MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. — A bill to help victims of the Gray and Oregon Road Fire continues to make its way through the Washington state legislature.
Substitute House Bill 1899 would establish a program to provide funds to pay for some of the new energy code upgrades required for newly built homes.
For residents impacted by the Spokane County wildfires last summer, there is a key thing they need to know. They need to get the permits for rebuilding their home submitted by March 15. If not, they'll be required to build according to the state's new energy codes.
Meeting the state's 2024 codes will add an estimated $30,000 to build. But, that's why Substitute House Bill 1899 seeks to help offset the cost of some new requirements.
Through a Department of Commerce program created by the bill, grants would first go to low and moderate-income households impacted by wildfires. John Altheide is rebuilding his home in Medical Lake. He says all and any support is welcomed.
"We're all a community. We all want to come back," Altheide said. "Those who are grossly underinsured, take care of them because they got to get back. Whatever it takes for you to get back in the house and back to normal."
Unlike the original bill, the substitute version will not exempt property owners from code updates. It instead focuses on financially supporting rebuilding efforts.
Still, this version would exempt residential building repairs from some portions of state code, such as using propane tanks as secondary heating sources. But, broader exemptions to the energy code won't be granted.
The bill has already been through the House and is now in a Senate committee. It has until Friday to make it out of Senate and back to the House. The last day of Washington legislative session is March 7.
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