codified as RCW 36.70B.240. A public meeting was held on May 1, 2024 for prospective applicants to review grant application requirements and answer questions. Ongoing
07/30/2024 05/10/2024 10/02/2024 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Housing- and Homelessness-Related RCW Changes This proposal seeks to make seven (7) RCW changes to streamline and clarify statutes related to housing and homelessness programs operated by Commerce. Tribal engagement and survey Completed
Housing and Homelessness Related RCW Changes ARL
01/19/2024 12/26/2023 06/03/2024 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Grant program funding to local governments to protect and improve salmon recovery and water quality through smart growth planning Provide funding to local governments and tribes to revise their comprehensive plans and development regulations to better integrate stormwater and salmon recovery work in local jurisdiction's plans and programs. Email comments, GovDelivery emails, listening sessions Completed
Grant program funding to local governments to protect and improve salmon recovery and water quality through smart growth plannin
09/05/2024 05/15/2024 02/26/2025 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Economic Development: Community Reinvestment Program The development and adoption of any new grant or loan program that a covered agency is explicitly authorized or required by statute to carry out. Advisory Groups Community Meetings (as guest), Focus Groups, GovDelivery Emails, Stakeholder Interviews and Steering Committee. Completed
Economic Development: Community Reinvestment Program
05/10/2024 04/10/2024 09/06/2024 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Distribution of the Community Reinvestment Account: Violence Prevention Provides capacity building and technical support to existing OFSVP funding programs addressing the prevention and intervention of firearm violence. Public comment on EJA draft linked below Advisory Groups Community Meetings (as guest) GovDelivery, Office Hours posted on the Department of Commerce Community Reinvestment Project website, Email through Dept of Commerce Community Reinvestment Project Website. Completed
Distribution of the Community Reinvestment Account: Violence Prevention
07/18/2024 07/18/2024 Action did not move forward Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Advancing a Green Hydrogen Economy This ARL will advance several key recommendations from Commerce’s recent green hydrogen and renewable fuels legislative report in order to support hydrogen deployment in Washington. Key items include: establishing a formal state target for in-state green electrolytic hydrogen production; creating a new tax incentive and grant program for hydrogen end users to help direct hydrogen to the most strategic sectors; and advancing environmental justice recommendations including hydrogen combustion testing to assess NOx emissions. Those that have comments or feedback on the EJ assessment for the green electrolytic hydrogen and renewable fuels ARL can email them to Shannon Pressler, Engagement Specialist, at shannon.pressler@commerce.wa.gov. Action did not move forward
Different priorities advanced during the supplemental session.
11/28/2023 10/23/2023 02/19/2025 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Electric Vehicle Incentive Program (Phase 1 – Design) Design multi-phase incentives program mechanisms to increase EV adoption. Early phases of the program will be focused on point-of-sale rebates. Community Meetings, email comments, stakeholder Interviews, web-based comment form. DRAFT EJA LINKED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Completed
Washington Electric Vehicle Incentive Program
09/10/2024 09/10/2024 Action did not move forward Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Advance Payment for Small Organizations and Tribes Proposing a new section in Chapter 43.330 RCW that allows Commerce to provide advance payment with small organizations and tribes. Payments would be no more than 25% of contract, or three months of projected contractual expenses, whichever is smaller. Commerce shall have risk mitigation strategy to ensure clarity and efficiency of fund disbursement. This ARL benefits communities by decreasing barriers to access funding which may improve health and wellbeing. This ARL came from communities' and tribes' input over the course of several years. Reimbursement-based funding has continued to be a barrier for smaller entities to contract with Commerce. Once the EJA is posted, public comment can be sent via email to Kyle.Glitchell@commerce.wa.gov. Other methods are TBD. Action did not move forward
ARL did not move forward
10/03/2024 09/09/2024 04/28/2025 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Washington Federal Funding Grant Writing Technical Assistance Program The $4.5M FFGWAP is designed for Washington community-based organizations, local government agencies, ports, housing authorities, tribes, businesses, and others eligible to receive Federal funds to prepare and submit grant applications, and to help Washington meet its clean electricity and greenhouse gas reduction goals using approaches that enhance equity, innovation, economic growth, and job creation. Program information has been made public on the program web page, through a variety of webinars and presentations in the Fall of 2024, and through the HEAL dashboards here and on the Commerce website. Public comments were provided through surveys and webinar feedback. No comments were received during the EJA public comment period. Completed
Federal Fund Grant Writing Assistance Program (FFGWAP)
07/31/2024 07/25/2024 Action did not move forward Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Extending public records act exemptions at the Department of Commerce Running an agency request legislation to extend public records act exemptions at the department of commerce N/A Action did not move forward
ARL did not move forward.
