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Senate committee advances package of energy, environment and technology bills, including HB 1906

Senate Energy, Environment, and Technology Committee · February 24, 2026

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Summary

During executive session the Senate Energy, Environment and Technology Committee adopted amendments and advanced a package of bills — including measures on distributed energy devices, data center rules, AI disclosures, waste‑to‑energy and low‑income energy assistance — many passed as amended and were sent with due‑pass recommendations or to Ways and Means.

In executive session following a public hearing, the Senate Energy, Environment and Technology Committee adopted amendments and advanced multiple bills spanning distributed energy resources, data‑center regulation, artificial intelligence disclosures, waste‑to‑energy treatment under the Climate Commitment Act, and energy assistance.

Staff briefed substitute House Bill 2296 on meter‑mounted devices and portable solar generation devices; striking amendment B was adopted after amendment A was withdrawn. The committee moved HB 2296 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation to the Rules Committee.

The committee adopted amendments on Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2015 (emerging large energy use facilities), including a page‑and‑line amendment restoring curtailment obligations and an amendment adding species‑protection language; HB 2015 was moved as amended with a due‑pass recommendation to Ways and Means despite some members expressing concerns about potential impacts on utilities that have already taken steps to protect ratepayers.

On Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 1170 (AI disclosures), the committee adopted technical amendments and moved the bill as amended with a due‑pass recommendation to Ways and Means. Staff described a striker that redefines covered providers and adds a government‑agency disclosure requirement for consumer interactions with AI; enforcement remains with the Attorney General under the Consumer Protection Act.

Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 2416 (waste‑to‑energy under the Climate Commitment Act) was discussed and amended with timing and review‑period changes for Ecology; the committee moved the bill as amended with a due‑pass recommendation.

As reported in the transcript, the committee adopted striking amendment F to Second Substitute House Bill 1906 (water systems) after a public hearing and moved the bill as amended; the chair announced that the bill "has passed subject to signatures." The committee also considered HB 1903 (statewide low‑income energy assistance program), HB 1742 (environmentally sustainable urban design center, which was not acted on), and HB 1833 (Spark Act AI grant program) and moved several of them as amended with due‑pass recommendations.

All recorded votes in the executive session were voice votes; the transcript records chair announcements that bills passed "subject to signatures" but does not provide roll‑call tallies in the public record.

Procedural note: the transcript reflects multiple withdrawn amendments and subsequent re‑offers; where amendment names were withdrawn the committee proceeded with the remaining amendment sets before final voice votes.