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SB 5036

Strengthening Washington's leadership and accountability on climate policy by transitioning to annual reporting of statewide emissions data.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Boehnke and 7 co-sponsors

Switches Washington to annual GHG inventory and requires natural gas utilities to report emissions under state rules to qualify for Climate Commitment Act no-cost allowances.

Effective date 7/27/2025.
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Bill Summary · SB 5036

SB 5036 — Summary (2025)

Status: Chapter 195, 2025 Laws. Governor signed May 2, 2025. Effective date: July 27, 2025.
Sponsors: Sen. Boehnke et al. (passed House 95–0; passed Senate 30–19)

Purpose / Intent

SB 5036 strengthens Washington’s climate accountability by shifting the statewide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory from a biennial to an annual reporting cadence and clarifying reporting requirements for natural gas utilities tied to Climate Commitment Act (CCA) allowance eligibility. The bill revises legislative findings to emphasize that consistent tracking and annual reporting are essential to determine whether the state is on track to meet statutory emissions limits.

Key provisions

  • Annual greenhouse gas inventory:

    • Amends RCW 70A.45.020 (and updates related RCW language) to require the Department of Ecology and Department of Commerce to post and report an annual Greenhouse Gas Inventory covering the most recent year for which data are available.
    • Reporting starts December 31, 2026 (i.e., first annual report covering the preceding year).
    • Reports must include totals by major source sector and continue to include emissions associated with leaked gas (per UTC reporting) and wildfire emissions (developed in consultation with DNR), consistent with existing inventory content.

  • Natural gas utility reporting and CCA eligibility:

    • Requires natural gas utilities to report their GHG emissions to Ecology in the manner specified by the Washington Clean Air Act (state reporting rules), rather than relying solely on federal reporting procedures, as a condition for receiving no‑cost allowances under the Climate Commitment Act’s cap‑and‑invest program.
    • This aligns allowance eligibility with state-specified reporting formats/methods.

  • Legislative findings and intent:

    • Amends RCW 70A.45.005 to state explicitly that climate leadership and full accountability include consistent tracking and annual reporting of statewide emissions.

Who is affected

  • State agencies: Department of Ecology and Department of Commerce (increased annual reporting frequency and public posting).
  • Natural gas utilities: may need to submit emissions data under state reporting rules to qualify for CCA no‑cost allowances.
  • Legislature, governor, stakeholders and public: benefit from more timely emissions data for policy evaluation and oversight.
  • Potential indirect effects on utilities’ customers and CCA allowance distribution mechanisms depending on reporting compliance.

Fiscal & procedural notes

  • No specific appropriation included in the bill text; a fiscal note was prepared.
  • Effective July 27, 2025.
  • Enacted as part of the 2025 Regular Session (chapter and certification noted above).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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