Rep. Peter Abbarno applauds House passage of House Bill 1990 to strengthen infrastructure resilience after catastrophic events
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Rep. Peter Abbarno applauds House passage of House Bill 1990 to strengthen infrastructure resilience after catastrophic events
Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia, is proud to announce the passage of House Bill 1990, a landmark measure aimed at enhancing the resilience and recovery of Washington state’s critical infrastructure in the face of catastrophic events.
HB 1990, which passed with strong bipartisan support in the House, establishes a framework for catastrophic infrastructure securitization, ensuring that essential public assets—such as electric and natural gas infrastructure, water systems, and power networks—have the financial safeguards necessary for rapid recovery following natural disasters, like flooding and wildfires.
“As Washington faces increasing threats from wildfires, earthquakes, and flooding, we must take proactive steps to secure our critical infrastructure,” said Abbarno, House Republican Caucus Chair. “This bill creates an essential safety net to ensure that our communities can quickly rebuild and recover without placing undue financial burdens on taxpayers.”
Abbarno’s proposal would provide a structured mechanism for leveraging securitization, allowing state and local governments to access dedicated funding to rebuild vital infrastructure in the aftermath of catastrophic events while reducing the impact on ratepayers. HB 1990 ensures that Washington is prepared for immediate response efforts and long-term recovery by enabling cost-effective financing.
“We cannot afford to wait until disaster strikes,” Abbarno added. “By passing HB 1990, we are investing in the resilience of our communities, protecting the well-being of every Washingtonian, and reducing the economic burden to ratepayers.”
The bill now heads to the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee for a hearing on March 21st.
Abbarno remains committed to advocating for policies that enhance public safety, economic stability, and the long-term sustainability of Washington’s infrastructure.
For more information on HB 1990, visit RepresentativePeterAbbarno.com.
