2ESHB 1210
| Momentum Bucket | Became Law |
| Legal Title | AN ACT Relating to targeted urban area tax preferences; |
| Bill Description | Concerning targeted urban area tax preferences. |
|
What this bill does
Powered by Legitron |
This bill amends Washington’s targeted urban area tax preference law (chapter 84.25 RCW) to explicitly include “clean energy transformation businesses,” adds a new definition of “family living wage job” (set at an average of $23.00 per hour for 2,080 hours annually, adjusted for inflation, and subject to local increases), and inserts an intent statement that cities may extend additional time to such clean energy businesses to help meet state carbon-free energy and job objectives. It creates new definitional language and changes substantive eligibility and documentation requirements for tax exemptions under the chapter.
Procedurally, the bill requires new completion-stage filings by owners and imposes extra documentation for certain clean energy projects that “require certification by a federal regulatory commission,” including verification that commitments under RCW 84.25.080 were met and a copy of any community workforce agreement or project labor agreement. It requires cities to make consistency determinations within 30 days, and for qualifying clean energy projects to consult with the Department of Labor and Industries to confirm contractor wage-law compliance, that workers were paid at least prevailing wages during construction, and that state-registered apprentices were employed. The city’s deadline to file a certificate of tax exemption with the county assessor is changed to 30 days after the city’s review period.
The bill changes timeframes and extension authority: owners generally may get a one-time extension of up to 24 consecutive months if delays were beyond their control, and projects described as clean energy facilities requiring federal regulatory commission certification may receive up to two additional 24-month extensions. The bill preserves local appeal processes and judicial review under the cited statutes. It does not create any new crimes or criminal penalties; it primarily makes definitional, eligibility, verification, procedural, and timing changes to the tax preference program. It is unclear from the bill text what precisely qualifies as a project “requiring certification by a federal regulatory commission,” and the bill refers to other statutes (for example RCW 84.25.080) whose content is not reproduced here, so the full practical effect depends on those provisions.
|
|
Why it matters
Powered by Legitron |
If enacted, cities could give clean energy manufacturers and similar projects more time to finish construction and still qualify for the local targeted urban area property tax exemption, potentially allowing up to six years of extra time for projects that need federal regulatory certification. At the same time those projects will commonly have to show they met promised labor standards, produce a community workforce or project labor agreement, and the city must check with the state Department of Labor & Industries that contractors paid prevailing wages, complied with wage laws, and used registered apprentices. The law also fixes the "family living wage" floor at $23 an hour (adjusted yearly) unless a city increases it.
The most affected parties are clean energy developers, city permitting and finance staff, and workers. Developers get a safety valve against losing a tax break because federal permitting or other delays slow construction, but they face clearer expectations and likely higher labor costs and paperwork to prove compliance. Cities and L&I will take on extra review and coordination duties. Workers are likely to see stronger wage and apprenticeship commitments, while county assessors will see later exemption filings; it is unclear how broadly “requiring certification by a federal regulatory commission” will apply and how L&I will deliver the verification.
|
| Official Documents | View Full Bill Text |
2ESHB 1210 Position - A premium account is required to save position information.
2ESHB 1210 Details and Bill Topics
2ESHB 1210 Sponsors and Committee Hearings
Committee Hearings
| Hearing | House Finance (Public) |
| Hearing | House Finance (Executive) |
| Hearing | Senate Ways & Means (Public) |
| Hearing | Senate Ways & Means (Executive) |
| Hearing | Senate Ways & Means (Public) |
| Hearing | Senate Ways & Means (Executive) |
2ESHB 1210 Bill Timeline
Became Law
4/15/2026 5:18 PM
Bill Comment - Support High
My awesome bill comment. Engaging with policy in 2026Make Your Voice Heard
3/19/2026
C 120 L 26
Effective date 6/11/2026.
3/19/2026
C 120 L 26
Chapter 120, 2026 Laws.
3/19/2026
C 120 L 26
Governor signed.
3/11/2026
C 120 L 26
Delivered to Governor.
3/10/2026
C 120 L 26
President signed.
3/10/2026
C 120 L 26
Speaker signed.
3/5/2026
C 120 L 26
Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 20; absent, 0; excused, 1.
2/12/2026
C 120 L 26
Third reading, passed; yeas, 80; nays, 14; absent, 0; excused, 4.
2/10/2026
C 120 L 26
Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on third reading.
1/11/2026
C 120 L 26
By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.
4/26/2025
C 120 L 26
By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
4/6/2025
C 120 L 26
Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
4/3/2025
C 120 L 26
Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
4/2/2025
C 120 L 26
Minority; do not pass.
4/2/2025
C 120 L 26
WM - Majority; do pass.
3/12/2025
C 120 L 26
First reading, referred to Ways & Means.
3/10/2025
C 120 L 26
Third reading, passed; yeas, 81; nays, 15; absent, 0; excused, 2.
3/10/2025
C 120 L 26
Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.
3/10/2025
C 120 L 26
Floor amendment(s) adopted.
3/10/2025
C 120 L 26
1st substitute bill substituted.
3/8/2025
C 120 L 26
Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.
2/10/2025
C 120 L 26
Referred to Rules 2 Review.
2/5/2025
C 120 L 26
Minority; without recommendation.
2/5/2025
C 120 L 26
FIN - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
2/5/2025
Hsubst for
FIN - Executive action taken by committee.
1/12/2025
Hsubst for
First reading, referred to Finance.
1/8/2025