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Counties and climate groups push back on plan to repurpose Climate Commitment Act funds; call for full wildfire account restoration
Summary
Environmental groups, county officials and the commissioner of public lands urged the Senate committee not to divert Climate Commitment Act revenue to pay for other programs and pressed the legislature to restore the full wildfire resilience funding previously committed under HB 1168.
Several county officials, conservation groups and the state Commissioner of Public Lands told the committee they oppose redirecting Climate Commitment Act (CCA) revenue to cover other state priorities.
Dave Updegrove, Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands, said he appreciates the governor’s inclusion of $30,000,000 for wildfire prevention but told the committee that the amount "falls $30,000,000 short of the commitment the legislature made under House Bill 1168." He warned that without restoring the full prior commitment the state will face larger fires and higher suppression costs in future seasons.
Megan Dunn (Snohomish County Council member) and advocacy groups including Climate Solutions, the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy opposed the governor’s proposed redirection of roughly $569,000,000 in CCA funds to backfill other accounts, calling that move inconsistent with voter intent and with the statutory purpose of CCA. Dunn said the diversion "redirects a staggering $569,000,000 from the Climate Commitment Act," and urged lawmakers to use progressive revenue rather than CCA dollars to pay for affordability programs.
Many witnesses urged full restoration of the HB 1168 wildfire resilience funding (often cited as $60,000,000 committed earlier) and said that investing in mitigation and forest health reduces long‑term costs. County executives and the Washington Forest Protection Association also stressed local infrastructure and response needs.
Next step: committee members signaled they will hear additional briefings and consider how to balance wildfire preparedness, climate commitments and broader affordability needs as they develop amendments.
