Subject of Possible Rule Making: Implementation of 2026 legislation (HB 2338, 69th legislature, 2026 regular session) authorizing the department of commerce (commerce) to expand the existing low-income weatherization program described in chapter 70A.35 RCW to include 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.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The passage of HB 2338 (69th legislature, [chapter 94,] Laws of 2026) authorized commerce to expand existing rules for the use of funds appropriated to the existing low-income weatherization program described in chapter 70A.35 RCW 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 environmental, social, or economic conditions may adversely impact residents, as determined by commerce. Community scaled projects are not subject to the requirement that all units in a weatherization project be occupied by low-income residents. However, commerce must prioritize projects that serve low-income households when selecting community scaled projects for grant funding. Further, community scaled projects have the flexibility to provide comprehensive or partial services for the units being served. Community scaled projects enable commerce to allocate weatherization funds more effectively and extend services to households that have previously lacked access. Rule making is required to update the low-income weatherization program rules in accordance with the recent statutory changes.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Nick Manning, 1500 Jefferson Street S.E., Olympia, WA 98501, phone 564-200-4324, email nick.manning@commerce.wa.gov.