Senate Passes Climate Change Legislation

The Senate passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6580 addressing climate change issues within the context of the state’s Growth Management Act. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Trade, Economic and Community Development (CTED) to “develop and provide advisory climate change response methodologies, computer modeling programs, and estimates to and cities that include a range of methodologies and estimates.”

ESSB 6580 also establishes a pilot program for three counties and six cities to begin implementing climate change related elements in their land use and transportation plans.

Finally, the bill creates a new advisory committee to work with CTED in overseeing implementation of the bill and developing the next steps. The committee will evaluate the Growth Management Act and try to determine what changes should be made to reduce climate change impacts.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for further consideration.