Appropriations committee hears broad public opposition to diverting $569M from Climate Commitment Act; providers warn Medicaid cuts risk closures

Summary

At a public hearing on House Bill 2289, dozens of one‑minute witnesses urged lawmakers to reject a proposal to repurpose $569 million in Climate Commitment Act funds and to preserve Medicaid, wildfire, housing, education and public defense funding. Providers warned reimbursement freezes and delayed rebasing threaten care access.

The House Appropriations Committee on Thursday held a lengthy public hearing on House Bill 2289, the governor's supplemental operating budget, drawing dozens of one‑minute testimonies that centered on a proposed $569,000,000 diversion from the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) and a suite of cuts and transfers that testimony said would weaken health care, housing and other frontline services.

Darcy Nonomaker, with Washington Conservation Action and the Environmental Priorities Coalition, told the committee: "We do not support Governor Ferguson's proposal to divert and supplant $569,000,000 from the Climate Commitment Act." Nonomaker said CCA revenue was designed to decline over time and "was never intended to supplant eligible program funding," and urged legislators to use CCA dollars for emissions reductions and community resilience.

Environmental and conservation witnesses echoed that message. David Medoza, director of policy and government relations for The Nature Conservancy, said redirecting roughly 80% of CCA funds would "undermine needed…

Appropriations committee hears broad public opposition to diverting $569M from Climate Commitment Act; providers warn Medicaid cuts risk closures

Summary

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