Washington 2025-2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 18 D · 6 R cosponsors

HB 1563 — Establishing a prescribed fire claims fund pilot program.

Last action — Effective date 4/21/2025.

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 23, 2025. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Bob Ferguson (Democratic) on April 21, 2025.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 24 sponsors

    1 primary, 23 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (18 D · 6 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 2 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

79 added · 78 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of House Bill 1563 adds a reference to the importance of managing dead and downed brush to enhance fire suppression efforts and emphasizes the cultural significance of traditional burning practices by tribes. It clarifies that prescribed burns can significantly reduce risks associated with wildfires and outlines the need for increased prescribed burning to protect communities and ecosystems. These changes matter because they highlight both the environmental benefits of prescribed fires and the need to address financial concerns that have limited their use, aiming to promote safer and healthier forests.

→
Previous
Latest
H-1539.1 SUBSTITUTE HOUSE BILL 1563 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By House Agriculture & Natural Resources (originally sponsored by Representatives Bernbaum, Dent, Timmons, Orcutt, Nance, Reeves, Hackney, Tharinger, Ybarra, Springer, Reed, Fitzgibbon, Cortes, Hill, Obras, Lekanoff, Paul, McClintock, Couture, Griffey, Berry, Leavitt, Zahn, and Scott) READ FIRST TIME 02/20/25.
H-0714.1 HOUSE BILL 1563 State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session By Representatives Bernbaum, Dent, Timmons, Orcutt, Nance, Reeves, Hackney, Tharinger, Ybarra, Springer, Reed, Fitzgibbon, Cortes, Hill, Obras, Lekanoff, Paul, McClintock, Couture, Griffey, Berry, Leavitt, Zahn, and Scott Read first time 01/23/25.
Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.
Prescribed fire and cultural burning remove dead and downed brush and vegetation, providing more management opportunities for fire suppression across a variety of landscapes by p.
Prescribed fire and cultural burning remove dead and downed brush and vegetation near the forest floor, providing more management opportunities for fire suppression by proactively p.
1 SHB 1563 proactively removing hazardous fuels.
1 HB 1563 removing hazardous fuels.
Tribes have used cultural burning since time immemorial to sustain healthy and resilient lands.
Tribes have used cultural burning since time immemorial to sustain healthy and resilient forests and grasslands.
(a) Supporting coverage for losses from prescribed fires and cultural burning by nonstate and nonfederal entities such as cultural fire practitioners, private landowners, nongovernmental entities, conservation districts, fire districts, certified burn managers, companies, contractors, and operators;
(a) Supporting coverage for losses from prescribed fires and cultural burning by nonpublic entities such as cultural fire practitioners, private landowners, nongovernmental entities, certified burn managers, companies, contractors, and operators;
2 SHB 1563 (i) By a certified burn manager, under an approved burn plan, with applicable permits and in accordance with any other applicable conditions or requirements as determined by the department;
2 HB 1563 (i) By a certified burn manager, under an approved burn plan, with applicable permits and in accordance with any other applicable conditions or requirements as determined by the department;
or (ii) Reasonable costs authorized for reimbursement by the department under RCW 76.04.475, related to the prescribed fire or cultural burn.
or (ii) If the claimant is the department, reasonable costs incurred by the department in taking suppression action, or for payments authorized by the department under RCW 76.04.475, related to the prescribed fire or cultural burn.
3 SHB 1563 amounts available in the account established in subsection (7) of this section.
3 HB 1563 amounts available in the account established in subsection (7) of this section.
(b) "Cultural fire practitioner" means a person approved by an Indian tribe as having experience in burning to meet cultural goals or objectives, including subsistence, ceremonial activities, biodiversity, or other benefits.
(b) "Cultural fire practitioner" means a person associated with an Indian tribe with experience in burning to meet cultural goals or objectives, including subsistence, ceremonial activities, biodiversity, or other benefits.
4 SHB 1563 (a) The appropriated administration of liability, property, and vehicle claims, including investigation, claim processing, negotiation, and settlement, and other expenses relating to settlements and judgments against the state not otherwise budgeted;
4 HB 1563 (a) The appropriated administration of liability, property, and vehicle claims, including investigation, claim processing, negotiation, and settlement, and other expenses relating to settlements and judgments against the state not otherwise budgeted;
5 SHB 1563
5 HB 1563
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (5)

Action History

  1. Effective date 4/21/2025.

  2. Chapter 93, 2025 Laws.

  3. Governor signed.

  4. Delivered to Governor.

  5. President signed.

  6. Speaker signed.

  7. Third reading, passed; yeas, 48; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 0.

  8. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  9. Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.

