Committee adopts amendment and reports bill exempting critical energy infrastructure information from public disclosure to House

The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee voted to report House Bill 16 10 out of committee with a due pass recommendation after adopting an amendment that broadened the bill’s language. The bill would exempt ‘‘critical energy infrastructure information’’ from disclosure under the Washington Public Records Act.

Representative Farvar moved that the bill be reported out of committee with a due pass recommendation. Representative Stearns moved amendment SHIP 68, which staff and the sponsor described as a clarification: the amendment specifies that the exemption applies to any agency ‘‘in possession of that information’’ rather than limiting the exemption to information ‘‘collected in support of the state energy resilience and emergency management office.’’ Representative Stearns urged the amendment as a security clarification: ‘‘we want to protect that important information from falling into the wrong hands,’’ he said.

Vote and outcome: The committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and then approved substitute House Bill 16 10 as reported out of committee. A roll call produced four ayes and three nays: Representatives Mena (aye), Stearns (aye), Dolio (aye), and Farvar (aye) voted yes; Representatives Waters (nay without recommendation), Walsh (nay, do not pass), and Chase (nay without recommendation) voted no. The clerk announced ‘‘4 ayes, 3 nays’’ and the chair reported the substitute bill out with a due pass recommendation to the House.

Context: Staff counsel described the bill as creating a PRA exemption for critical energy infrastructure information in possession of any state agency; the amendment broadened that scope to avoid limiting the exemption to a single office.

Ending: The committee action moves the bill to the next legislative step with committee approval and a clarified exemption scope.