OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Office is fighting for new legislation put before the House on Thursday, February 9th, that would prevent utility shutoffs during heat waves.

KING5 reports the House Committee on Environment & Energy has taken up House Bill 1329, which mirrors a state law already in place that makes utility shut-offs during extreme cold illegal.

Ferguson’s Office cites National Weather Service data that shows the number of days in our state over 95 degrees has more than doubled since the 1980’s.

Sponsors of the bill, which include local representatives Joe Timmons, Alex Ramel, and Debra Lekanoff, were quoted referencing the recent 2021 heat wave when nearly 160 deaths were reported over a one-month period.