WALeg 2026
Let’s go! WALeg 2026 starts now
James Hove

It’s that time again… Washington’s 2026 legislative session starts today. For the next (very short) ten weeks, we’re aiming to continue progress on climate change, accelerate clean energy progress, and ensure everyone across Washington benefits from cleaner air, more affordable energy bills, and a healthier environment.

Our Legislative work in 2026 will keep a focus on cutting pollution and keeping energy affordable. There has never been a better time to protect and advance programs that are delivering benefits for our communities and making a tangible positive difference in people’s lives.

2026 Legislative Priorities

Unleash Transmission (SB 5466)

We need more clean energy in Washington (more than double our supply by 2050) and right now we are not building the grid at the pace and scale we need to power the clean energy transition. To keep energy costs low, create living-wage jobs, and meet the mandates of our nation-leading climate policies, we must be able to build and move new clean energy.

Protect and Strengthen Washington’s Climate Laws

The Climate Commitment Act and the Clean Energy Transformation Act (100% clean electricity) are delivering results, but both programs have loopholes that allow extra pollution and cost the state millions in revenue. With growing uncertainty resulting from federal backsliding, the Legislature must act this year to protect and strengthen these laws by tightening compliance, closing loopholes, and ensuring all large polluters continue to pay their fair share.

Leverage CCA Dollars to Cut Pollution and Boost Affordability

All eyes are on Washington’s significant budget challenges ahead. It’s absolutely critical that Climate Commitment Act funds continue to go to the purposes that the program was created for: reducing climate pollution, expanding affordable clean energy and energy efficiency, and strengthening communities in the face of rising climate impacts.

Want to do something right now?

Take action to keep CCA funds going towards climate and not other projects.

Tell your legislator to defend climate dollars

Throughout this short session we’ll keep you updated on all the action and ways to help. Stay tuned for more on upcoming data centers legislation, ways to engage on defending climate funding, transmission, and more!

Author Bio

James Hove
James Hove

Washington Director, Climate Solutions

James brings more than a decade of policy experience to his work at Climate Solutions, where he leads the organization’s efforts to advance bold and equitable climate progress in Washington state. He’s a firm believer in the power of state leadership to push the needle on climate. James is driven by the belief that good policy starts with the people most affected by it, and that climate action must be both ambitious and inclusive to be effective. Known for his collaborative approach and creative problem-solving, James is passionate about tackling the toughest challenges in climate, surfacing new solutions, and helping turn “no” into “yes”.

Before joining Climate Solutions, James served in climate leadership roles at the White House and U.S. Department of Transportation. There, he helped launch major federal initiatives to decarbonize industry, advance clean transportation solutions, and integrate climate priorities into public investments. He stood up a new agency-wide Buy Clean policy, and worked accross federal agencies to advance the Federal Buy Clean Initiative, culminating in commitments from the public and private sector to dramatically reduce emissions. Before joining the federal government, James worked in both state and local government in his home state of Minnesota.

James holds a Masters of Public Policy from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and a B.A. in Political Science, History, and American Studies from the University of Minnesota. In his spare time, James and his family can be found camping around the Pacific Northwest, playing games with friends, and visiting family and friends back in Minnesota and Washington, DC.

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