The proposed bill establishes the Washington Wildfire Prevention and Protection Council and creates a Wildfire Prevention and Protection Fund to combat the increasing threat of catastrophic wildfires in the state. The council will oversee the fund, which is designed to provide timely compensation to wildfire victims, support mitigation and prevention efforts, and ensure the financial stability of electric utilities. Key provisions include eligibility requirements for electric utilities to participate in the fund, such as payment contributions and compliance with wildfire mitigation plans. The council will consist of 15 members from various sectors, including state agencies and tribal governments, and will be responsible for setting contributions and surcharges for participating utilities. Additionally, the bill amends existing regulations regarding the treasury income account, introducing the wildfire prevention and protection account as a new recipient of earnings from the treasury income account. This aims to enhance funding for wildfire prevention efforts. The bill also mandates the Department of Commerce to develop standardized formats for electric utility wildfire mitigation plans, which must be submitted for approval to the Utilities and Transportation Commission. The legislation emphasizes proactive planning and coordinated oversight to protect communities from wildfire risks, while also ensuring that utilities are held accountable for their mitigation strategies.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 76.04.185, 80.28.445