WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION SHB 2496

HB 2496: EFSEC tribal consultation

Concerning tribal consultation conducted by the energy facility site evaluation council.

Summary

  • Requires the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) Chair to conduct government-to-government consultation with federally recognized tribes during siter certification and include as many EFSEC members are as possible if requested by the tribe.
  • Exempts certain government-to-government consultation meetings between a tribe and the EFSEC during site certification from the Open Public Meetings Act.
  • Requires the EFSEC to provide its summary of consultation to the relevant tribe prior to submitting its recommendation report to the Governor and allow the tribe 30 days to request corrections to the summary or to submit its own.

From the Substitute House Bill Report (SHB 2496), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 244, Laws of 2026
  1. IntroducedJan 15, 2026
  2. Out of committeeFeb 4, 2026
  3. Passed HouseFeb 13, 2026
  4. Passed SenateFeb 28, 2026
  5. GovernorMar 30, 2026
  6. LawMar 30, 2026
Prime sponsor
Chris Stearns (D-47)
Introduced
January 15, 2026 in the House
Last action
March 30, 2026
Session law
Chapter 244, Laws of 2026
Companion bill
SB 6010
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
HB 2496, SHB 2496

AN ACT Relating to tribal consultation conducted by the energy facility site evaluation council;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Chris Stearns (D-47)

8 co-sponsors (8 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Alex Ramel D-40Lisa Parshley D-22Tarra Simmons D-23Sharon Tomiko Santos D-37Beth Doglio D-22Timm Ormsby D-3Natasha Hill D-3Gerry Pollet D-46

Votes

House · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 13, 2026
Version voted on: SHB 2496
70 Yea 24 Nay 0 Absent 4 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat58001
Republican122403
How each member voted

Yea (70)

Excused (4)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed February 28, 2026
Version voted on: SHB 2496
30 Yea 19 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat30000
Republican01900
How each member voted
Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the Senate

Passed March 9, 2026
Version voted on: SHB 2496
71 Yea 24 Nay 0 Absent 3 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat57002
Republican142401
How each member voted

Yea (71)

Excused (3)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 6/11/2026. (SHB 2496)
  2. Chapter 244, 2026 Laws. (SHB 2496)
  3. Governor signed. (SHB 2496)
  4. President signed. (SHB 2496)
  5. Delivered to Governor. (SHB 2496)
  6. Speaker signed. (SHB 2496)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 71; nays, 24; absent, 0; excused, 3. (SHB 2496)
  8. House concurred in Senate amendments. (SHB 2496)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 30; nays, 19; absent, 0; excused, 0. (SHB 2496)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 2496)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted as amended. (SHB 2496)
  12. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (SHB 2496)
  13. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (SHB 2496)
  14. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 2496)
  15. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 2496)
  16. ENET - Majority; do pass with amendment(s). (SHB 2496)
  17. First reading, referred to Environment, Energy & Technology. (SHB 2496)
  18. Third reading, passed; yeas, 70; nays, 24; absent, 0; excused, 4. (SHB 2496)
  19. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (SHB 2496)
  20. 1st substitute bill substituted. (SHB 2496)
  21. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  22. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (SHB 2496)
  23. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
  24. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (SHB 2496)
  25. Referred to Rules 2 Review.
  26. ENVI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (SHB 2496)
  27. Minority; without recommendation. (SHB 2496)
  28. Minority; do not pass. (SHB 2496)
  29. ENVI - Executive action taken by committee.
  30. Minority; do not pass.
  31. Minority; without recommendation.
  32. ENVI - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  33. First reading, referred to Environment & Energy.

HB 2496 in other sessions

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

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