  10. Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.

  11. Minority; without recommendation.

  12. WM - Majority; do pass.

  13. Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

  14. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM.

  15. On motion, referred to Ways & Means.

  16. ANR - Majority; do pass.

  17. Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.

  18. Public hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 PM.

  19. First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.

  20. Third reading, passed; yeas, 96; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1.

  21. Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.

  22. Floor amendment(s) adopted.

  23. 2nd substitute bill substituted (APP 25).

  24. Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.

  25. Referred to Rules 2 Review.

  26. Minority; without recommendation.

  27. APP - Majority; 2nd substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  28. Executive action taken in the House Committee on Appropriations at 9:00 AM.

  29. Public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 1:30 PM.

  30. Referred to Appropriations.

  31. Minority; without recommendation.

  32. AGNR - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  33. Executive action taken in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM.

  34. Executive session scheduled, but no action was taken in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM.

  35. Public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 8:00 AM.

  36. First reading, referred to Agriculture & Natural Resources.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 23 co-sponsors · 127 not signed on · 2 voted No

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (23)

Not signed on (127)

127 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 127 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#10)

Passed 48 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 29100
Republican 19000
Total 48100
% of votes cast 98%2%0%0%
How each member voted (49)
Member Party Vote
Adrian Cortes Democrat Yea
Annette Cleveland Democrat Yea
Bill Ramos Democrat Yea
Bob Hasegawa Democrat Nay
Claire Wilson Democrat Yea
Claudia Kauffman Democrat Yea
Deborah Krishnadasan Democrat Yea
Derek Stanford Democrat Yea
Drew Hansen Democrat Yea
Emily Alvarado Democrat Yea
Jamie Pedersen Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Jesse Salomon Democrat Yea
Jessica Bateman Democrat Yea
John Lovick Democrat Yea
June Robinson Democrat Yea
Lisa Wellman Democrat Yea
Liz Lovelett Democrat Yea
Manka Dhingra Democrat Yea
Marcus Riccelli Democrat Yea
Marko Liias Democrat Yea
Mike Chapman Democrat Yea
Noel Frame Democrat Yea
Rebecca Saldaña Democrat Yea
Sharon Shewmake Democrat Yea
Steve Conway Democrat Yea
T'wina Nobles Democrat Yea
Tina Orwall Democrat Yea
Vandana Slatter Democrat Yea
Yasmin Trudeau Democrat Yea
Chris Gildon Republican Yea
Curtis King Republican Yea
Drew MacEwen Republican Yea
Jeff Holy Republican Yea
Jeff Wilson Republican Yea
Jim McCune Republican Yea
John Braun Republican Yea
Judy Warnick Republican Yea
Keith Goehner Republican Yea
Keith Wagoner Republican Yea
Leonard Christian Republican Yea
Mark Schoesler Republican Yea
Matt Boehnke Republican Yea
Nikki Torres Republican Yea
Paul Harris Republican Yea
Perry Dozier Republican Yea
Phil Fortunato Republican Yea
Ron Muzzall Republican Yea
Shelly Short Republican Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading & Final Passage (#10)

