The bill mandates that by July 1, 2027, each county in Washington must develop and adopt an extreme heat response plan in collaboration with local health jurisdictions, emergency management departments, and other local governments. The plans must address both immediate responses to extreme heat events and long-term strategies to mitigate future occurrences. Key components of the plans include ensuring adequate cooling strategies beyond cooling centers, protecting high-risk populations, establishing partnerships with Indian tribes, implementing outreach and community engagement programs, recommending building adaptation strategies, developing protocols for heat-related medical emergencies, and monitoring heat-related illnesses and interventions.

Counties that have already adopted plans that substantially comply with the new requirements are exempt from the July 1, 2027 deadline. Additionally, after a plan is adopted, counties are required to review and revise their heat response plans during their comprehensive plan updates as mandated by existing law.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.70A.130