SENATE BILL REPORT
SB 6223
As of January 28, 2026
Title: An act relating to authorizing community scaled weatherization projects.
Brief Description: Authorizing community scaled weatherization projects.
Sponsors: Senators Hunt, Harris, Nobles and Saldaña.
Brief History:
Committee Activity: Environment, Energy & Technology: 1/30/26.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Adds community scaled projects as project types eligible for funding under the Low-Income Weatherization Program. 
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & TECHNOLOGY
Staff: Kimberly Cushing (786-7421)
Background:

Low-Income Weatherization Program. The Department of Commerce (Commerce) administers the Low-Income Weatherization Program (Program). The Program distributes grant funding to project sponsors to provide low-income households with weatherization services.

 

To qualify for weatherization services, the income of the household being served must not exceed 80 percent of the county median income, adjusted for household size. Commerce must give priority to projects that serve households with incomes at or below 125 percent of the federal poverty level.

 

Sponsors of weatherization projects include local community action agencies, tribal nations, local governments, and other types of entities. Weatherization services may include home energy efficiency improvements, repairs, indoor air quality measures, and health and safety improvements. Full levels of all cost-effective, structurally feasible, sustainable weatherization improvements, as determined by Commerce, must be provided when a low-income residence is weatherized. 
Summary of Bill:

Weatherization grant funding and matching funds may be used for community scaled projects. A community scaled project is a weatherization project that includes multiple dwelling units in the same neighborhood or area where overlapping factors such as environmental, social, or economic conditions may adversely impact residents, as determined by Commerce. 

 

A community scaled project may provide for full or partial weatherization, energy efficiency measures, or structural rehabilitation and repairs. A project sponsor must identify priority communities using indicators that include data reflecting environmental health disparities, housing vulnerability, and pollution exposure. 

 

Community scaled projects are excluded from the requirement that all units receiving weatherization services in a project be occupied by low-income households. When selecting community scaled projects, Commerce must consider socioeconomic data to prioritize those that serve low-income households.

 

Commerce must approve or deny a proposal for grant funding for a community scaled project within 90 days of the closing application period. 

 

The Program is subject to the availability of amounts appropriated. Commerce is authorized to adopt rules to implement the Program. 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 24, 2026.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.