Washington Supreme Court Strikes Down Natural Gas Rollback Initiative
Washington Supreme Court ruled Initiative 2066 unconstitutional for violating single-subject rule.
Why it matters: This ruling reinforces state climate policies limiting natural gas use, impacting utilities and environmental law. It signals regulatory certainty amid Washington’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
- Initiative 2066 approved by 51.7% of voters in November 2024 to protect natural gas access.
- Court ruled 6-3 that I-2066 violated Article II, Section 19 of the state constitution by covering multiple subjects.
- Decision authored by Chief Justice Debra Stephens affirming a prior King County Superior Court ruling.
- The Building Industry Association of Washington sponsored and defended the initiative.
- The ruling supports Washington’s 2024 HB 1589 on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
On September 17, 2026, the Washington Supreme Court invalidated Initiative 2066 (I-2066), approved by voters in November 2024 with 51.7% support, which sought to prevent state and local governments from restricting natural gas use and require utilities to provide natural gas services.
The court’s 6-3 ruling, authored by Chief Justice Debra Stephens, found that the initiative violated the state's single-subject rule under Article II, Section 19 of the Washington Constitution because it encompassed multiple distinct subjects. Stephens wrote, "It is not possible by judicial construction to sever and save any of the separate provisions and therefore I-2066 is unconstitutional in its entirety."
This decision upheld a prior King County Superior Court ruling that also found the measure unconstitutional.
The Building Industry Association of Washington, which sponsored and defended the initiative, argued, "The people of Washington enacted 2066 for one singular purpose: to ensure that they had the option of gas as a source of energy for their homes and their buildings." However, the court ruled the initiative’s multiple provisions could not stand as a single legal subject.
This ruling preserves Washington’s climate legislation efforts, including the 2024 legislative passage of HB 1589, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental groups and local governments previously challenged the initiative, asserting it would undermine these policies.
By the numbers:
- 51.7% — voter approval rate for Initiative 2066 in November 2024
- 6-3 — Washington Supreme Court vote to invalidate Initiative 2066
- 2024 — year Washington passed HB 1589 targeting greenhouse gas reduction