WA People
BILL · 2025–26 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 5445

SB 5445: Distributed energy resources

Encouraging utility investment in local energy resilience. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Encouraging the development of distributed energy resources.)

Summary

  • Specifies the addition of an agrivoltaics facility to land classified as farm and agricultural land under the Open Space Taxation Act does not constitute a reclassification, withdrawal, or removal from farm and agricultural land classification and is not subject to additional tax.
  • Creates a categorical exemption for certain distributed solar energy generation actions under the State Environmental Policy Act.
  • Allows qualifying electric utilities to be in compliance with Energy Independence Act (EIA) targets through any combination of eligible renewable resources and certain accelerated conservation and demand response actions.
  • Provides a quadruple multiplier towards EIA targets for the value of certain new distributed energy priority generation.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 5445), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 265, Laws of 2025
  1. IntroducedJan 23, 2025
  2. Out of committeeFeb 21, 2025
  3. Passed SenateMar 11, 2025
  4. Passed HouseApr 15, 2025
  5. GovernorMay 13, 2025
  6. LawMay 13, 2025
Prime sponsor
Matt Boehnke (R-8)
Introduced
January 23, 2025 in the Senate
Last action
May 13, 2025
Session law
Chapter 265, Laws of 2025
Budget
Has a fiscal note
Versions
SB 5445, SSB 5445, ESSB 5445

AN ACT Relating to encouraging the development of distributed energy resources;

Sponsors

Prime sponsor: Matt Boehnke (R-8)

2 co-sponsors (2 Democrats, 0 Republicans)

Bob Hasegawa D-11Vandana Slatter D-48

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed March 11, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5445
46 Yea 2 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat27201
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (46)

Nay (2)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 15, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5445
96 Yea 1 Nay 0 Absent 1 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat59000
Republican37101
How each member voted

Yea (96)

Nay (1)

Excused (1)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Final Passage as Amended by the House

Passed April 22, 2025
Version voted on: ESSB 5445
48 Yea 0 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused
PartyYeaNayAbsentExcused
Democrat29000
Republican19000
How each member voted

Yea (48)

Permalink to this vote

History

  1. Effective date 7/27/2025. (ESSB 5445)
  2. Chapter 265, 2025 Laws. (ESSB 5445)
  3. Governor signed. (ESSB 5445)
  4. Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 5445)
  5. President signed. (ESSB 5445)
  6. Speaker signed. (ESSB 5445)
  7. Passed final passage; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 5445)
  8. Senate concurred in House amendments. (ESSB 5445)
  9. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5445)
  10. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5445)
  11. Committee amendment(s) adopted with no other amendments. (ESSB 5445)
  12. Committee amendment not adopted. (ESSB 5445)
  13. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading. (ESSB 5445)
  14. Referred to Rules 2 Review. (ESSB 5445)
  15. APP - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5445)
  16. APP - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) but without amendment(s) by Environment & Energy. (ESSB 5445)
  17. Referred to Appropriations. (ESSB 5445)
  18. ENVI - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 5445)
  19. ENVI - Majority; do pass with amendment(s) by Environment & Energy. (ESSB 5445)
  20. First reading, referred to Environment & Energy. (ESSB 5445)
  21. Third reading, passed; yeas, 46; nays, 2; absent, 0; excused, 1. (ESSB 5445)
  22. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 5445)
  23. Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 5445)
  24. 1st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 5445)
  25. 1st substitute bill substituted.
  26. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 5445)
  27. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
  28. ENET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 5445)
  29. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 5445)
  30. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
  31. ENET - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
  32. First reading, referred to Environment, Energy & Technology.

SB 5445 in other sessions

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

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