Washington House passes package of bills on weatherization, predesign thresholds, orchards and veterinary rules

OLYMPIA — The Washington State House of Representatives on the floor advanced and passed a series of bills on final passage, approving measures that expand community weatherization programs, raise predesign cost thresholds for capital projects, create a heritage orchard program, and update veterinarian‑client provisions.

The chamber moved House Bill 23‑38, which sponsors described as expanding the state’s low‑income home weatherization program to allow community‑scaled and multifamily projects. Representative Kallen (5th District) urged support, saying the program “has been very successful of helping our homes and our low income homes get fully weatherized,” and that expansion would lower household energy costs while returning money to families.

Supporters said the change would let capital budget funds reach projects at a larger scale. The House approved HB 23‑38 on final passage, the clerk reported 93 yeas, 1 nay and 4 excused, and the Speaker declared the bill passed.

Lawmakers also approved House Bill 23‑53, a measure to raise predesign thresholds for public projects and to adjust data and information requirements (the bill references RCW 39.116 and related provisions). Representative Keaton (25th District) said the bill moves the threshold from $10,000,000 to $15,000,000 and places it on an escalator to avoid repeated legislative fixes. The House recorded 94 yeas, 0 nays, 4 excused on final passage.

The House passed Substitute House Bill 23‑63, which includes temporary exemptions from licensure for certain applicants; the text inserted an effective date of Jan. 1, 2027. Representative Reed (36th District) described the measure as allowing supervised practice for music‑therapy students while the Department of Health scores licensing exams.

Representative Gloria Mendoza (14th District) urged support for Senate Substitute House Bill 25‑25, establishing a Heritage Orchard Program and a registry to preserve rare apple varieties. Mendoza called the bill “a tribute to the apple industry,” noting that Washington produces a majority of U.S. apples and that Washington State University will maintain a registry to preserve and study rare varieties. The House approved the substitute bill 94‑0 with 4 excused.

Other measures approved included:

- Substitute House Bill 24‑20, raising thresholds for the Small Works roster to account for construction cost escalation; Representative Zahn (41st District) said stakeholders helped craft the change. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and passed 94‑0 with 4 excused.

- Substitute House Bill 24‑28, intended to prevent unintentional lapses in life‑insurance policies by allowing a third‑party designee; Representative Levitt (28th District) said the change protects families and asked for a yes vote. The House recorded 94‑0 with 4 excused.

- House Bill 26‑04, which permits electronic signatures for vehicle title transfers to ease burdens on residents who lack easy access to salvage yards or offices; Representative Richards (26th District) said the bill follows practices already used elsewhere and passed 94‑0 with 4 excused.

- Substitute House Bill 21‑07, extending a pilot that requires L&I to provide written notice to employers/contractors within 10 days of identifying a job‑site hazard; Representative Schmidt (4th District) described the pilot as successful and urged permanent adoption. The bill passed 94‑0 with 4 excused.

- Engrossed Substitute House Bill 22‑47, concerning the veterinarian‑client‑patient relationship, which included adoption of amendment 15‑17 (a striker requiring yearly veterinarian visits on certain commercial animal production farms and clarifying veterinarian oversight). The sponsor said the change preserves animal‑health oversight and allows telehealth between physical exam visits; the House adopted the amendment and passed the bill 94‑0 with 4 excused.

What happened: most bills were advanced under suspension of the rules and moved quickly through third reading with brief sponsor remarks. The votes were overwhelmingly in favor for the package shown on the floor during this excerpt; roll‑call tallies were provided on the record for each final‑passage vote.

Why it matters: supporters framed the measures as operational and efficiency improvements — from letting more households and multifamily buildings access weatherization funds, to adjusting procurement predesign thresholds for inflation, to protecting agricultural diversity and clarifying veterinary oversight. Several bills include effective dates or implementation provisions that affect agencies such as the Department of Health and agencies administering capital projects.

Next steps: bills that passed on final passage proceed to enrollment and transmittal for the governor (or to any additional constitutional steps as required). The House recessed for party caucuses after concluding the floor actions recorded in the excerpt.

Quotes used in this article are drawn verbatim from floor remarks transcribed on the record.