[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6339674,"mediaKeyId","2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c","parentId",2260896,"title","Senate committee hears bill to codify state lead renovation, repair and painting program","audioSeconds",682,"startMs",2136000,"endMs",1454000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c&start=2136&end=1454","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c/thumbnail_2136000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339674/Washington/Senate-committee-hears-bill-to-codify-state-lead-renovation-repair-and-painting-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339674-eb190548ef9f55233bf2144927b8dd27/orig.mp4?Expires=1770703367&Signature=XSKdX9cvpc7UEAPgAr-0jZL0KiOoMOm7x9u1eT0xboF1uHRIAF88f0eIZlAvBttovC7oBTb5GeWvxOC1CUazYmrNgq03OsNejNbks1DkzMeUeglDjRDS1LLcvi~gRogp3lL28WvfLb7LLYm2Rz3DPi2Sr35GT72NznDzjah3RQoIGMttgBuy0274gMmoJ8zdH6ZnuULacTp977ukB1~yDcReh5C0rmb87DXuBof0jJt5qYBgeWyHAxUjpp4waSly0j~CvEJEh9SM8dgvxhW0kuFJyPpzquaAli9nKHYcoM0kDzGmlLy5nl2Ho2XKsbbw54MiN8b1cmdnrrhkIdYXEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate Environment, Energy & Technology","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","A Senate committee on Environment, Energy & Technology heard testimony on Senate Bill 5,494, which would place the state’s renovation, repair and painting (RRP) program for lead-based paint into state law and give the Department of Commerce authority to administer and enforce it.

The bill, introduced in staff briefing by Alicia Kinney Clausen, staff to the committee, would direct Commerce to administer a state RRP program consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements and grant Commerce rulemaking authority and authority to set fees. Senator Claudia Kaufman, sponsor, told the committee that “lead exposure remains a preventable but presents persistent public health issue, especially for children and families that are in older homes.”

The bill would require renovation activities on pre-1978 residential or child-occupied facilities to be done by certified firms and certified renovators or individuals trained by certified renovators. Commerce would have to ensure the state program is “at least as protective as the federal program,” establish an appeals process consistent with the Administrative Procedures Act, and may delegate implementation to other agencies or private partners. Staff said a fiscal note had been requested and was not yet available.

Commerce staff and program officials described current program activity and enforcement practices. Katie Meehan of the Department of Commerce said the agency currently certifies about 2,000 contractors each year, responds to roughly 4,000 compliance assistance requests annually and conducts more than 100 in-person inspections a year, treating inspections as educational opportunities. Meehan summarized the federal context: “Dust from lead paint is the number 1 method of lead exposure,” and noted EPA warned last July that the state needed to update statute or risk having EPA take both programs back.

Opponents and industry representatives focused on enforcement and cost concerns. Andrea Smiley of the Building Industry Association testified in opposition, saying Commerce “is not very well suited for the enforcement piece of this legislation” and worried about the impact of enforcement on contractors and renovation costs. Jamie Switras, a trainer with Now Environmental, and contractor-trainers including Steve Hoff supported keeping the program with Commerce, saying state oversight has lowered costs and improved access to training and compliance assistance. Commerce’s Jennifer Carraway (program enforcement officer) described the agency’s preventive enforcement approach and said contractors frequently call for compliance assistance.

Testimony also described penalties and fee changes the bill would make: staff said the bill would repeal statutory fees (noted in testimony as $25 certification/recertification and a $200 training-accreditation fee) and allow Commerce to set fees by rule. Commerce told the committee EPA penalties could run as high as $48,000 while Washington currently caps penalties at $10,000 and had not issued a penalty in five years. Committee members asked about disposal and disposal oversight; Commerce and its enforcement staff explained waste disposal for residential lead-based paint is handled differently than commercial waste and that Ecology’s role focuses on commercial/industrial waste and contaminated soils.

The committee heard broad support from public-health and environmental organizations for updating statute to preserve state authorization, and from industry groups that wanted clarity on enforcement authority and education-outreach options. The panel closed with the committee chair noting public sign-in counts for the hearing: 159 signers who chose not to testify, 8 pro, and 151 con were recorded for the record. No formal vote or amendment occurred during the hearing.

The committee left the bill in committee for further work; staff and witnesses said fiscal details and fee rulemaking mechanics remain to be completed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Environment, Energy & Technology - 2/11/2025 1:30 PM","oneSentenceSummary","A Senate committee on Environment, Energy & Technology heard testimony on Senate Bill 5,494, which would place the state’s renovation, repair and painting (RRP) program for lead-based paint into state law and give the Department of Commerce authority to administer and enforce it.","taxTitle","Environment, Energy & Technology, Senate, Legislative Sessions, Washington","taxId",20502,"location","Washington","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339663,"Debate over immediate electronic ticket delivery highlights fraud, bot and venue concerns",2177,3579000,5756000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c&start=3579&end=5756","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c/thumbnail_3579000.jpg","/articles/6339663/Washington/Debate-over-immediate-electronic-ticket-delivery-highlights-fraud-bot-and-venue-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339663-c8b6c2dda28d4fc4f01fb9f0a6f20440/orig.mp4?Expires=1770703367&Signature=j4vakhv7mxiaCINHoAmn5jpoDxig59bFtgDYH53LAYJQfY2MVuYn5MZfk5181C6AMewVnNspgv-32M1BRHCOzWSkxydUEKUN~SRoc9dfidsRbG~D0P6kCoz-QsgRYOxv5q8BeMKTbNVPV9kFWpelvjsOdQWa4umkhs5miUrbYqYbbcNs1OtpkJN3ky8HB7wwTE6fe72KfunNOPBi6faXYfrCKH~dbdFn6RC-JyaZ2zyyhCpEDdICLekbUcmNfxqHGHexi05ma4nTYFwpighcRttDjz4vW20r9H-LC8CrHkQodKGLxNC7Rw9Cn8Op9PQih7WiHD8Q09VNlGqbfWhQJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5,676, which would require a ticket seller to immediately deliver an electronic admission ticket upon receiving confirmation of payment.

Proponents framed the bill as a consumer-protection measure that reduces uncertainty for buyers and makes transfers easier. Brian Hess of the Sports Fans Coalition urged immediate delivery and told the committee, “Fans shouldn't have to cross their fingers, refresh their email, or pray for their tickets to actually arrive. They should get it when they pay for it.” Scott Hazelgrove of StubHub said immediate delivery aligns with consumer confidence and that bots and other bad practices are already illegal.

Opponents — including venues, primary ticketing companies, cultural nonprofits and live-event operators — argued the requirement would undercut venues’ ability to detect fraud and speculative sales, and could hand fraudulently obtained tickets to resellers with no recourse for customers. Several venue representatives and ticketing providers said delayed delivery windows (commonly 24–72 hours, and sometimes up to two weeks in practice) are used to detect suspicious purchase patterns, prevent sales made with stolen credit cards, and block large automated purchases. Julie Krenz Welch of Seattle Opera said immediate electronic delivery could force audiences to present tickets for shows that do not exist when speculative listings appear on resale sites.

Ticketing and venue testimony noted operational complexity: primary ticketing companies and venues often issue immediate receipts but delay final ticket activation to let fraud-detection systems, promoter requirements or artist stipulations run. Multiple witnesses asked the committee to consider tailored exceptions for season tickets, account-to-account transfers, and nonprofit venues; several proposed clearer definitions to distinguish primary sellers from resellers. Industry witnesses also raised deceptive third-party websites and search-engine practices that mislead consumers.

Consumer advocates and fan groups said the bill addresses real confusion and harms that frequently affect less tech-savvy customers. Several witnesses asked for a comprehensive ticketing solution rather than a single-sentence mandate; venue and nonprofit witnesses urged more robust enforcement of existing anti-bot and consumer-protection laws before changing delivery requirements.

