Note: This e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Leonard Christian’s subscribers on Feb. 13, 2025. To subscribe to Sen. Christian’s e-newsletter, click here.
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
I want to alert you to one of the worst bills we will likely see this year – a measure that aims to restrict the use of woodstoves in Washington state. With your help, we may be able to stop this bill from advancing in this year’s legislative session.
Senate Bill 5174, which was requested by the Washington State Department of Ecology, allows the agency to impose new rules and regulations on wood stoves, making them more expensive and out-of-reach for many Washingtonians.
Wood stoves make for a cozy home, but they are also a necessity for many people who own them. Rural families depend on them more than those who live in bigger cities. Lower-income families, seniors on a fixed income, and anyone else trying to make ends meet while energy costs soar will suffer. Still others couldn’t stay warm during a power outage without them. These costly new regulations are government overreach at its worst.
Watch a brief video message from Sen. Shelly Short, R-Addy.
Right now, if you needed to replace your wood stove, the ones on the market already comply with regulations from the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Additional state regulations are unnecessary. If SB 5174 becomes law, and you can’t afford to buy a new wood stove that meets the new regulations, you might need to continue using your older, dirtier stove — or go without heat.
SB 5174 could be the first step to an eventual ban on all traditional wood-burning stoves, fireplaces and other devices.
What can you do?
You can contact Senate Democrat leaders and tell them to let SB 5174 die in committee.
SB 5174 received a hearing in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee on Jan. 24. It’s scheduled for a vote in that committee TOMORROW, FEB. 14. If the committee votes to move the bill, it will go to the Senate Rules Committee where the Democrats can pull it to the Senate floor for a vote. If that happens, the bill will pass because Democrats have the majority. If it passes, it will go to the House of Representatives for consideration, where you will get another chance to stop the bill from becoming law.
Click on the links below to send emails to:
Chair: Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee
Leave a message for any legislator on the Washington Legislative Hotline: Call 1-800-562-6000. Hint: Legislative Democrats especially need to hear from you.
Here’s what the people are saying about Senate Bill 5174
Here’s a sampling of the comments we’ve been getting in our office in Olympia
- “Using a wood stove helps use up dead wood which becomes a fire hazard and provides heat at a fraction of the cost of electric furnaces. I am on a fixed income and this is vital to maintaining my budget.”
- “This seems a way for the state to exercise even more control over the choices we have to heat our homes. They want to take away woodstoves and natural gas and make us depend solely on electric.”
- “Wood burning is the most reliable option for people that are living in rural or mostly rural areas. Our power went out more than 10 times this winter so far. A generator and a heater is not a suitable option during those times. Even if you switch to solar during the winter months there is not always enough sunlight to power a heat source. Natural gas is not available in my location and if you use propane and run out during the winter time there is limited accessibility for companies to bring more. I think it’s a great idea in cities and high populated areas to not use wood but that doesn’t work for everyone.”
- “This law is proposed by/for people who don’t understand there is a world outside the subdivisions of King/Pierce Counties and who don’t understand that, for a fair portion of the rest of the state, wood burning stoves/fireplaces are the most effective means to heat ones home and live in relative comfort/happiness.”
Contact us!
If you have a concern about state government, or a problem with a state agency, please do not hesitate to contact my office. My most important duty is to serve you.
Mailing address: Post Office Box 40404, Olympia, WA 98504
Email: Leonard.Christian@leg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 786-7606
Leave a message on the Legislative Hotline: 1 (800) 562-6000
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Thanks for reading,
Sen. Leonard Christian
4th Legislative District