Requiring notification of smoke impacts from department of natural resources-initiated or silvicultural burns.

 H-1158.1

HOUSE BILL 1861

State of Washington

69th Legislature

2025 Regular Session

By Representative Dufault

Read first time 02/06/25. Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

AN ACT Relating to notification of smoke impacts from department of natural resources-initiated or silvicultural burns; amending RCW 70A.15.5140 ; and creating a new section.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that information currently provided by the department of natural resources about smoke impacts on communities in our state from government-initiated and silvicultural fires is incomplete and inadequately updated. To better protect children and families, it is necessary to allow them to make informed decisions about outdoor activities. This is especially important for those residing in low-income census tracts that experience disproportionately high impacts due to a higher concentration of young residents and fewer resources at their disposal to mitigate the harmful effects of exposure to damaging PM2.5, fine particulate matter, which poses significant health risks.

Sec. 2. RCW 70A.15.5140 and 2024 c 280 s 5 are each amended to read as follows: