HB 2407
In CommitteeHouse
Wildfire mitigation grants
Creating a wildfire mitigation grant program.
This status may be delayed. See Action History below for the latest updates.
How does a bill become law?
- Introduced: The bill is filed and assigned a number.
- Committee: A subject-matter committee holds hearings, takes public testimony, and decides whether to advance the bill.
- Floor Vote: The full chamber (House or Senate) debates and votes on the bill.
- Opposite Chamber: The bill repeats the committee and floor vote process in the other chamber.
- Governor: The Governor reviews the bill and decides whether to sign or veto it.
- Signed: The bill has been signed into law.
AI Analysis
This bill creates the 'strengthen Washington homes program' to provide grants for wildfire risk mitigation on homes and neighborhoods, aiming to reduce wildfire damage and stabilize insurance rates. It also bars insurers from denying coverage based solely on wildfire risk if a property meets current wildfire prepared standards.
- Establishes the 'strengthen Washington homes program' to provide grants for wildfire risk mitigation on insurable dwellings (e.g., homes, modular homes, multifamily units).
- Grants may be used for retrofitting owner-occupied homes, improving homes for low- and moderate-income residents through nonprofits, and community-level projects by government entities.
- Requires grant recipients to meet 'wildfire prepared standards' (e.g., from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety) and obtain required permits and inspections.
- Prohibits insurers from denying property insurance coverage solely because of wildfire risk if the property has a current wildfire prepared home or neighborhood designation.
- Creates a dedicated 'strengthen Washington homes program account' in the state treasury, funded by legislative appropriations, interest, and donations.
- Authorizes the insurance commissioner to adopt rules, conduct pilot projects, and collect documentation for auditing the program.
Who is affected
- Homeowners of insurable dwellings — Homeowners in wildfire-prone areas who own and occupy their homes may receive grants to fund fire-resistant home improvements like fire-resistant roofing, siding, and defensible space upgrades.
- Building contractors — Contractors who perform wildfire mitigation work on homes must meet state-established qualifications and follow specific standards to be eligible to receive grant-funded work.
- Nonprofit organizations — Nonprofits serving low- and moderate-income residents may receive grants to improve wildfire resilience of homes they own or manage.
- Governmental entities — Local governments may receive grants to support community-wide wildfire mitigation efforts, including neighborhood-level improvements.
- Insurance companies — Insurance companies must accept properties with current wildfire prepared designations as eligible for coverage and may not deny coverage solely based on wildfire risk if the property meets those standards.
Pro/Con Analysis
Stronger case for benefits
Potential Benefits (5)
The program provides direct grants for wildfire mitigation retrofits on owner-occupied homes, significantly reducing physical risk and potentially lowering insurance premiums — especially valuable for low- and moderate-income homeowners in high-risk areas who otherwise could not afford mitigation.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 3, Sec. 6(2)(a)Pilot projects and rulemaking will help identify efficient workforce development and implementation strategies, improving program scalability and reducing long-term administrative costs — beneficial for first responders and communities facing escalating wildfire threats.
Public SafetyPeopleRef: Sec. 5, Sec. 6(1)Prohibiting insurers from denying coverage solely based on wildfire risk for properties meeting prepared standards prevents discriminatory redlining and stabilizes insurance availability in high-risk areas, protecting vulnerable homeowners from coverage loss.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 7Grants to governmental entities for community-level wildfire mitigation (e.g., defensible space, fuel reduction) enhance collective resilience and reduce systemic risk, benefiting entire neighborhoods and reducing strain on emergency services.
Local GovernmentPeopleRef: Sec. 6(2)(c)Dedicated program account funded by legislative appropriations, interest, and donations — plus potential use of unexpended insurance commissioner funds — creates a stable funding mechanism, though sustainability depends on future legislative support.
FinancialLean peopleRef: Sec. 4, Sec. 10(6)(b)
Potential Concerns (5)
Homeowners must meet costly mitigation standards (e.g., IBHS wildfire prepared standards) and obtain permits/inspections to qualify for grants, creating administrative and compliance burdens that disproportionately affect low- and moderate-income homeowners who lack resources to navigate complex processes or afford upfront retrofit costs before receiving reimbursement.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 3(4), Sec. 6(2)(a)Grant funding for low- and moderate-income residents is channeled exclusively through nonprofit organizations, not directly to households, limiting flexibility and potentially delaying aid while creating bureaucratic bottlenecks that reduce effective reach to target populations.
HousingPeopleRef: Sec. 6(2)(b)Unexpended funds from the insurance commissioner’s fraud and regulatory accounts may be redirected to fund the program or reduce future surcharges — a neutral accounting reallocation that does not increase overall state spending but maintains existing regulatory funding streams.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 10(6)(b)The bill authorizes use of surplus funds from insurance commissioner accounts to support the program, but does not create new revenue or reduce other program funding — fiscal neutrality with no net gain or loss for general state services.
Business & EmploymentRef: Sec. 10(6)(a)Sunset provisions (July 1, 2028 or earlier) create uncertainty about long-term program sustainability, potentially discouraging long-term planning by local governments and insurers, though pilot projects may inform future legislative renewal.
Local GovernmentRef: Sec. 17–18
Who Is Most Affected
Homeowners in wildfire-prone areas, especially low- and moderate-income households, benefit most from direct mitigation grants and insurance access protections; however, those without upfront capital or ability to navigate complex grant processes may be excluded.
Contractors performing mitigation work gain new revenue opportunities, but must meet state-qualified standards and may face increased compliance costs; small local contractors may benefit more than large firms due to local hiring preferences in grant administration.
Nonprofits serving low-income residents gain new funding streams to support home retrofit programs, but must absorb administrative burdens and may face competition for limited grant funds.
Insurance companies avoid underwriting wildfire risk individually, reducing risk-based pricing flexibility but gaining regulatory certainty and reduced adverse selection pressure; net effect is modest cost reduction in coverage administration.
Local governments gain authority and funding for community-level mitigation projects, improving public safety and infrastructure resilience, though long-term sustainability depends on recurring legislative appropriations.