Hawkins Says Coronavirus Funding a Bipartisan Issue, Excited his Utility Bill Going Forward

The Washington State Legislature will send a bill to the governor's desk this week that takes $100 million from the rainy day fund and allow it to be used by the State Department of Health's response to the Covid-19 virus.

Sen. Brad Hawkins says it can be used for things like test kits.

"A lot of the funding that we may need that is maybe unanticipated in the coming weeks and months. We just wanted to make sure as a state that we took that step in a bipartisan way to support the Department of Health."

Hawkins says they are expecting federal money to help with the response as well which would be used as opposed to the state money.

He also expressed excitement that the House Finance Committee passed his bill that would provide some tax breaks to utility providers.

Hawkins says the House has improved the bill related renewable energy incentives.

"Hydropower stakeholders, not just public utility districts, but municipal utilities, city-owned utilities like Seattle and Tacoma; they are rallying around the bill along with private utilities."

If the bill passes out of the House, it will need to be re-approved by the Senate with the amendments and expansion before it goes to the Governor's desk.

Hear the entire conversation: