2026 Legislative Priorities

Press Briefing | January 12, 2026

Speakers

Alyssa Mayeda | Washington Conservation Action

Darcy Nonemacher | Washington Conservation Action

Skippy Shaw  | The Nature Conservancy

Zach Baker| NW Energy Coalition

Heather Trim | Zero Waste Washington

EPC | Coalition Members

2026 Legislative Session | Context

2026 EPC Priorities

Protecting Climate and Environmental Health Funding

Presented by

Darcy Nonemacher,

Washington Conservation Action

State Budget Crisis

• Climate and environmental spending = tiny portion of state operating budget
• $2.3 billion shortfall
• Climate and environmental funding diverted or cut
• Demand for climate funds exceed available funds

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Priority Objectives

• Oppose Governor Ferguson’s $569 million diversion of Climate Commitment Act funds
• Prioritize climate pollution reduction, affordability, and jobs
• Avoid steep cuts to climate and environmental programs

Presented by

Skippy Shaw,

The Nature Conservancy

Restore Wildfire Resilience Funding

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The Problem

HB 1168 (2021) was a groundbreaking step to proactively address wildfire and forest health crises.

2025-2027 budget cut funding in half: $60M vs. $125M commitment in HB 1168.

Wildfire costs are inevitable. Invest now in prevention or pay far more for suppression and recovery later.

The Solution

The investments are working: �Forest health + community preparedness + response capacity = resilience.

Mitigation delivers 8x return on investment.

We can’t afford to lose momentum: Restore full funding for the Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration & Community Resilience Account.

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Presented by

Zach Baker,

NW Energy Coalition

Data Centers, Environmental Protection, and Affordability

The Problem

Data center growth in Washington poses a rapidly growing challenge.

These huge facilities have the potential to impact our:

• Climate and clean energy goals;
• Energy affordability and reliability;
• Environment; and
• Communities

The Solution

The right protections and incentives could hold data centers to a high standard, one that centers communities and the environment while also fostering innovative solutions.

The Legislature should focus on a package of data center-focused policies that will:

• Protect and further our state’s climate and clean energy laws and goals;
• Protect ratepayers from financial and reliability impacts;
• Minimize impacts to communities and natural resources including air, water, and salmon; and
• Maximize benefits to communities.

Bottles and Cans Recycling Refund Act

Presented by

Heather Trim,

Zero Waste Washington

WA Litter Study 2022

Study found 42 pounds of beverage containers per mile¹

Image source: ecology.wa.gov/blog/august-2023/meet-the-students-clearing-litter-from-washington-highways​

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¹ Source: https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/documents/2307038.pdf

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10 States have Bottle and Can Refund Programs

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planetforward.org/story/dc-bottle-bill/

Map: Maggie Rhoads

The bill: Recycling Refund Act (Bottle Bill)

HB 1607/SB 5502

Rep. Monica Stonier & Sen. June Robinson

Deposit Paid

Individuals purchase beverages while paying a refundable deposit.

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Refund Redeemed

Once containers are empty, individuals return them to a redemption location.

Recycled or Refilled

Single-use containers are recycled back into new beverage containers, and put back on store shelves.​

Refillable bottles are separated during processing, washed, and refilled.

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Outcomes: Increased recycling, decreased litter

• An estimated 3.8 billion packaged beverages are sold in WA each year �(266,400 tons)
• Covered Beverage Containers
• Includes: glass, plastic, or metal can or bottle with capacity ≥ 40 ml and ≤ 1 gallon
• Does not include: drugs, milk (100% fluid milk), or infant formula
• From other states: reduce littered beverage containers by more than 80%.
• In conjunction with Recycling Reform Act (2025), increase overall recycling from 40% to 70%:

Washington Recycle, Reuse, and Source Reduction Target Study and Community Input Process, 2023. https://apps.ecology.wa.gov/publications/documents/2307060.pdf

Figure 2: Overview of Scenarios Modeled and Highest Achievable Recycling Rates by 2032

Thank You | Questions

Contact

Alyssa Mayeda

amayeda@waconservationaction.org

206-631-2624

www.environmentalpriorities.org