All Roll Calls
Yes: 202 • No: 30
WashingtonHB 19602025-2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Encouraging renewable energy in Washington through tax policy and investment in local communities.
Sponsored By: Alex Ramel (Democratic)
Became Law
Your PRIA Score
Score Hidden
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 3 mixed.
New state and county taxes on big renewables
Beginning January 1, 2028, Washington charges a renewable energy excise tax on large solar, wind, and battery projects. Owners pay the state tax monthly and any county tax in two equal payments on April 30 and October 31. Rates start at $968 per MW per year for solar and $1,200 per MW for wind; batteries are $156 per MWh at the state level. Typical local rates are $2,905 per MW for solar, $3,600 per MW for wind, and $467 per MWh for batteries. Starting January 1, 2031, counties can add a special extra local tax in areas with voter‑approved excess levies, capped at 5% for one levy or 10% total. The extra tax goes to the taxing districts with the levies and ends when those levies expire.
Property tax levy updates start 2028
Changes to property tax levy rules apply to taxes collected in 2028 and after. If you own a home or business property, your bill may change starting in the 2028 collection year. The law sets the timing but does not list exact dollar amounts.
Property tax break, new excise in return
Starting with taxes collected in 2029, equipment used mainly to generate renewable power or store energy is exempt from property tax. The exemption applies automatically if a project starts or repowers on or after January 1, 2028. Older projects can opt in through set paths: for example, projects that start or repower July 1, 2026–December 31, 2027 if the owner notified the county by September 1, 2026 and the county authorized a local excise tax by March 1, 2028; projects with a completed environmental application by November 2025 that start after July 1, 2026 and before December 31, 2034 by notifying the state and assessor by April 30; projects at 25 years can opt in; at 35 years, the exemption and taxes apply automatically. Opting in makes the project subject to the renewable‑energy excise taxes beginning in 2028.
Excise tax money sent to counties
The state creates the Local Investment Distribution Account on January 1, 2028 and deposits state renewable‑excise receipts into it. The Department sends money to counties that host qualifying projects based on each county’s share of the prior period’s state tax. Rural counties may keep the full amount; other counties pass funds to local taxing districts by their share of the local property tax. Counties qualify if a project is operating by January 1, 2029, filed a completed environmental application by November 2025, or the county adopts the model ordinance. Beginning in fiscal year 2029, the Legislature intends at least 75% of this account’s appropriations to fund these local distributions.
Annual reporting and tax rules for projects
Beginning January 1, 2028, each qualified facility or battery system must file a yearly report by March 15 with location, capacity, and repowering details. Owners must report repowers as they occur, or within 30 days if the work happened before the law took effect. General state tax administration rules apply unless they conflict with this chapter, and two specific tax‑code sections do not apply here. The state also repeals earlier renewable‑energy tax statutes on January 1, 2028 as it moves to the new system.
Faster siting rules and tribal grants
The state publishes a model local siting ordinance by July 1, 2028. Six months later, cities and counties that want grant eligibility cannot use rules more strict than the model. Adopting the model is exempt from SEPA nonproject review, which speeds local rule updates. The law also creates a biennial Tribal Capacity Grant Program. In 2028 it uses climate investment funds; starting fiscal year 2029, up to 25% of local investment account appropriations may fund it. Grants are split equally among applicant tribes and can support consultation, siting, resilience, clean energy development, and grant writing.
Free Policy Watch
You just read the policy. Now see what it costs you.
Pick a topic. PRIA runs your household against live legislation and sends you a free personalized readout.
Pick a topic to get started
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Alex Ramel
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
April Berg
Democratic • House
Beth Doglio
Democratic • House
Joe Fitzgibbon
Democratic • House
Julia Reed
Democratic • House
Lisa Parshley
Democratic • House
Natasha Hill
Democratic • House
Shaun Scott
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 3/11/2026
Final Passage as Amended by the Senate
Yes: 86 • No: 9 • Other: 3
Senate vote • 3/5/2026
3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate
Yes: 42 • No: 6 • Other: 1
House vote • 2/23/2026
3rd Reading & Final Passage
Yes: 74 • No: 15 • Other: 9
Actions Timeline
Effective date 1/1/2028.
4/1/2026HouseChapter 260, 2026 Laws.
4/1/2026HouseGovernor signed.
4/1/2026legislatureDelivered to Governor.
3/12/2026legislaturePresident signed.
3/11/2026legislaturePassed final passage; yeas, 86; nays, 9; absent, 0; excused, 3.
3/11/2026HouseHouse concurred in Senate amendments.
3/11/2026HouseSpeaker signed.
3/11/2026legislatureRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
3/5/2026HouseCommittee amendment(s) adopted as amended.
3/5/2026HouseThird reading, passed; yeas, 42; nays, 6; absent, 0; excused, 1.
3/5/2026HousePlaced on second reading by Rules Committee.
3/3/2026HousePassed to Rules Committee for second reading.
3/2/2026HouseMinority; without recommendation.
3/2/2026HouseMinority; do not pass.
3/2/2026HouseWM - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
3/2/2026HouseFirst reading, referred to Ways & Means.
2/24/2026HouseThird reading, passed; yeas, 74; nays, 15; absent, 0; excused, 9.
2/23/2026HouseRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
2/23/2026HouseFloor amendment(s) adopted.
2/23/2026House3rd substitute bill substituted.
2/23/2026HouseRules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
2/17/2026HouseAPP - Executive action taken by committee.
2/9/2026HouseMinority; without recommendation.
2/9/2026HouseMinority; do not pass.
2/9/2026House
Bill Text
Session Law
4/2/2026
Bill as Passed Legislature
3/11/2026
Engrossed Third Substitute
2/23/2026
Third Substitute
2/3/2026
Second Substitute
3/4/2025
Substitute Bill
2/26/2025
Original Bill
2/12/2025
Related Bills
SB 6231 — Removing a tax exemption for the replacement of equipment for data centers.
SB 6260 — Implementing efficiencies and programming changes in public education.
SB 6228 — Removing a tax exemption for the warehousing and reselling of prescription drugs.
HB 2034 — Concerning termination and restatement of plan 1 of the law enforcement officers' and firefighters' retirement system.
HB 2689 — Concerning the working connections child care program.
HB 2487 — Concerning taxes imposed on insurers operating within the state.
Take It Personal
Get Your Personalized Policy View
Take the PRIA Score to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.
Already have an account? Sign in