This bill addresses the need for increased funding for long-term forest health and wildfire reduction efforts in Washington State. It highlights that the policies established in chapter 298, Laws of 2021, remain crucial, but the full benefits have not been realized due to inadequate funding. The previous omnibus operating budget allocated $60,000,000 for the 2025-2027 fiscal biennium, while the actual requirement is $125,000,000. The intent of this bill is to secure the necessary funding to meet these needs.

To achieve this, the bill appropriates a total of $65,000,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, from the natural climate solutions account to the wildfire response, forest restoration, and community resilience account. This appropriation aims to enhance the state's capacity to manage forest health and mitigate wildfire risks effectively.