No committee vote or adoption of amendments occurred; testimony closed with requests for further stakeholder engagement to reconcile consumer protections with fraud and bot mitigation practices.","The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee heard competing testimony on Senate Bill 5,676, which would require ticket sellers to immediately deliver electronic admission tickets after payment confirmation.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339670,"Committee weighs fixes to lead-in-cookware law amid testing, enforcement disputes",1490,1477000,2967000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c&start=1477&end=2967","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c/thumbnail_1477000.jpg","/articles/6339670/Washington/Committee-weighs-fixes-to-lead-in-cookware-law-amid-testing-enforcement-disputes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339670-c04042978f5f954938a81b9e3589ac7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770703367&Signature=nZUpA6O7ogx-ZZFA02RwvUSf641x7~dJc78KQ69Ujc~kbINfW0U3g6yMZB5Bs4PGvb37ne~1Fg6hLeYx1s-soYS86zGwKd44muggqPBjf8JjB0m8Edj476xfIbjDRq-KBX7L3qswJ9n-9g9Fwwd8rk8XnF1xXR9z6n-ftb2owSCFlTvejJuVou~YRUdfkmUVBxtR1T~TKDgEc~c~UOsrk-V0qboRYVFiFuUE~THEwg4QX9lQUiGKPB8PEPMtsoIrK8CrEBSlTn~N8b91QVYYTROsTmDB06dvwpxEY~qFc2sbzAUHxmAHOmc75sK4Laj29WV76wphL6G9DmlJJ5ScYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5,628, a proposed substitute that would refine last year’s restrictions on lead in cookware and cookware components. Alicia Kinney Clausen, committee staff, briefed members on the bill’s key changes: a 5 parts-per-million (ppm) limit for lead and lead compounds remains, but the bill narrows covered components to include utensils, griddles and other cooktop surfaces that contact food, excludes inaccessible components and large appliances, and provides manufacturers protections from liability for unknowingly selling restricted products.

Stakeholders urged further changes. Kevin Messner and Charlie Brown from industry groups said the statute’s current content-based 5 ppm standard could unintentionally ban widely used metal cookware because total content does not necessarily predict how much lead enters food during cooking. Brown told the committee that “lead truly is ubiquitous in the environment” and said many aluminum products test above trace levels; Kevin Messner said testing should focus on how much lead “leaches into the food that you eat” and recommended migration (leachate) testing that simulates food contact.

Health and county officials said content limits were necessary and warned that the substitute would weaken public protections. Monica Ayres of King County Hazardous Waste testified that local public-health investigators found elevated blood lead in recently resettled Afghan children and identified traditional aluminum pressure-cooker cookware as a source; her unit’s tests found cookware with “alarmingly high levels of lead that could leach into food.” Reza Pedram of the Afghan Health Initiative described a cookware-exchange program that removed contaminated pans from more than 100 families.

Department of Ecology told the committee it supports clarifying language in a proposed substitute to avoid regulatory overreach that could include refrigerators and inaccessible interior components; Ecology said the substitute could avoid the need for rulemaking. Staff noted a fiscal impact to Ecology of about $360,000 tied to Model Toxics Control Act implementation.

Industry and standards groups urged use of leachability tests and harmonization with NSF and FDA approaches. Several witnesses described two common laboratory approaches: X-ray fluorescence (XRF) content screening that gives spot measurements of lead content and a migration/leachate test using acetic or citric acid at cooking temperatures to measure lead that actually transfers to food; proponents of migration testing said it measures exposure in parts per billion and aligns with food-safety standards used for restaurants and schools.

