Department of Commerce
| Average Annual FTEs | Near General Fund State | Other Funds | Total Funds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (Dollars in Thousands) | ||||
| Current Budget | 502.9 | 1,141,293 | 2,097,711 | 3,239,004 |
| 2025-27 Maintenance Level | 490.0 | 761,448 | 1,197,324 | 1,958,772 |
| Difference from 2025-27 Original | (12.9) | (379,845) | (900,387) | (1,280,232) |
| % Change from 2025-27 Original | (2.6%) | (33.3%) | (42.9%) | (39.5%) |
2025 Policy Other Changes |
||||
| Clean Energy Permitting/Planning | 0.0 | 0 | (4,000) | (4,000) |
| Adjust Apple Health Fund to Revenue | 0.0 | 0 | 4,000 | 4,000 |
| Cannabis Revenue Distributions | 0.0 | 0 | 316 | 316 |
| Blue Wind Collaborative | 0.0 | 0 | 750 | 750 |
| Legal Aid for Low-Income Immigrants | 0.0 | 14,000 | 0 | 14,000 |
| Support for Victims of Crime | 0.0 | 20,000 | 0 | 20,000 |
| Support for Lead Paint Program | 0.0 | 112 | 0 | 112 |
| Clean Energy Pilot | 0.0 | 0 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Clean Buildings Training | 0.80 | 0 | 1,500 | 1,500 |
| HEAL Act Compliance Staffing | 7.2 | 0 | 2,000 | 2,000 |
| Climate Resilience Strategy | 0.0 | 0 | 390 | 390 |
| Establish Clean Energy Dev Office | 8.2 | 0 | 4,944 | 4,944 |
| Electric Vehicle Adoption Programs | 0.0 | 0 | 12,500 | 12,500 |
| Clean Buildings Technical Assist | 1.5 | 0 | 3,803 | 3,803 |
| Continuation of CCA dollars | 7.2 | 0 | 3,946 | 3,946 |
| Energy Portfolio Study | 0.0 | 500 | 0 | 500 |
| Transmission Authority | 0.0 | 0 | 3,045 | 3,045 |
| Medical service gap study | 0.0 | 250 | 0 | 250 |
| Foreclosure Prevention Services | 0.0 | 4,239 | 0 | 4,239 |
| Home and Hope Housing | 0.0 | 1,700 | 0 | 1,700 |
| Housing Account Adjustments | 0.0 | 0 | 31,459 | 31,459 |
| Special Purpose Dist. Integration | 0.10 | 149 | 0 | 149 |
| Local Project Permit Review Grants | 0.0 | 1,500 | 0 | 1,500 |
| Public Works Board Staffing | 1.1 | 0 | 391 | 391 |
| Sustainable Maritime Fuel Framework | 0.0 | 0 | 250 | 250 |
| Reduce Energy Assistance | 0.0 | 0 | (10,000) | (10,000) |
| Information System Feasibility Plan | 0.0 | 250 | 0 | 250 |
| World Cup Public Safety | 0.0 | 5,500 | 0 | 5,500 |
| Reduce Equitable Access to Credit | 0.0 | (412) | 0 | (412) |
| Reduce Associate Dev Org Contracts | 0.0 | (1,392) | 0 | (1,392) |
| Reduce Behavioral Health Admin | 0.0 | (396) | 0 | (396) |
| Reentry Council Coordinator | 0.0 | 450 | 0 | 450 |
| Reduce - Energy Mapping Tool | 0.0 | (1,000) | 0 | (1,000) |
| Reduce - C-PACER | 0.0 | 0 | (1,500) | (1,500) |
| End Digital Navigator Resources | 0.0 | (10,000) | 0 | (10,000) |
| End Emergency Water Grants | 0.0 | 0 | (2,000) | (2,000) |
| Reduce Emergency Rapid Response | 0.0 | (6,000) | 0 | (6,000) |
| Reduce Microenterprise Dev Contract | 0.0 | (4,000) | 0 | (4,000) |
| End Manufacturing Predev Program | 0.0 | (2,500) | 0 | (2,500) |
| Reduce Public Telecom Services | 0.0 | (246) | 0 | (246) |
| Reduce Small Biz Resiliency Network | 0.0 | (2,764) | 0 | (2,764) |
| End Regulatory Roadmap Program | 0.0 | (300) | 0 | (300) |
| Balance Encampment Resolution Prog | 0.0 | (13,500) | 0 | (13,500) |
| Siting Com. and Tribal Engagement | 0.0 | 0 | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Shift Small Biz Resiliency Network | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 Policy Other Changes Total | 27.1 | 6,140 | 57,794 | 63,934 |
2025 Policy Comp Changes |
||||
| WFSE General Government | 0.0 | 1,111 | 1,343 | 2,454 |
| Non-Rep General Wage Increase | 0.0 | 1,604 | 536 | 2,140 |
| Non-Rep Targeted Pay Increases | 0.0 | 116 | 84 | 200 |
| Updated PEBB Rate | 0.0 | (94) | (71) | (165) |
| PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase | 0.0 | 46 | 25 | 71 |
| Pension Benefit Amortization | 0.0 | (168) | (118) | (286) |
| 2025 Policy Comp Changes Total | 0.0 | 2,615 | 1,799 | 4,414 |
2025 Policy Central Services Changes |
||||
| Audit Services | 0.0 | 9 | 13 | 22 |
| Legal Services | 0.0 | 46 | 80 | 126 |
| WTS Central Services | 0.0 | 61 | 103 | 164 |
| DES Central Services | 0.0 | 7 | 9 | 16 |
| OFM Central Services | 0.0 | 436 | 755 | 1,191 |
| GOV Central Services | 0.0 | 4 | 6 | 10 |
| 2025 Policy Central Services Changes Total | 0.0 | 563 | 966 | 1,529 |
| Total Policy Changes | 27.1 | 9,318 | 60,559 | 69,877 |
| 2025-27 Policy Level | 517.1 | 770,766 | 1,257,883 | 2,028,649 |
| Difference from 2023-25 | 14.2 | (370,527) | (839,828) | (1,210,355) |
| % Change from 2025-27 Original | 2.8% | (32.5%) | (40.0%) | (37.4%) |
Policy Changes
Clean Energy Permitting/Planning
Funding is reduced for clean energy permitting and planning. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Adjust Apple Health Fund to Revenue