07/01/2025 07/01/2025 Ongoing Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Critical Energy Infrastructure Protection Proposing a change to RCW 42.56 Public Records Act which would exclude critical energy infrastructure information from public disclosure. This would encourage energy providers such as electric utilities to report physical and cybersecurity threats and damage with the Energy Resilience & Emergency Management Office, State Fusion Center, and other relevant agencies for coordination on response and restoration activities. Advisory Groups, Email Comments, Focus Groups, Stakeholder Interviews Ongoing
01/22/2024 12/29/2023 04/08/2025 Commerce, Department of Significant legislative rules Updates to Growth Management Administrative Rules for Climate Change Planning Growth Management Services is updating Washington Administrative Codes to reflect recent legislation (HB 1181 - 2023 legislative session) regarding requirements for cities and counties to develop a climate change element within their comprehensive plans. A CR 101 has been submitted and was noticed January 19, 2024 to launch these efforts. Commerce conducts a monthly state agency advisory group and is forming city/county planner and other stakeholder input groups with special emphasis on overburdened communities and vulnerable populations. Commerce will host community 'listening sessions' to review drafts and also welcomes email comments and phone calls. Commerce communicates with stakeholders via GovDelivery emails, planner newsletters, conferences and tribal meetings. Completed
GMS Climate Rulemaking
05/10/2024 05/10/2024 02/26/2025 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Reentry Services: Community Reinvestment Program This new grant expands the existing Reentry Grant Program that provides reentry services to justice- involved individuals who have recently exited or are in the process of exiting incarceration. Advisory Groups Community Meetings (as guest), Focus Group, GovDelivery, Office Hours posted on the Department of Commerce Community Reinvestment Project website, Email through Dept of Commerce Community Reinvestment Project Website, Steering Committee. PUBLIC COMMENT WINDOW HAS OPENED FOR THIS EJA DRAFT: https://deptofcommerce.box.com/s/yqf9ci6y57otmm6uyav0949srn8waywv Completed
Reentry Services: Community Reinvestment Program
10/18/2023 09/26/2023 02/26/2025 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Electric Vehicle Charging Program Given the mission is simple: to reduce emissions, improve air quality and promote equitable access to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The program offers $64 million in awards for organizations installing EV chargers at certain sites, with a focus on multifamily housing, publicly available charging and tribal locations. The Washington Electric Vehicle Charging Program helps fund infrastructure that supports clean transportation in communities across Washington. We're reducing transportation emissions, improving air quality, and ensuring EV charging access for all. This new grant program includes program design, project initiation, outreach and technical assistance to the community, award selection, and project implementation to reach the goal of facilitating the installation of at least 200 direct current fast charging (DCFC) ports and 2,000 Level 2 (L2) charging ports across Washington. Throughout the community engagement, outreach, and technical assistance process, public comment and feedback is being collected with a focus on assessing opportunities, barriers, and mitigation suggestions by participants and the community. EJA OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AT LINK BELOW Zoom webinar about the program and the EJA: When: Sep 12, 2024 04:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Topic: WAEVCP EJA Public Comment Webinar Register in advance for this webinar: https://wastatecommerce.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_77dWs2foTc-e5yB9BawHJg Completed
Electric Vehicle Charging Program
07/18/2024 07/18/2024 09/17/2024 Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Change to Lead Based Paint Statute The Lead Based Paint program at Commerce helps prevent lead exposure through certification, accreditation, enforcement, and compliance with lead-safe work practices. This agency request legislation (ARL) would update RCW 40A.420 to allow for rulemaking to set certification fees, update outdated rules, and clarify that Commerce is at least as protective as federal and state regulations. It supports efforts to reduce lead exposure in houses or child-occupied facilities built prior to 1978. Lead based paint is extremely harmful and toxic to the environment and human health. The Lead Based Paint program has notified its stakeholders of the proposed agency-request legislation and is requesting feedback via email, electronic survey, and/or virtual meeting. Completed
Change to Lead Based Paint Statute
06/24/2025 06/19/2025 Ongoing Commerce, Department of Agency-request legislation Update Homeless Program Statutes Amend RCW 43.185C to modernize and streamline the statute. The key changes include: - Replacing outdated terminology to ensure language reflects current understanding and values around homelessness and equity. - Aligning timelines for the State Homeless Housing Strategic Plan and the Annual Report to reduce redundancy and improve strategic coherence. - Removing obsolete statutory requirements that are no longer operational or relevant to current systems or funding streams Surveys, web-based comments form Ongoing
11/29/2023 09/15/2023 12/18/2024 Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Grant: Coordinating Low-Income Housing Planning Commerce is initiating a new grant program ($500,000) to support t coordination of land use planning and homeless service planning to better plan for our state’s housing needs as both disciplines update their planning documents for the future over the next two years. Given the planning focus of the grant and the statewide reach of the grant, our outreach involved contacting key representatives in each county (land use planners and homeless service entities) to get feedback on the grant through an online survey (https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/80941850449144d491d23ee70281ca9b). The survey opened on 11/13/23 and will be open through 12/1/23. In addition to the survey, we conducted a listening session on Nov. 20th advertised to all those who received the survey. With this feedback, we will tailor both the grant parameters and the award prioritization criteria. Completed
Coordinating Low-Income Housing Planning
10/10/2024 07/01/2024 Action did not move forward Commerce, Department of New grant or loan program Clean Energy Ambassadors Program Commerce is exploring a potential Clean Energy Ambassadors program that would offer education, planning, technical assistance, and community engagement across the state. If enacted, this program would offer funding for education, planning, technical assistance, and community engagement across the state to increase clean energy access for all and a just transition to a net-zero economy. Commerce is pursuing multiple funding sources that could enable the program to move forward in early 2025. Discussions at these community workshops will inform the future program. Commerce seeks to listen and learn from communities and tribes about their visions for a clean energy future. This fall, we invite you to participate in regional workshops to share your ideas and learn about upcoming opportunities like Clean Energy Ambassadors. There are factsheets uploaded here (https://deptofcommerce.app.box.com/s/d6y2jd3wf0b1ghr6z4vjz9lxd2uag54a - soon to be available in multiple languages), and there is a registration form available here (https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/54e49f8a01034da4967c3a169aee030d). Both have more information on dates, times, and locations. Commerce will also distribute this information via email to the update list that you can sign up for on this webpage: https://www.commerce.wa.gov/epic/, to organizations that have expressed interest in the program, and through other networks and modes of communication. DRAFT EJA VIEWABLE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT HERE: https://deptofcommerce.box.com/s/vopxz1cxl72rfl3hj64fovjiob3rd7rq, Action did not move forward
Program not moving forward due to budget

Pages

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.