All Roll Calls
Yes: 128 • No: 63
WashingtonSB 63552025-2026 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Concerning the electric transmission system.
Sponsored By: Victoria Hunt (Democratic)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
11 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 6 mixed.
New $5,000 fee for project partners
Each entity that applies to use partnership services from the authority must pay a one‑time $5,000 application review fee when it files its application.
Prevailing wage and apprentice rules
Workers on covered transmission projects must be paid prevailing wages. Employers must use qualified electrical workers and apprentices from registered programs with at least a 25% completion rate over the prior eight years. These labor rules apply when the authority selects a builder, uses conduit financing, or builds without a selected builder.
New state authority for power lines
Washington creates the Electric Transmission Authority to improve grid reliability and expand lines. A 10‑member board runs it, with appointments due by January 1, 2027, and an executive director hired by June 30, 2027. Commerce runs the authority until that hire. The board meets at least quarterly and must publish annual activity and financial reports. These sections are organized into a new chapter in state law.
Planning high-priority power line corridors
Commerce must identify high‑priority transmission corridors by October 30, 2027, using west‑wide studies and an open process. It must consider costs and benefits for Washington ratepayers and may hire outside experts. The authority must update the corridor study by October 30, 2032, and at least every five years. A tribal consultation framework for statewide transmission planning is developed and reported by December 1, 2026.
Protecting critical energy facility info
Sensitive energy infrastructure details and proprietary business or technical data held by the authority are confidential. They are not released under public records laws when they meet the law’s critical energy information definitions.
Accounts and financing for projects
The law creates two state accounts for the authority: an operating account for fees, appropriations, and grants, and a capital account for project‑related revenues. Money in both accounts may be spent only after appropriation and only for their stated purposes. The authority also coordinates with the state economic development finance authority to provide conduit financing for eligible partners that request it.
Eminent domain for new corridors
With board approval, the authority may use eminent domain only to obtain land or rights‑of‑way needed for new transmission corridors for public use. It must follow state eminent domain procedures.
Rules for transmission projects and tariffs
The authority can partner on, own for a time, choose builders for, and sell transmission projects. It must publish public‑interest plans and use transparent, competitive rules before owning or selling outside a partnership, including cost‑benefit for Washington ratepayers. Transmission service on authority‑owned lines is offered only under a FERC‑jurisdictional tariff, with limited partner‑tariff exceptions. The authority and its acquired eligible facilities are not regulated by the state utility commission, and regulated utilities still need commission approval to add such costs to their rate base.
Key effective dates and expirations
Some parts of the law start later and some expire. Section 14 takes effect when RCW 74.76.040 expires, but also expires on July 1, 2028. Sections 15 and 16 take effect July 1, 2028; section 16 expires January 1, 2029. Sections 17 and 18 take effect January 1, 2029; section 17 expires when RCW 74.76.040 expires. Section 13 expires on the earlier of July 1, 2028, or when RCW 74.76.040 expires.
How treasury investment earnings are split
The state creates a treasury income account for all investment earnings on surplus balances. The Office of Financial Management calculates federal Cash Management Improvement Act amounts and directs needed transfers. The treasurer may pay banks for treasury services from this account before splitting earnings, without a separate appropriation. Each month, the treasurer distributes earnings to named funds based on average daily balances, with the general fund getting the rest. Only accounts listed in law can receive these earnings.
Local payments from transmission projects
For tax‑exempt authority‑owned facilities, the authority must make annual payments in lieu of property taxes to counties. Payments start the first year the improvements would otherwise be taxable, are capped at the comparable property tax amount, and go through binding arbitration if no agreement. The authority must collect these amounts from lessees or project partners and distribute them like property taxes. The authority also sets one‑time and annual local investment commitment fees for high‑voltage projects, and shares them with counties, cities, towns, and tribes based on project impacts; the fees stay with the project if it is sold.
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Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Victoria Hunt
Democratic • House
Cosponsors
Claudia Kauffman
Democratic • Senate
Derek Stanford
Democratic • Senate
Jamie Pedersen
Democratic • Senate
Manka Dhingra
Democratic • Senate
Mike Chapman
Democratic • Senate
Rebecca Saldaña
Democratic • Senate
Sharon Shewmake
Democratic • Senate
Steve Conway
Democratic • Senate
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 3/12/2026
Final Passage as Amended by the House
Yes: 32 • No: 17
House vote • 3/11/2026
Final Passage as Amended by the House
Yes: 66 • No: 27 • Other: 5
Senate vote • 3/3/2026
3rd Reading & Final Passage
Yes: 30 • No: 19
Actions Timeline
Effective date 6/11/2026*.
3/30/2026SenateChapter 249, 2026 Laws.
3/30/2026SenateGovernor signed.
3/30/2026legislatureDelivered to Governor.
3/13/2026legislaturePassed final passage; yeas, 32; nays, 17; absent, 0; excused, 0.
3/12/2026SenateSenate concurred in House amendments.
3/12/2026HouseSpeaker signed.
3/12/2026legislaturePresident signed.
3/12/2026legislatureThird reading, passed; yeas, 66; nays, 27; absent, 0; excused, 5.
3/11/2026SenateRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
3/11/2026SenateFloor amendment(s) adopted.
3/11/2026SenateCommittee amendment not adopted.
3/11/2026SenateRules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
3/9/2026SenateReferred to Rules 2 Review.
3/9/2026SenateMinority; do not pass.
3/9/2026SenateAPP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s).
3/9/2026SenateAPP - Executive action taken by committee.
3/9/2026SenateFirst reading, referred to Appropriations.
3/4/2026SenateThird reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0.
3/3/2026SenateRules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
3/3/2026Senate1st substitute bill substituted.
3/3/2026SenatePlaced on second reading by Rules Committee.
3/3/2026SenateWM - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
3/2/2026SenateMinority; without recommendation.
3/2/2026SenateMinority; do not pass.
3/2/2026Senate
Bill Text
Session Law
4/1/2026
Bill as Passed Legislature
3/13/2026
Substitute Bill
3/3/2026
Original Bill
2/24/2026
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