This item adjusts Apple Health and Homes program spending authority in line with revenues. (Apple Health and Homes Account - State)
Cannabis Revenue Distributions
Appropriations from the Dedicated Cannabis Account are adjusted pursuant to chapter 169, Laws of 2022 (E2SSB 5796) and the November 2024 revenue forecast. (Dedicated Cannabis Account - State)
Blue Wind Collaborative
Washington has begun studying the public and community benefits from the manufacture of materials and components needed to generate offshore wind energy. This funding would continue the analysis and community engagement needed to develop the strategies to grow this industry. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Legal Aid for Low-Income Immigrants
This funding provides legal aid for asylum seekers, undocumented immigrants, and refugees. It is part of a cross-agency approach in which the Department of Social and Health Services funds short-term legal services and Commerce funds the highest risk, most legally complex cases. Maintaining at current funding level will continue full representation of 5,000 cases and partial representation and consultation for 9,000 clients. (General Fund - State)
Support for Victims of Crime
Federal funding for services for victims of crime is volatile and insufficient to meet community needs. This funding will supplement federal funds so that victims of assault, abuse, harassment, and similar offenses can receive services including emergency shelter and safety, therapy, legal aid, forensic exams and interviews, support groups, therapy, and more. (General Fund - State)
Support for Lead Paint Program
The Lead-Based Paint Program has not increased its fee structure, which is set in statute, in 20 years. This funding will fill program capacity gaps until the program can increase fees as its source of administrative budget. (General Fund - State)
Clean Energy Pilot
Funding is provided to develop and implement a pilot program that provides state match funds to local governments in areas hosting clean energy projects, where a clean energy developer has entered into a community benefits agreement with the hosting community. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Clean Buildings Training
Funding is provided to pilot a clean buildings scholarship program in partnership with the Office of Minority and Woman-Owned Business Enterprises. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
HEAL Act Compliance Staffing
Funding is provided for the Department of Commerce (Commerce) to continue implementing Washington's Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Climate Resilience Strategy
Funding is provided for one FTE to be added to COMs Energy Resilience and Emergency Management Office. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Establish Clean Energy Dev Office
Funding is provided to establish the Clean Energy Development Office (CEDO) to promote clean energy planning and development. CEDO will identify opportunities for clean energy development, develop mechanisms to guide clean energy, support transmission planning and interconnection to the grid, manage a dashboard to track progress toward clean energy development, and lead build-ready development that pre-permits sites and auctions them to reduce time and risk for clean energy projects. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Electric Vehicle Adoption Programs
Funding is provided for passenger vehicles and charging investments to increase electric vehicle adoption and better distribute resources to drivers who previously lacked access to the EV transition. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Clean Buildings Technical Assist
Funding is provided for local interventions, so communities and building owners have the capacity to complete basic energy report requirements and make progress toward Clean Buildings Performance Standard compliance. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Continuation of CCA dollars
Funding is shifted from multiple provisos assigned to the Energy Division from the 2024 supplemental Operating budget to the 2025-27 biennium. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Energy Portfolio Study
Funding is partially shifted from fiscal year 2025 to fiscal year 2026. (General Fund - State)
Transmission Authority
Funding is provided for the department to establish the Washington Electric Transmission Authority to support the development of electric transmission infrastructure. The department shall facilitate transmission development by engaging in public-private partnerships with transmission developers, providing bond financing to development transmission projects, identify priority transmission corridors, and building and operating transmission lines. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Medical service gap study
