Committee advances several bills, including paint stewardship, tug escort standards and microfiber bill deferred

The committee completed a series of briefings and reported multiple bills out of committee on Feb. 3.

House Bill 23 01 (paint stewardship): Vice Chair Hall moved the substitute out with a due‑pass recommendation. Rep. Barry noted the program has collected 1,000,000 gallons of paint since its launch and said the substitute expands collection opportunities and adjusts convenience standards; recorded roll call was 19 ayes, 2 nays.

House Bill 2,436 (tug horsepower/escort requirements): Staff described this as a technical cleanup to align practice and policy for tug escorts of large oil tankers; voice vote was unanimous and the bill was reported out by voice (21 ayes, 0 nays).

House Bill 2,496 (FSEC tribal consultation): The proposed substitute shifts coordination to the chair while allowing consultations with as many council members as possible and permits consultation to be exempt from the Open Meetings Act when there is no deliberation. Members debated the balance between government‑to‑government consultation and public‑meeting transparency; the roll call recorded 15 ayes, 6 nays.

House Bill 2,605 (commercial aggregates/asbestos threshold): Staff said the substitute would exempt commercial aggregates containing 0.25% or less naturally occurring fibrous silicate (including asbestos) from certain manufacturing, labeling and inspection restrictions; roll call recorded 21 ayes, 0 nays.

House Bill 2,212 (microfiber filtration): Staff briefed a substitute that delays Ecology's authority to adopt rules for residential washing machines until no earlier than 2034 and phases enforcement; committee announced it would not take action on HB 2,212 at this hearing.

Votes at a glance: substitute House Bill 2,296 (meter devices) — reported out 14–7; substitute House Bill 25 15 (emerging large energy use) — reported out 11–10; substitute House Bill 23 01 (paint stewardship) — reported out 19–2; House Bill 2,436 (tug horsepower) — reported out voice 21–0; substitute House Bill 2,496 (tribal consultation) — reported out 15–6; House Bill 2,605 (aggregate/asbestos threshold) — reported out 21–0. HB 2,212 (microfiber filtration) was not acted on and is expected to return for further consideration later.

What happens next: Each reported substitute advances to the next legislative stage. HB 2,212 will remain pending pending further staff work or scheduling.