Committee members asked whether other states regulate similarly; witnesses said Minnesota has a 90 ppm law and that Washington’s 5 ppm standard is among the strictest. Several witnesses asked the Legislature to continue the conversation and consider a substitute that narrows covered items and establishes clear testing and enforcement protocols. No final action or vote was taken; Ecology and several stakeholders said they were working on substitute language and requested further committee engagement.","The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee heard testimony on Senate Bill 5,628, which would refine Washington’s law restricting lead in cookware and cookware components by clarifying covered parts and exemptions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339658,"Committee hears proposal to create revolving clean energy loan fund; nuclear eligibility draws opposition",1244,5757000,7001000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c&start=5757&end=7001","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260896-e66fb19623fce3278805369f6b4a0b5c/thumbnail_5757000.jpg","/articles/6339658/Washington/Committee-hears-proposal-to-create-revolving-clean-energy-loan-fund-nuclear-eligibility-draws-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339658-fa1af3a1dfa7cf2f7ebac49d70145ff2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770703367&Signature=euSXWglyHCPznl9fZUQsYhmmuKFqs9Jipv3uJ9~rj8kpuzviWJIPXA2b7ox5pUT-M8XbJ9tYC~iaKJnVcIi6fSOh18Pa0GwrHGF4s3xJbAwrIZi8DPv9YDII-7pgQBhNqnhoCUQ7X~On1BFVqe78NiAAernZ1tcjf8c-GCWVP7GTRqZ4H~RTzL0AFyNBdJuLfrMdy1jd28c3kp2IR5cMdE~EMO6S3hd~Bf2X~hbdodXw5XDCAu0wLlZxlV7b1UbK2qH~nbRzWeb2A2FNbpo~tsmaJnpZAweSUdBtcI6sxMY7TZhZIlJbuPOiTXRegVi7JbtZi88NBK-Gkn0XviYPLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee heard Senate Bill 52,08, a proposed substitute to authorize the Department of Commerce — subject to appropriation — to offer loans to aid specified clean-energy projects and to create a Clean Energy Fund account. Staff described the account as intended to make loans for projects including zero-emission vehicle acquisition and charging infrastructure, site evaluations for generation or transmission, installation of solar, wind, geothermal or hydrogen equipment, and—controversially—development of advanced nuclear reactor technology.

Committee staff told members the Clean Energy Fund (CEF) has existed in prior capital budgets and that most recently $60,000,000 was appropriated for CEF competitive grants in the 2325 capital budget. The proposed substitute would create a revolving-loan account and allow Commerce to offer reduced or capped interest rates for public entities and require private-entity loans to be priced at no less than the U.S. prime rate plus 2 percent. The bill would impose due-diligence, disclosure and ethics checks on recipients and permit Commerce to cancel loans and pursue remedies if requirements are violated. Staff described a partial fiscal note showing non-zero but indeterminate impacts because appropriation amounts are uncertain.

Sponsor testimony described the proposal as modeled on the state Public Works Trust Fund to create a revolving vehicle that stretches public dollars and expedites projects to meet the state’s Climate Commitment Account objectives. Senator McEwen said, “think of this similar to how we have the Public Works Trust Fund,” and framed the loan vehicle as a way to move projects — public and private — to market more quickly.

Witnesses were sharply divided on eligibility language. Supporters, including Clean and Prosperous Washington, urged innovative finance tools to crowd in private capital and listed potential loan products such as credit enhancements and interest-rate buy-downs. Opponents, including Sierra Club and local environmental and community groups, urged removing advanced nuclear and small modular reactors (SMRs) from the list of eligible technologies. Speakers argued SMRs are unproven, likely more expensive than renewables plus storage, and would divert scarce public funds from faster, lower-cost clean-energy options; King County and Hanford-specific concerns were raised by community groups.

Other concerns included constitutional limits on lending public credit and the appropriate interest-rate floor for private loans; Senator Wellman questioned whether prime-plus-2 percent would be attractive to private borrowers. Staff and sponsor said budget-writers would decide appropriations and that the prime-plus-2 provision was intended to avoid a forbidden gift of public funds. No vote occurred; the committee received substantial written comment (staff recorded 85 signers who did not testify, 53 pro and 32 con) and testimony closed with requests to amend or narrow eligibility language before advancing the proposal.","Senate Bill 52,08 would authorize the Department of Commerce to offer loans for clean-energy projects from a new Clean Energy Fund account, using Climate Commitment Account funds subject to appropriation; proponents framed it as a revolving loan vehicle modeled on public works financing, while opponents urged removing advanced nuclear and small","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee hears bill to codify state lead renovation, repair and painting program

Debate over immediate electronic ticket delivery highlights fraud, bot and venue concerns

Committee weighs fixes to lead-in-cookware law amid testing, enforcement disputes

Committee hears proposal to create revolving clean energy loan fund; nuclear eligibility draws opposition