Passed 96 Yea · 1 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 37100
Democrat 59001
Total 96101
% of votes cast 98%1%0%1%
How each member voted (98)
Member Party Vote
Adam Bernbaum Democrat Yea
Adison Richards Democrat Yea
Adrian Cortes Democrat Yea
Alex Ramel Democrat Yea
Alicia Rule Democrat Yea
Amy Walen Democrat Yea
April Berg Democrat Yea
Beth Doglio Democrat Yea
Brandy Donaghy Democrat Yea
Brianna Thomas Democrat Yea
Chipalo Street Democrat Yea
Chris Stearns Democrat Yea
Cindy Ryu Democrat Yea
Clyde Shavers Democrat Yea
Dan Bronoske Democrat Yea
Darya Farivar Democrat Yea
Dave Paul Democrat Yea
David Hackney Democrat Not Voting
Davina Duerr Democrat Yea
Debra Entenman Democrat Yea
Debra Lekanoff Democrat Yea
Edwin Obras Democrat Yea
Gerry Pollet Democrat Yea
Greg Nance Democrat Yea
Jake Fey Democrat Yea
Jamila Taylor Democrat Yea
Janice Zahn Democrat Yea
Javier Valdez Democrat Yea
Joe Fitzgibbon Democrat Yea
Joe Timmons Democrat Yea
Julia Reed Democrat Yea
Kristine Reeves Democrat Yea
Larry Springer Democrat Yea
Lauren Davis Democrat Yea
Laurie Jinkins Democrat Yea
Lillian Ortiz-Self Democrat Yea
Lisa Callan Democrat Yea
Lisa Parshley Democrat Yea
Liz Berry Democrat Yea
Mari Leavitt Democrat Yea
Mary Fosse Democrat Yea
Melanie Morgan Democrat Yea
Mia Gregerson Democrat Yea
Monica Jurado Stonier Democrat Yea
My-Linh Thai Democrat Yea
Natasha Hill Democrat Yea
Nicole Macri Democrat Yea
Osman Salahuddin Democrat Yea
Roger Goodman Democrat Yea
Sharlett Mena Democrat Yea
Sharon Tomiko Santos Democrat Yea
Sharon Wylie Democrat Yea
Shaun Scott Democrat Yea
Shelley Kloba Democrat Yea
Steve Bergquist Democrat Yea
Steve Tharinger Democrat Yea
Strom Peterson Democrat Yea
Tarra Simmons Democrat Yea
Timm Ormsby Democrat Yea
Victoria Hunt Democrat Yea
Alex Ybarra Republican Yea
Andrew Barkis Republican Yea
Andrew Engell Republican Yea
April Connors Republican Yea
Brian Burnett Republican Yea
Carolyn Eslick Republican Yea
Chris Corry Republican Yea
Cyndy Jacobsen Republican Yea
Dan Griffey Republican Yea
David Stuebe Republican Yea
Deb Manjarrez Republican Yea
Drew Stokesbary Republican Yea
Ed Orcutt Republican Yea
Gloria Mendoza Republican Yea
Hunter Abell Republican Yea
Jenny Graham Republican Yea
Jeremie Dufault Republican Nay
Jim Walsh Republican Yea
Joe Schmick Republican Yea
Joel McEntire Republican Yea
John Ley Republican Yea
Joshua Penner Republican Yea
Kevin Waters Republican Yea
Mark Klicker Republican Yea
Mary Dye Republican Yea
Matt Marshall Republican Yea
Michael Keaton Republican Yea
Mike Steele Republican Yea
Mike Volz Republican Yea
Peter Abbarno Republican Yea
Rob Chase Republican Yea
Sam Low Republican Yea
Skyler Rude Republican Yea
Stephanie Barnard Republican Yea
Stephanie McClintock Republican Yea
Suzanne Schmidt Republican Yea
Tom Dent Republican Yea
Travis Couture Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety environment
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 1563?
HB 1563 is sponsored by Shaun Scott (Democrat), Janice Zahn (Democrat), Mari Leavitt (Democrat), Liz Berry (Democrat), Dan Griffey (Republican), Travis Couture (Republican), Stephanie McClintock (Republican), Dave Paul (Democrat), Debra Lekanoff (Democrat), Edwin Obras (Democrat), Natasha Hill (Democrat), Joe Fitzgibbon (Democrat), Julia Reed (Democrat), Larry Springer (Democrat), Alex Ybarra (Republican), Steve Tharinger (Democrat), David Hackney (Democrat), Kristine Reeves (Democrat), Greg Nance (Democrat), Ed Orcutt (Republican), Joe Timmons (Democrat), Tom Dent (Republican), Adam Bernbaum (Democrat), and Julio Cortes (Democrat).
What is the current status of HB 1563?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 23, 2025. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 1563?
Track HB 1563 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 1563

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 1563

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →