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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Affordable Housing Property Tax Excemption | Legislation to exempt affordable housing units (those affordable to households at 60% of the Area Median Income or lower) from property taxes. This would include a simple, fair calculation to help exempt units in buildings that have mixed affordability limits. | Advisory groups, web-based comments, surveys |
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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Residential Weatherization RCW Update | RCW 70A.35 (Low-Income Residential Weatherization Program) is outdated and restrictive. As of 2016, the state weatherization program is no longer a matchmaker program, where state funds are matched dollar-for-dollar based on utility contributions. The state weatherization program is now Weatherization Plus Health, which is funded out of the capital budget. The state and utilities now fund weatherization separately via local agencies (Community Action Partnership agencies, municipalities, tribes). Currently, the state weatherization program can only serve projects that involve whole-home weatherization and is limited to serving low-income households. Updating this policy and increasing its flexibility support Commerce and the ED’s goals to serve more overburdened communities (from a community approach) with less friction and more efficiencies. We first recommend updating the outdated matchmaker program language to the current Residential Weatherization program language. This will increase compliance as the RCW has not been updated in years, and the program has evolved significantly. Low-income verification is required for local agencies to use federal dollars. Local agencies typically use federal and state dollars together on projects. As such, we recommend maintaining this low-income verification process, but also recommend adding categorical eligibility (e.g., OFM Overburdened Communities Map). Additionally, we propose allowing both partial (some measures) and whole-home weatherization (all cost-effective measures that apply). This will allow us to serve more communities (e.g., weatherizing homes in an at-risk neighborhood with scalable measures and without having to income qualify all residents). This also may make it easier for agencies to work with utilities and the state, as if the state reduces barriers, the utilities will likely follow suit. These updates will benefit Washington residents, weatherization providers (local agencies), utilities, other state agencies, and other Commerce programs. With new staff across Commerce, the current federal and state landscape, increased state investment in weatherization, and the fact that this policy has been outdated for many years, it is pertinent to accurately reflect this legacy program to grow it. As we encounter new programs and pilots from other state agencies, utilities, and Commerce, and increased community need, there is a greater opportunity to run new, more flexible, innovative, and scalable weatherization programs. | Advisory Groups |
Ongoing |
|
| 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 |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Increasing AMI for Rural PSH | Expand RCW 36.22.250 Section 5 to include up to 50% AMI for Permanent Supportive Housing in rural areas. | Advisory groups, surveys |
Ongoing |
|
| 02/18/2025 | 02/13/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Circular Economy Development Program | Proviso funding will help establish a circular economy market development initiative and expand industrial symbiosis projects across Washington. By combining these funds ($390k) with the existing Industrial Symbiosis Grant Program administered for Fiscal Year 2025, two additional circular market projects are supported. The awarded funds help divert industrial waste for reuse through innovation into valuable new products. A strong circular market reduces environmental impacts, builds a resilient supply chain, and creates jobs | Public comments period on the draft EJA has opened 4/29/25: https://deptofcommerce.box.com/s/ra3ya1aram86p19q7qtnb9yugj7r3nc2. Past opportunities included the Community Involvement Listening Session on March 18 and March 20 as well as the Tribal Briefing in April 2025. |
Ongoing |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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 |
|
| 06/24/2025 | 06/19/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Streamline Housing Definitions | Three changes to bring RCW language in line with implementation needs, including coordinated updates to statutes to improve clarity and consistency: 1. Clarify the definition of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) 2. Align definitions of “shelter” across RCWs 3. Add a definition of “imminently homeless” to RCW 43.185C | Advisory groups, focus groups, and surveys |
Ongoing |
|
| 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 |
|
| 03/13/2025 | 08/20/2024 | Action did not move forward | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Tire Cost Reduction Act - Reducing rolling resistance of motor vehicle replacement tires | Rolling resistance of tires has a significant effect on the fuel efficiency of motor vehicles, and the sales of high rolling resistance replacement tires when low rolling resistance tire technology is in use by new vehicles costs the average gasoline vehicle driver the equivalent of approximately 50% of the state gas tax. Commerce is proposing new agency request legislation and related funding in the 25-27 Operating budget to create and implement energy efficiency standards for replacement tires. | Quarterly tribal briefing, advisory groups, stakeholder interviews, etc. |
Action did not move forward ARL did not move forward |
|
| 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 |
|
| 04/11/2024 | 04/11/2024 | 02/19/2025 | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | 40101(d) Grid Resilience Grant Program | The EPIC Unit in the Energy Division is developing a new grant program for electric grid resilience projects across the state. This will be a competitive solicitation using funding awarded to Washington State by the Department of Energy (DOE) from DOE's 40101(d) Grid Resilience State/Tribal Formula Grant Program. The program intends to strengthen grid resilience through funding projects that reduce the frequency, duration, and/or impact of power outages. | The methods for which public comment can be provided for state agency consideration are still being determined. In a recent EJ Assessment, a written public comment period was opened, alongside a survey and a virtual feedback session. These options will be considered for this EJA. DRAFT EJA LINKED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT |
Completed Washington’s 40101(d) Grid Resilience Funding |
|
| 08/15/2024 | 08/15/2024 | 09/06/2024 | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Unlocking the Clean Building Incentive Program | The Clean Buildings Performance standard, passed in 2019 (HB 1257) and expanded in 2022 (SB 5722), sets first-in-nation energy efficiency standards for large buildings in the state. In the 2023 capital budget, the legislature directed Commerce to convene a workgroup to study the financial impacts for the standard’s largest buildings (also called Tier 1 buildings) to comply with the law. The workgroup, composed of representatives from across the Washington buildings sector, has convened for more than a year to identify barriers and opportunities for the Clean Buildings performance standard. The workgroup is developing a list of recommendations to help building owners be able to comply more easily with the statewide standard. This ARL will bring forward several of those legislatively-focused recommendations on increasing the options buildings can use to comply with the standard. | Public comments for this EJA can be submitted to buildings@commerce.wa.gov. |
Completed Unlocking the Clean Building Incentive Program |
|
| 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 |
|
| 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) |
|
| 03/04/2024 | 07/01/2023 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Transit Oriented Development of Affordable Housing - Match Program | Competitively awarded funding, managed by Commerce's Multifamily Housing Unit (MHU), for Transit Oriented Affordable Housing development. The language of the budget (ESSB 5200, Section 1022) laid out very specific parameters regarding both size and location of projects. As written, projects must be no smaller than 100 units in size, and must be located within 1/2 mile of light or commuter rail, or within 1/4 mile of bus rapid transit. this creates a very limited area in which projects can be sited (principally along the I-5 or I-405 corridors in King County), and effectively requires a high level of development experience from any interested organization, or partnership with a consultant that brings such experience. | An SAA was published to Commerce's webpage on 9/13/2023, and a public forum was held via Zoom in October of 2023. while the public forum's primary concern was to confirm Commerce's understanding of the budget language and articulate its plans for implementation, space was held for discussion concerning Environmental Justice considerations. MHU is working with Commerce's internal Environmental Justice workgroup to explore additional pathways to involve communities. |
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 |
|
| 07/25/2024 | 07/25/2024 | 09/25/2024 | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Change to Reentry Council Statute | ARL to request changes to the Washington State Reentry Council RCW to 1) allow for compensation for community members participating on the council for their lived experience, and 2) to expand the Council to include 2 additional representatives of people who are currently incarcerated. | Advisory Groups |
Completed Reentry Council Changes - Agency Request Legislation |
|
| 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 |
|
| 01/16/2025 | 01/14/2025 | 06/13/2025 | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Multifamily Building Efficiency Grants | Commerce is appropriated $53,090,000 for grants and loans to affordable multifamily projects within Commerce's Housing Trust Fund Portfolio. Grants and loans may be for projects that include: benchmarking, technical assistance, energy management, renewable energy, energy efficiency upgrades, greenhouse gas emission reductions, high-efficiency electric equipment and appliances, and other decarbonization investments. | Gov-delivery Web based comment form |
Completed Multifamily Building Efficiency Grants |
|
| 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 |
|
| 03/13/2025 | 03/11/2024 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Paper to Digital Grant | Commerce was tasked with implement the provisions of RCW 36.70B.241. The Legislature allocated $1.5 million for this purpose. Approximately $330,000 was available in unused funds to supplement this grant. This grant is intended to facilitate the conversion of city and county permit systems from paper based to fully digital systems. For example, some jurisdictions currently require paper applications with physical blueprints and internal paper routing and filing systems. These grants will help jurisdictions move to digital intake and processing allowing for remote applications and corrections and well as streamlined internal approval. This will help reduce the amount of time needed to approve permits and facilitate new residential construction. | Submit to allan.johnson@commerce.wa.gov |
Ongoing |
|
| 08/21/2024 | 08/21/2024 | 08/27/2024 | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Public Disclosure Protections for Energy Critical Infrastructure Information | Proposing a change to RCW 42.56 which would exclude critical infrastructure information (as defined by Federal law) from public disclosure. This would encourage utilities to report physical and cybersecurity threats and damage with the Energy Resilience & Emergency Management Office for coordination on response and restoration activities. | Stakeholder interviews Email comments submitted to eli.king@commerce.wa.gov |
Completed Public Disclosure Protections for Energy Critical Infrastructure Information |
|
