Last week the Legislature passed HB 1012, creating an extreme weather response grant program for local governments and tribes to respond to community needs during periods of extremely hot or cold weather or during times of severe poor air quality from wildfire smoke. The final operating budget appropriates $1.5 million for the program in 2025.

The Washington Military Department will administer the grant, which can be used by communities in areas that have a demonstrated lack of local resources to address community needs for the benefit of vulnerable populations (including people with disabilities, people without vehicles, older adults, low-income individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and people with limited English proficiency).

Costs eligible for reimbursement include:

• Establishing and operating warming and cooling centers;
• Transporting individuals and their pets to warming and cooling centers;
• Purchasing supplies needed for cooling of congregate living settings;
• Providing emergency temporary housing; retrofitting or establishing facilities within warming and cooling centers that are pet friendly; and
• Other related activities necessary for life safety during a period of extremely hot or cold weather, or in situations of severe poor air quality from wildfire smoke.

The Military Department can also purchase temporary, movable shelters to be loaned to local governments upon request to assist with response to extreme weather events.

The bill has passed the Legislature and will soon head to the Governor’s desk for signature.

Extreme weather response grant program back on legislators’ agenda in 2024

January 26, 2024

HB 1012, sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt (D–University Place), is back in front of the Legislature. The bill was originally introduced last year but failed to pass before sine die. AWC is supportive of this bill that creates an extreme weather response grant program to help local governments with the costs of responding to community needs during extreme weather events.

This extreme weather response grant program would be housed in the Washington Military Department and could be used for costs associated with periods of extremely hot or cold weather or in situations of severe poor air quality from wildfire smoke, including:

• Setting up warming and cooling centers
• Transporting individuals and their pets to warming and cooling centers
• Purchasing supplies for cooling congregate living settings
• Providing emergency temporary housing

Emergency management is a significant issue for cities this legislative session and asks include expanding funding to cities for prevention, planning, response, and recovery for wildfires and other natural disasters.

Dates to remember

HB 1012 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate State Government & Elections Committee on January 30 at 1:30 pm.