H-0390.1
HOUSE BILL 1288
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Dye, Klicker, and Barkis
Read first time 01/14/25. Referred to Committee on Environment & Energy.
AN ACT Relating to environmental leadership through outdoor recreation and climate adaptation investments; amending RCW 70A.65.250 and 70A.65.305 ; reenacting and amending RCW 70A.65.030 , 70A.65.040 , and 70A.65.230 ; adding a new section to chapter 70A.65 RCW; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 70A.65.260 and 70A.65.270 .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that Washington's changing climate creates increased risk of catastrophic wildfires, drought, severe heat events, and flooding, as well as impacts to agriculture, water supply and water quality, and the health of the forests, watersheds, and wildlife. These risks and impacts will vary by region and can overwhelm the resources and budgets of local governments that must cope with severe climate change-related events. Reducing vulnerability to fire, flood, drought, and other climate change-related events requires statewide investment to increase climate resilience.
The legislature finds that when more of Washington's precipitation falls as rain rather than snow, and the diminished snowpack melts earlier in the spring, our rivers and streams will be slower and warmer in the late summer. Therefore, climate change will impact the survival of salmon and impact the irrigation that powers Washington's agricultural economy. These same changes in precipitation will also impact recreation opportunities, like snowmobiling and skiing in the winter and camping, boating, and fishing in the summer. The economies of communities that rely on recreational visitors will be deeply impacted, and the opportunities of our residents to enjoy the scenic and iconic natural beauty of Washington will be diminished.