| 07/02/2025 | 07/02/2025 | Ongoing | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Small Business Training and Education Center | This request covers three programs which in the past have either 1) been successfully piloted, 2) have a track record of success but inconsistent funding, or 3) have been built using other revenue streams that will dry up in the 2025-27 biennium. A final request describes an asset mapping exercise to identify all small business training and education activities at the local, state and federal level to identify gaps, reduce redundancies and build a more cohesive training and education system that is intuitive for small businesses to use. Access to accurate, vetted business education and training is a historical barrier to those in underrepresented and underserved communities. For instance, while 90% of small businesses make it through their first year or two, 80% of black-owned businesses fail. The survival rate of any small business is 50% at year five, in part because owners don’t have the expertise and education to address the most common barriers to success – lack of capital or customers, poor location, incorrect pricing strategies, or lack of focus on core competencies. The Washington State Small Business Training & Education Center is a trusted site that provides free access to education, training, tutorials, webinars and academies developed by, and in many cases taught by, small business owners. This budget request will continue to provide stability to this vital resource where one’s bank account or first language aren’t barriers. Any individual can access the site and tap into its knowledge base. No registration is required. Mystartup365.com provides a business owner with all the training they need, from concept through exit strategy. In between they can learn how to master financials, improve decision-making, build a business plan, secure funding and reach new customers and markets. They can do this in any one of 58 languages from the comfort of their office or home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. | Email comments Stakeholder interviews |
Ongoing |
|
| 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 |
|
| 06/14/2024 | 06/14/2024 | 06/04/2025 | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Home Rehabilitation Grant Program | Department of Commerce administered the Home Rehabilitation Loan Program (HRLP). In 2023 the Legislature passed substitute HB 1250, mandating Commerce to go through the rule process and convert HRLP from a loan program to a grant program. | Public comments may be sent to Commerce about the draft EJA: https://deptofcommerce.box.com/s/3zwj7r91bnhye0uqfnrvw42sei18k05b. Commerce will participate in a Tribal briefing, release a Request for Information and hold virtual stakeholder input meetings. |
Completed Low-Income Home Rehabilitation Program |
|
| 01/25/2024 | 01/22/2024 | 04/29/2024 | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | 23-25 Combined Renewable Energy Programming | Energy Programs in Communities (EPIC) (Energy Division) will be running a combined, single application RFA for multiple programs in January 2024, five of which are brand new programs requiring an EJA: Hard to Decarbonize Sectors Grants, Clean Energy Siting and Permitting Grants, Large Scale Solar Innovation, Dual Use Solar Pilot Grants, Solar + Storage for Community Facilities, Community Solar + Storage for Low Income Grants. This combined EJA will focus on these provisos and their respective EJ concerns. | A 30 day public comment period as well as a virtual public listening session for further comment. |
Completed FY 23-25 Combined Renewable Energy Programming |
|
| 03/19/2024 | 03/19/2024 | 08/01/2024 | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Nonprofit and Religious Nonprofit Security Grant | To provide grants to non-profit organizations including, but not limited to, religious nonprofits, "by and for" organizations, or cultural community centers, to fund the physical security or repair of such institutions. | Advisory Groups, Email comments, Listening Sessions (as host), Social Media, Stakeholder Interviews and Surveys |
Completed Nonprofit and Religious Nonprofit Security Grant |
|
| 07/25/2024 | 07/25/2024 | 09/23/2024 | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Victims of Crime Act Stabilization | OCVA’s most significant resources for crime victims in Washington is tied to federal funding associated with the Victims of Crime Victim’s Act (VOCA). Federal VOCA Assistance funds have been declining and, in response, the state has provided supplemental funds that will expire on June 30, 2025. We are anticipating a very severe “funding cliff” for WA state if both state supplemental funds go away and federal VOCA funds are reduced as projected. Washington state needs a sustainable solution to maintain VOCA infrastructure and ensure access to services for victims/survivors. | Advisory Groups Email comments Listening Sessions (as host) Surveys Draft EJA posted for public comment at the link below |
Action did not move forward Victims of Crime Act (VOCA) Stabilization - Agency Request Legislation (ARL) N/A |
|
| 01/16/2025 | 01/16/2025 | 06/13/2025 | Commerce, Department of | New grant or loan program | Thermal Energy Networks Pilot Program | Commerce shall award grants for thermal energy network pilot projects, once those pilot projects are reviewed and referred to Commerce by the Utilities and Transportation Commission. | Advisory Groups Community Meetings Stakeholder Interviews Surveys |
Completed Thermal Energy Networks Pilot Program |
|
| 12/04/2023 | 09/19/2023 | Action did not move forward | Commerce, Department of | Agency-request legislation | Clarifying, updating and modifying office of homeless youth prevention and protection statutes | This is Department of Commerce, Housing Division, agency request legislation related to several technical clarifications that are needed in RCWs to improve the administration of Office of Homeless Youth (OHY) grant programs. The current RCW language presents barriers to the successful implementation of OHY programs or contributes to a lack of clarity about OHY's roles and responsibilities. The requested changes originated from requests from community providers and lived experts. | Community engagement on these technical fixes already took place, with the changes being developed in consultation with Office of Homeless Youth advisory groups and stakeholders. Since these are small technical fixes, we don't anticipate future concerns from stakeholders. We don't anticipate any impacts on Tribal Nations or lands. |
Action did not move forward Died in Session and did not move forward |
