OLYMPIA, Wash. – A new bill proposed by Kennewick Senator Matt Boehnke aims to bolster Washington’s climate policy.
Beginning in 2026, SB 5036 would require the Department of Ecology and the Department of Commerce to annually report to the Governor and the Legislature of the total emissions for greenhouse gases for the preceding year instead of reporting every two years on the total emissions.
Senator Boehnke said his bill outlines a commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and minimizing economic impacts.
“We are five years behind data and that data is helping us actually move forward. So just even the last couple of weeks, we just got data from 2020. It is now 2025. We are using a lot of data throughout the state,” Senator Boehnke testified. “This is a good bill to utilize that data sooner, quicker and with more current data. I think it allows us to get to better decisions that will impact that as soon as we move to the future.”
The bill also sets new targets for reducing emissions, aiming for a 95% reduction below 1990 levels by 2050.
The bill received a public hearing in Olympia, February 18. It awaits further discussion and consideration by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
