This bill creates new statutory sections directing the Washington State Department of Commerce to carry out a feasibility study on developing an "affordability index" for appliances sold into Washington and to submit a summary report to the Legislature by January 31, 2028. The directive is a new procedural study requirement rather than a permanent regulatory program; the act expires July 1, 2029. The study must address a defined set of appliance evaluation criteria including ease of maintenance and servicing, availability of repair materials (parts, manuals, special tools or proprietary software), estimated performance life with and without routine maintenance, estimated annual routine maintenance costs, resistance to wear and tear, duration and reliance on software support, use of renewable and recycled materials, end-of-life compostability or recyclability of major components, and costs to dispose of or recycle appliances and parts. The study must also consider incorporating efficiency metrics and tools (including demand-response capability, water consumption, and in-use and standby energy consumption) and evaluate practical issues such as which appliances to include, feasibility of adapting existing labeling standards, how information would be generated/updated/verified, who would manage the index and estimated costs, how information would be communicated to customers, consumer feedback mechanisms, and recommendations to support manufacturer participation (including consideration of a rebate program). The bill explicitly excludes consumer electronics like smartphones, computers, tablets, gaming consoles, and wearable devices from the definition of "appliances." The Department of Commerce (or its designee) must solicit input from stakeholders with expertise or lived experience in right to repair for appliances, solid waste management, consumer sustainability practices, appliance manufacturing, energy efficiency, consumer protection, appliance standards (including ENERGY STAR), Washington building code standards, and low-income and historically disadvantaged populations. The bill text does not define the term "affordability index," does not identify a funding source or appropriation for the study or any subsequent index, does not list specific appliance categories to be included, and does not assign long-term management authority for an index if one is created.

If enacted, the Department of Commerce must run a statewide feasibility study and deliver a summary to the Legislature by January 31, 2028, on whether and how to create an “affordability index” for appliances sold in Washington. The study will examine repairability, maintenance costs, expected life, software support, recyclability, disposal costs, and options to include energy and water efficiency measures like demand-response and standby use; it must also solicit input from manufacturers, repair advocates, waste managers, energy and consumer groups, and low-income and historically disadvantaged communities. The law itself just funds a study and expires July 1, 2029. The immediate burden and cost fall on the Department of Commerce, which must staff the study and run stakeholder outreach; the bill does not specify funding, which leaves unclear how those costs will be covered. Appliance manufacturers, consumer advocates, and waste management entities are the most likely to be affected next: the study could lead to recommendations that change how appliances are labeled, verified, communicated to customers, or incentivized (including possible rebate programs), which would create potential future compliance or participation costs for manufacturers and new options or protections for consumers—though the bill does not create the index, assign long‑term management, list which appliances would be included, or provide a funding source, so those outcomes remain uncertain.