First, we must acknowledge the sudden and recent death of Senator Bill Ramos (D, Issaquah). Senator Ramos was a dedicated and collaborative leader who understood the importance of navigating complex issues in order to serve the public interest. He was widely respected due to his thoughtful approach, good humor, and steadfast commitment to a better world. Among his many environmental roles, he worked at the US Forest Service and understood the importance of managing public forests for a range of benefits. 
 
Washington Conservation Action was proud to endorse Sen. Ramos throughout his political career, starting with the Issaquah City Council, through the State House of Representatives, and finally the State Senate. During his legislative service, he was an active leader on natural resources and the environment, working on some of the state’s most groundbreaking climate and environmental laws. He also infused humanity in the work by integrating equity and making new laws a gold standard in serving the public. May his memory guide us in future years.

At the start of 2025, state lawmakers faced roughly a $16 billion budget shortfall. So, we knew this would be a difficult legislative session. The four months of advocating in Olympia were not without some nail-biting moments. But, in the end, the results for people and nature were full of positive victories. 

Washington continues to make progress and lead on environmental policy, despite the headwinds at the federal level. 

The agenda of the Environmental Priorities Coalition (EPC) protected climate funds, passed transformational recycling reform, and strengthened public access to information about sewage spills. Washington Conservation Action is a proud member of the coalition and values the partnerships and hard work to make progress in the following areas:

• We continue to invest in climate action: Just six months ago, voters overwhelmingly supported holding polluters accountable and investing in climate action by voting to uphold the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The legislature is listening to voters and spent CCA dollars to reduce dangerous climate pollution, invest in clean energy solutions, and support communities grappling with climate impacts. Everything from grants for cleaner medium and heavy-duty trucks to home weatherization and health improvements to tapping the carbon storage potential in mature forests were included in the final budget.
   
• We’re modernizing recycling systems (SB 5284): After six years, the EPC finally helped push statewide recycling reform into law. Companies will now take responsibility for unnecessary packaging, paying fees for the waste they create. Those fees, in turn, will fund curbside recycling statewide. 
   
• We’re making it easier for the public to know about sewage spills (HB 1670): The Sewage Spill Right-to-Know Act will bring much-needed transparency to sewage spill information across the state. Most sewage spill information is not easily accessible to the public. Now the Department of Ecology must create a public website with this information by 2026. Washington joins at least 10 other states with similar laws to protect the public from exposure to harmful pollution in our waterways.
   
• We’re funding cleaner trucks on the road: The final budget included new funding for a grant program to improve access and affordability of cleaner medium and heavy-duty trucks. When this new investment is added to existing funds, $126 million is available to help reduce pollution that impacts air quality and public health, as well as meet rules for cleaner trucks. Given federal efforts to rollback in this area, this EPC priority win is a positive sign that state lawmakers are committed to reducing heavy and medium truck pollution, a major source of carbon emissions.
   
• We strengthened the Clean Fuels standard (HB 1409): Transportation is the largest source of pollution in the state, and this bill reduces the pollution intensity of fuels through cleaner options at the pump and electric vehicles. This victory builds on past Clean Fuels Now priority, and your voice will be needed as we work to implement the policy during the coming years.  
   
• We created a state insurance fund to cover prescribed and cultural burns, in the rare event that one of those fires gets out of control (HB 1563): These burns are key to restoring forest health after a century of fire suppression has left forestlands crowded and prone to catastrophic wildfire.

Soon, Governor Ferguson will likely take action on two of the EPC priority bills. Take 30 seconds to send a message to Gov. Ferguson urging him to finish the job and sign HB 1670 and SB 5284 into law.

None of this progress would have been possible without supporters like you who help to fund our work, who sign in during comment periods, who contact your legislators at key times, and who show up in person to lobby. 

Your voice is still critical as these laws are implemented and as federal policies threaten the economy. There remains unfinished work to improve environmental spending in the budget to reduce toxic pollution, prepare communities for wildfires, and more. 

We know you’ll be with us in the coming year as we continue to push for policies that protect people and nature as one. Thanks for all that you did to make the 2025 legislative session a success.