The Affordable Housing Advisory Board recommended in its 2023–28 plan a study of how to address the needs of people experiencing homelessness who need higher-level health care than what a shelter can legally provide (but who do not need emergency medical services). The study would identify specific policies to expand service for this growing segment of people experiencing homelessness and determine the potential funding opportunities from newly updated Medicaid waivers. (General Fund - State)
Foreclosure Prevention Services
Commerce administers homeowner foreclosure prevention services through interagency agreements with the Housing Finance Commission, the Attorney General's Office, Office of Civil Legal Aid, and the Washington Homeownership Resource Center. The fee-funded Foreclosure Fairness Account is dedicated to support these services, but it has never been sufficient to meet demand. Federal stimulus funds helped backfill during the pandemic, and those funds will be exhausted in September 2025. Requested funding will maintain service levels. (General Fund - State)
Home and Hope Housing
This item continues contracts to increase housing supply and equitable housing outcomes. (General Fund - State)
Housing Account Adjustments
Revenues that support homelessness and housing programs are insufficient to keep current service levels. This funding will continue grants to communities for shelter, eviction interventions, housing options for youth, homelessness prevention services, landlord mitigation programs, and maintaining permanent supportive housing units. (Affordable Housing for All Account - State, Home Security Fund Account - State, Landlord Mitigation Program Account - Non-Appropriated)
Special Purpose Dist. Integration
This funding is provided to complete a study of how to integrate special purpose districts into the Growth Management planning framework. The 2024 supplemental budget states it is the legislature's intent to continue funding this report in the 2025–27 biennium. The report is due to the legislature December 1, 2025. (General Fund - State)
Local Project Permit Review Grants
Some local governments lack the resources and systems to rapidly review permits for local residential projects. This funding will continue grants to enable faster processing in order to meet the state's housing goals. (General Fund - State)
Public Works Board Staffing
Public Works Board staffing has not increased in keeping with its growing caseload. Additional operating funds will add one FTE to help manage ongoing, long-term contracts. (Public Works Assistance Account - State)
Sustainable Maritime Fuel Framework
Funding is provided for a contract with a nonprofit entity to develop a framework regarding the production, supply, and use of sustainable maritime fuels and deployment of low- and zero-emissions vessel technologies in Washington. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Reduce Energy Assistance
This item reduces funding for an energy utility bill assistance program for low-income households, administered through the existing network of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program grantees. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Information System Feasibility Plan
The Department of Commerce (Commerce) needs data systems to manage its grants, contacts, and contracts. Its existing contract management system's capacity is limited. This funding will support a feasibility study to understand what data management gaps exist, how existing IT infrastructure might support these needs, and identify new platforms to enable the agency to better manage its core functions. (General Fund - State)
World Cup Public Safety
The 2026 World Cup will hold events at numerous locations. Funding is provided for law enforcement and fire department resources, emergency management, traffic control, and security at official event venues, including fields and fan activation areas. (General Fund - State)
Reduce Equitable Access to Credit
This reduction eliminates General Fund-State amounts provided for administration of this program, which awards grants to qualified lending institutions that provide capital to underserved and rural communities. Grant funding is provided through contributions from payers of business and occupation taxes in exchange for a tax credit. Current statute allows program revenues to cover administration. (General Fund - State)
Reduce Associate Dev Org Contracts
