Priorities
Legislative Session begins on Monday, January 13, 2025 and runs until April 27, 2025. During this time, there will be many opportunities to advocate for environmental priorities. This year, the Environmental Priorities Coalition has adopted four priorities and the partnership agenda to support healthy communities and a thriving environment.
Protect Advanced Clean Trucks & Climate Progress
In President Trump’s first term in office, he rolled back more than 100 environmental laws and regulations. As he gears up for a second term, he has appointed an oil company executive to head the Department of Energy and an EPA Director with an extreme directive to deregulate and make polluters richer. Washington State will not follow that path, and we need steadfast leadership to safeguard vulnerable rules like the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, clean energy policies, and programs to lower costs by supporting energy efficiency in our homes and businesses.
Sewage Spill Right-to-Know
Hundreds of sewage overflows occur every year. Few are widely reported to the general public. Too often, the public only finds out about these spills when their local beach or fishing area is closed because of contaminated water. Sewage discharges contribute to a range of environmental harms including toxics exposure and bacterial pollution. Spill reports to the Department of Ecology are not searchable or compiled and available in a timely way to the public to use for active decision-making for personal pollution exposure. At least 10 other states such as South Carolina, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have a public disclosure hub and right to know law on the books, but Washington does not. This policy would require the Department of Ecology to establish a public-facing website with maps and searchable sewage spill records.
The Recycling Reform Act
People are frustrated with excess packaging and plastic pollution. More than 50% of Washington’s consumer packaging and paper products are landfilled or incinerated, wasting an estimated $104 million in valuable materials. The Recycling Reform Act will require packaging and paper product companies and brands to fund our recycling system. This will bring consistent and accessible recycling to all state residents. It will reduce packaging and excess waste and create education programs to reduce confusion.
Invest in Climate Action
62% of voters – a clear super majority – upheld the state’s program to reduce dangerous climate pollution and invest in clean air, public health, job creation, and transportation. As the state faces a large funding shortfall, we will make sure that budget writers uphold the people’s will: Climate funds should be used for their intended purpose.
