HB1620 – Creates an extreme weather response grant program to help fund community cooling and heating centers.
Prime Sponsor – Representative Leavitt (D; 28th District; Tacoma) (Co-sponsors Reps. Boehnke – R & Shewmake – D)
Current status – Had a hearing in the Senate Committee on State Government & Elections  February 16th, and passed out of committee the 23rd. Referred to Ways and Means; had  a hearing there February 26th; passed out of committee the 28th. Referred to Rules.
Next step would be – Action by the Rules Committee.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.

In the House – Passed
Had a hearing in the House Committee on Community & Economic Development on January 12th; passed out of committee January 14th. Referred to Appropriations. Had a hearing there January 24th, was amended to add activities needed for safety if there’s “severe poor air quality from wildfire smoke” to the list of reimbursable local costs. Replaced by a substitute and passed out of Appropriations January 27th. Referred to Rules, and passed by the House February 9th.

Summary –
If funding were appropriated for it, the State Military Department would develop and implement an extreme weather response grant program to help counties, cities, and towns that have emergency management organizations; joint local emergency management associations; and tribes with the costs of responding to community needs during periods of extremely hot or cold weather. Funding would be available to communities that could demonstrate they lacked the resources to address those needs and the costs were incurred to benefit socially vulnerable populations.

Grants could be provided through the State’s disaster response account for establishing and operating warming and cooling centers, including renting equipment, buying supplies and water, staffing, and other associated costs; transporting people to centers; buying fans or other supplies needed for cooling of congregate living settings; providing emergency temporary housing; and other activities necessary for life safety during extremely hot or cold weather.