BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESHB 1819

HB 1819: Transmission capacity

Increasing transmission capacity.

Summary

Provides a categorical exemption from the State Environmental Policy Act for certain upgrades and rebuilds of electric powerlines and requires a review for resources in the rights-of-way for such categorical exemption.
Requires electric utilities with a clean energy action plan to evaluate where reconductoring would yield meaningful improvements to the grid and removes a requirement for these utilities to document their efforts to increase transmission capacity.

From the Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill Report (ESHB 1819), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Did not pass Did not pass · passed House, stalled in Senate

AN ACT Relating to increasing transmission capacity;

Passed March 12, 2025

Version voted on: ESHB 1819

97 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	58	0	0	1
Republican	39	0	0	0

How each member voted

Feb 19, 2026House Rules "X" file. (ESHB 1819)
Feb 19, 2026Returned to Rules Committee for third reading. (ESHB 1819)
Feb 11, 2026Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on third reading. (ESHB 1819)
Jan 12, 2026By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status. (ESHB 1819)
Apr 27, 2025By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading. (ESHB 1819)
Mar 14, 2025First reading, referred to Environment, Energy & Technology. (ESHB 1819)
Mar 12, 2025Third reading, passed; yeas, 97; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESHB 1819)
Mar 12, 2025Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESHB 1819)
Mar 12, 2025Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESHB 1819)
Mar 12, 20251st substitute bill substituted. (ESHB 1819)
Mar 12, 20251st substitute bill substituted.
Feb 28, 2025Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESHB 1819)
Feb 28, 2025Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
Feb 21, 2025Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESHB 1819)
Feb 21, 2025Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Feb 18, 2025ENVI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESHB 1819)
Feb 18, 2025ENVI - Executive action taken by committee.
Feb 18, 2025ENVI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Feb 4, 2025First reading, referred to Environment & Energy.

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

HB 1819 (2023–24) K-12 music instruction · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1819 (2021–22) Property tax exemption · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1819 (2019–20) Election reconciliation rpts · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1819 (2017–18) Children's mental health · Enacted · Chapter 207, Laws of 2017
HB 1819 (2015–16) Political committee acct bks · Enacted · Chapter 54, Laws of 2015
HB 1819 (2013–14) Digital infrastructure maps · Did not pass · passed House, stalled in Senate
HB 1819 (2011–12) Sale of memorial markers · Did not pass · died in committee
HB 1819 (2009–10) Greenhouse gas emissions · Did not pass · died in committee