Announcements

EJ Council budget recommendations funded in final 2025-2027 budget

The Washington State Legislature passed, and Governor Ferguson signed, the 2025-2027 biennial operating, capital, and transportation budgets into law on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. EJ Council staff created a crosswalk outlining how the EJ Council’s budget recommendations were incorporated into the final budget.

Council Adopts 2025-2026 Workplan

At the May 9, 2025 meeting the Council adopted its 2025-2026 workplan. This workplan prioritizes Council capacity to be responsive to Tribal and community priorities and emerging issues.

Update on Council’s 2025-2027 Budget Recommendations & State Budget Outlook

On December 17, 2024, Governor Jay Inslee released a proposed budget. The Council's January 30, 2025 meeting packet included a document created by Council staff which outlined how Governor Inslee’s Proposed Operating, Capital, and Transportation Budgets incorporate the Environmental Justice Council’s recommendations. You can find that document here. Since December 2, 2024, agencies have been directed to freeze hiring, services contracts, goods and equipment purchases, and travel due to a projected budget shortfall of more than $12 billion over the next four years. Throughout the legislative session, the Council will be working with the Legislature and the Governor to advocate for its recommendations. The state budgets will be finalized between April and June 2025. To request translations of the English documents linked in this announcement email envjustice@ejc.wa.gov.

Environmental Justice Council elects Executive Committee members and Co-Chairs

On January 30, 2025, the Council elected its five-member Executive Committee for a 2-year term. Out of these five seats, two members lead the committee and Council as Co-Chairs. The Council elected Councilmembers Cristina González, David Mendoza, Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson, Maria Batayola, and Tatiana Brown to serve on the Executive committee. Chairman Jarred-Michael Erickson and Councilmember Tatiana Brown were selected to lead the Executive committee and Council as Co-Chairs.

Environmental Justice Council Welcomes New Councilmember & Ex Officios

In December 2024, Governor Jay Inslee appointed Cristina González to serve as a community representative on the Environmental Justice Council. The Council is also joined by new Ex Officios Emilie Litsinger with Puget Sound Partnership and Jennifer Grove with the Department of Commerce. You can find the full list of Council Members here.

Department of Ecology published Distribution of Funds from CCA Accounts: Fiscal Year 2024.

On November 27, 2024, The Department of Ecology published the report “Distribution of Funds from CCA Accounts: Fiscal Year 2024” which shows how Climate Commitment Act funds were spent in 2024. You can read the full report here. To request translations of the English documents linked in this announcement email envjustice@ejc.wa.gov.

Council Adopts 2025 Legislative Session Policy Statement

At its November 21, 2024 meeting the Council adopted their 2025 Legislative Session Policy Statement.

Council Adopts 2025-2027 Biennial Budget Recommendations

The Council has authority under RCW 70A.65.040 of the Climate Commitment Act (CCA) to provide recommendations to the Legislature, agencies, and the Governor on the programs funded by the CCA accounts. The Council adopted 2025-2027 Biennial Budget Recommendations at their September 26, 2024 meeting. The Council adopted an additional recommendation at their November 21, 2024 meeting. You can find the full list of 2025-2027 budget recommendations here. The Council also endorsed state agency decisions packages (budget requests) at their October 24, 2024 meeting. The list of Council endorsed decision packages is available here.

Congratulations HEAL Capacity Grantees!

We want to congratulate the recipients of the HEAL Capacity Grants. The Department of Health awarded $14 million of Climate Commitment Act funds through the HEAL Capacity Grants to 6 Tribes and 27 community & Tribal-based organizations. These grants were made possible by funding recommendations from the Environmental Justice Council.

The HEAL Capacity Grant program focuses on building the capacity of Tribes, tribal organizations, and overburdened communities and vulnerable populations to provide guidance and input to the Environmental Justice Council and the agencies covered by the HEAL Act on the implementation of the HEAL Act. Funds can also be used provide guidance and input to the Department of Health on the environmental health disparities map. This funding equips communities most impacted by environmental hazards with necessary resources needed to collaborate with state agencies on environmental health decisions.

Environmental Justice Council Takes Action at July 2, 2024 Special Meeting

On July 2, 2024, at its special meeting, the Council adopted a statement uplifting Tribal Sovereignty; Self Determination; and Free, Prior, and Informed Consent.

The Council also took actions in response to requests from two Tribes related to proposed energy development projects that would cause negative and irreparable damage to Traditional Cultural Properties and traditional foods and medicines.

The Council adopted a position on the proposed Badger Mountain Solar Project, standing with and supporting The Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation in their opposition to this proposed project.
The Council also adopted a position on the proposed Goldendale Pump Storage Project, standing with and supporting The Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation in their opposition to this project.

Council Adopts Bylaws

At its March 28, 2024 meeting the Council adopted a full set of bylaws.

Council Adopts 2024 Workload Planning and Management Principles, a 2024 Interim Council Work Plan, and a Framework for "Making Policy Guidance and Recommendations and Responding to Requests for Non-Guidance/Recommendations Input

At its January 25, 2024 meeting, the Council adopted 2024 Workload Planning and Management Principles, a 2024 Interim Council Work Plan, and a framework for Making Policy Guidance and Recommendations and Responding to Requests for Non-Guidance/Recommendations Input.

Council Adopts 2024 Climate Commitment Act Funding Recommendations

Council Adopts 2023 Report to the Community, Legislature, and Governor

Under the HEAL Act, the Council has two reporting requirements:

November 30, 2023: Submit a report to the Governor and Legislature outlining the Council’s recommendations and guidance and summarizing agency progress reports to the Council.
December 1, 2023: Communicate to the public, Governor, and Legislature an evaluation of agency progress in applying Council guidance and a summary of the Council’s progress on its statutory duties under the HEAL Act.

The Council fulfilled both reporting requirements by adopting their 2023 report on November 16, 2023.

Council Adopts Position Not to Link Washington’s Cap and Invest Program with California and Québec's at this Time, and Submits Letter to Department of Ecology

RCW 70A.65.040 gives the Council the responsibility to provide recommendations to the Legislature, agencies, and the Governor in the development and implementation of the Cap and Invest Program established in RCW 70A.65.060 through 70A.65.210, including linkage with other jurisdictions. The Council adopted a letter on linkage and submitted the letter to the Department of Ecology on October 26, 2023. Laura Watson, Director of the Department of Ecology, responded to the Environmental Justice Council's letter on November 2, 2023. You can find Director Watson's response here.

HEAL Act Agencies Annual Update to the Council

HEAL Act Agencies are required under RCW 70A.02.090 to annually update the Council on their progress in implementing the HEAL Act. The HEAL Act Agencies' 2023 updates are available here.

Council Adopts Community Engagement Values and Guidance

At its August 25, 2023 meeting, the Council adopted Community Engagement Values and Guidance to guide state agencies' community engagement.

Council Adopts Additional 2023 Budget Recommendations and Statement on the Environmental Health Disparities Map

At its February 28, 2023 meeting, the Council adopted additional budget recommendations to the Legislature. At this meeting the Council also adopted a statement on use of the Environmental Health Disparities Map.