PRIA Logo™
WashingtonHB 24262025-2026 Regular SessionHouse

Improving efficiency in appeals to the pollution control hearings board.

Sponsored By: Adam Bernbaum (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.

Free to start

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Faster pollution permit appeals with flexible panels

Parties to a permit appeal can, with unanimous board approval, choose a different panel. Options include an administrative appeals judge, a qualified land use or shorelines board member, or a single board member. The board must pick the option that uses staff and time efficiently. A majority is still a quorum for board business, but smaller panels can hear cases under this law. The board may let one or more members hold hearings and take testimony by rule or order.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Adam Bernbaum

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • Joel McEntire

    Republican • House

  • Julia Reed

    Democratic • House

  • Lisa Parshley

    Democratic • House

  • Shaun Scott

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 144 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 48 • No: 0 • Other: 1

House vote • 2/11/2026

3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yes: 96 • No: 0 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026.

    3/18/2026House

  2. Chapter 98, 2026 Laws.

    3/18/2026House

  3. Governor signed.

    3/18/2026legislature

  4. Delivered to Governor.

    3/12/2026legislature

  5. President signed.

    3/12/2026legislature

  6. Speaker signed.

    3/11/2026legislature

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1.

    3/6/2026House

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    3/6/2026House

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

    3/5/2026House

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

    2/23/2026House

  11. ENET - Majority; do pass.

    2/20/2026House

  12. First reading, referred to Environment, Energy & Technology.

    2/13/2026House

  13. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 2.

    2/11/2026House

  14. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

    2/11/2026House

  15. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

    2/6/2026House

  16. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

    2/3/2026House

  17. ENVI - Executive action taken by committee.

    1/29/2026House

  18. Minority; without recommendation.

    1/29/2026House

  19. ENVI - Majority; do pass.

    1/29/2026House

  20. First reading, referred to Environment & Energy.

    1/13/2026House

  21. Introduced

    1/13/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation