Advocates and local officials push back on plan to use Climate Commitment Account and on public works account sweep

Several environmental groups and local government representatives criticized elements of the governor's supplemental proposal that would move funding sources or sweep local infrastructure dollars.

Witnesses said the governor would use Climate Commitment Account (CCA) appropriations to fund the Working Families Tax Credit for the 2025–27 period, a move the administration described as allowable but which opponents said violated the "spirit" of CCA law and voter expectations. Robin Everett of the Sierra Club said the approach, even if legal, "is profoundly out of step with the spirit of the bill and the voter intent," adding that using CCA dollars in that way would set a troubling precedent.

Association of Washington Cities representative Candice Bach and other local officials flagged a proposed $75 million sweep from the Public Works Assistance account to the general fund and noted that local infrastructure and housing supply rely on that source. Bach said the account is "the cornerstone of investing in local infrastructure" and asked lawmakers to avoid the sweep.

Environmental and community groups recommended exploring other revenue or progressive options instead of diverting dedicated climate or infrastructure dollars, and asked the committee to honor prior statutory commitments tied to wildfire and climate investments.