This item reduces funding to Associate Development Organizations for implementing economic development activities per RCW 43.330.082 to pre-pandemic levels. (General Fund - State)
Reduce Behavioral Health Admin
This item delays hiring a position to coordinate behavioral health housing options. (General Fund - State)
Reentry Council Coordinator
The Reentry 2030 executive order calls for agencies across the state enterprise to make changes that reduce recidivism and improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. This funding is to establish a position that will coordinate the activities across all involved agencies to ensure activity alignment and effectiveness. (General Fund - State)
Reduce - Energy Mapping Tool
Reduce funding for the Energy Mapping Tool. (General Fund - State)
Reduce - C-PACER
Funding is removed for COM to provide technical assistance and education materials to help counties establish Commercial Property-Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience (C-PACER) programs. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
End Digital Navigator Resources
This ends funding for digital navigation services which is a combination of one-on-one assistance and provision of internet capable devices. (General Fund - State)
End Emergency Water Grants
This eliminates grants for emergency drinking water problems in overburdened communities. (Model Toxics Control Operating Acct - State)
Reduce Emergency Rapid Response
This reduces resources for grants meant to quickly provide essential community services and recovery assistance (food, water, power, etc.) to Tribes and local governments after an emergency event when federal funding lags. The program will retain funding and continue at a reduced level. (General Fund - State)
Reduce Microenterprise Dev Contract
This item reduces funding for a nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to provide grants, capacity building, and technical assistance support to a network of microenterprise development organizations. Partial funding is retained at pre-pandemic base level. (General Fund - State)
End Manufacturing Predev Program
This eliminates grants for predevelopment work to prepare sites in order to attract, retain, or expand manufacturing businesses, which has significant overlap with other ongoing programming, such as programs through the Community Economic Revitalization Board. (General Fund - State)
Reduce Public Telecom Services
Reduces budget for technical assistance to support public utility district and port district retail telecommunications services projects. The program has been underspent. (General Fund - State)
Reduce Small Biz Resiliency Network
This reduces funding to community-based organizations for implementing small business support (primarily technical and technology assistance in native languages). This reduction continues partial funding so that small business support can still be provided. (General Fund - State)
End Regulatory Roadmap Program
This eliminates the regulatory roadmap program, which creates visual guides to regulatory requirements for some cities. Existing funding is insufficient to provide guides for every industry and jurisdiction. (General Fund - State)
Balance Encampment Resolution Prog
The encampment resolution program is a joint activity between the Department of Commerce and Department of Transportation. Reducing Commerce's funding will ensure the total program funding level is balanced across these departments, leaving enough for each agency to maintain existing service levels. (General Fund - State)
Siting Com. and Tribal Engagement
Funding is provided for engagement with tribes when siting renewable energy generation and electrical transmission facilities and to create a framework and process to support transmission corridors. (Climate Commitment Account - State)
Shift Small Biz Resiliency Network
Moves the Small Business Resiliency Network program from Commerce's Program Support division to Commerce's Office of Economic Development and Competitiveness. (General Fund - State)
WFSE General Government
Funding for bargaining includes a 3%/2% general wage increase, targeted job classification increases, wildfire disaster leave, expanded bereavement leave, and paid vaccine travel time during pandemic emergencies. The agreement also includes: an additional $1 per hour supplemental shift premium for eligible employees who are assigned to a facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, and/or clients and whose duties are performed on location on evenings and weekends; 5% premium pay for employees who are assigned to a 24/7 facility that provides direct care to residents, patients, at-risk youth, and/or clients and whose duties are required to be performed on location, which will be in effect for the 2025–27 biennium; three additional steps on the nurse salary schedule; and an increase to the annual lump-sum payment for employees in LNI risk codes 7200/7201 from $500 to $750. (Climate Commitment Account - State, General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, other funds)
Non-Rep General Wage Increase
Funding is provided for wage increases for state employees who are not represented by a union or are not under a bargaining agreement that is subject to financial feasibility determination. It is sufficient for a general wage increase of 3%, effective July 1, 2025, and a general wage increase of 2%, effective July 1, 2026. This item includes both general government and higher education workers. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Public Works Assistance Account - State, other funds)
Non-Rep Targeted Pay Increases
Funding is provided for classified state employees who are not represented by a union or not covered by a bargaining agreement subject to financial feasibility determination, for pay increases in specific job classes in alignment with other employees. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Natural Climate Solutions Account - State)
Updated PEBB Rate
This item adjusts the employer funding rate for public employee insurance benefits to reflect policy-level decision packages. It increases the rate by $8 per month in the first fiscal year and decreases the rate by $34 per month in the second fiscal year, compared to the maintenance-level update, for a total rate of $1,315 in the first year and $1,355 in the second year. (Foreclosure Fairness Account - Non-Appropriated, Landlord Mitigation Program Account - Non-Appropriated, Mobile Home Park Relocation Account - Non-Appropriated, other funds)
PERS & TRS Plan 1 Benefit Increase
An adjustment is made for pension contribution rates, including to fund a benefit increase of 3%, up to a maximum of $110 per month for eligible Public Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Systems Plan 1 members. (Climate Commitment Account - State, General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, other funds)
Pension Benefit Amortization
An adjustment is made to the base pension rates, as set out in a proposed bill addressing the calculation of the base rate for the 2025–27 biennium, as well as amortization of Plan 1 benefit increases. (Econ Dev Strategic Reserve Account - State, Foreclosure Fairness Account - Non-Appropriated, Mobile Home Park Relocation Account - Non-Appropriated, other funds)
Audit Services
Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of audits performed by the State Auditor's Office. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Washington Housing Trust Fund - State, other funds)
Legal Services
Adjustments are made for each agency's anticipated cost of legal services provided by the Attorney General's Office. Because legal services expenditures are based on consumption, funding provided in the central service model is not all inclusive. The methodology to estimate consumption is a two-year average and allows for analysis to incorporate unique agency circumstances. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Washington Housing Trust Fund - State, other funds)
WTS Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from Washington Technology Solutions for the Office of Cybersecurity, state network, enterprise and small agency IT services, enterprise architecture and data management, Microsoft 365 licenses, and other items. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Washington Housing Trust Fund - State, other funds)
DES Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Department of Enterprise Services for Capitol Campus costs; real estate, risk management, and small agency services; the Perry Street and Capitol Campus child care centers; enterprise applications, and other items. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Washington Housing Trust Fund - State, other funds)
OFM Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of Financial Management for existing statewide applications, the One Washington program, and other central services. See Chapter 11 of the 2025–27 OFM Budget Instructions for allocation methodologies. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Washington Housing Trust Fund - State, other funds)
GOV Central Services
Adjustments are made to reflect each agency's anticipated share of charges from the Office of the Governor for the Office of Equity. (General Fund - Federal, General Fund - State, Public Works Assistance Account - State, other funds)
