House rejects move to shift Senate Bill 5360 from Environment committee to Community Safety panel
February 19, 2026 | Legislative Sessions, Washington
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The Washington State House on Friday debated a motion to change the committee referral for Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5360, but members rejected the amendment in a voice vote.
Representative Barnow moved to amend the referral, saying the bill "created felonies and gross misdemeanors, defined affirmative offenses, enumerated mental states like knowingly and willingly, and expanded the constitutional authority of the attorney general to not only investigate but to prosecute." He argued those aspects placed the measure within the Community Safety Committee's jurisdiction.
Representative Fitzgibbon opposed the amendment, noting that the engrossed bill includes multiple sections amending the State Clean Air Act (RCW 78.15), the Hazardous Waste Management Act (RCW 70A.300) and the State Clean Water Act (RCW 90.48), and therefore belongs in the Environment and Energy Committee. Fitzgibbon said the bill had previously been referred to Environment and Energy in identical form during last year's legislative session.
The House proceeded to a voice vote on the amendment; the presiding officer declared, "The nays have it," and the amendment was not adopted. The chamber then adopted the separate motion to read today's introductions and refer them to the committees designated, with Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6066 referred to the Transportation Committee as announced earlier.
No roll-call vote or recorded tallies were given on the referral amendment; members participating remotely were instructed how to register a voice vote. The debate focused on committee jurisdiction and the bill's mix of criminal and environmental provisions; members cited specific RCW sections during arguments.
Representative Barnow moved to amend the referral, saying the bill "created felonies and gross misdemeanors, defined affirmative offenses, enumerated mental states like knowingly and willingly, and expanded the constitutional authority of the attorney general to not only investigate but to prosecute." He argued those aspects placed the measure within the Community Safety Committee's jurisdiction.
Representative Fitzgibbon opposed the amendment, noting that the engrossed bill includes multiple sections amending the State Clean Air Act (RCW 78.15), the Hazardous Waste Management Act (RCW 70A.300) and the State Clean Water Act (RCW 90.48), and therefore belongs in the Environment and Energy Committee. Fitzgibbon said the bill had previously been referred to Environment and Energy in identical form during last year's legislative session.
The House proceeded to a voice vote on the amendment; the presiding officer declared, "The nays have it," and the amendment was not adopted. The chamber then adopted the separate motion to read today's introductions and refer them to the committees designated, with Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 6066 referred to the Transportation Committee as announced earlier.
No roll-call vote or recorded tallies were given on the referral amendment; members participating remotely were instructed how to register a voice vote. The debate focused on committee jurisdiction and the bill's mix of criminal and environmental provisions; members cited specific RCW sections during arguments.
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