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# Washington Supreme Court Voids Natural Gas Initiative 2066
- URL: https://www.theamericanquorum.com/state-news-washington-2026-09-17-a/
- Published: 2026-09-18T02:23:58.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-18T02:23:58.000Z
- Description: Washington’s Supreme Court struck down voter-approved Initiative 2066, finding that its natural-gas, building-code and local-authority provisions violated the state constitution’s single-subject rule.
- Author: News Desk
- Tags: State News, Washington

The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday invalidated Initiative 2066, the voter-approved natural-gas measure, ruling that its provisions covered multiple subjects in violation of the state constitution. The [6-3 decision in *Climate Solutions v. State*](https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf/1042400.pdf?ref=theamericanquorum.com) leaves the initiative void in full rather than preserving selected sections.

Chief Justice Debra Stephens wrote that the measure imposed several distinct regulatory changes: it required access to natural gas, restricted local air-quality authority, amended statewide building codes and repealed the severability clause in a major utility-decarbonization law. The majority concluded those provisions lacked the “rational unity” required by Article II, Section 19 of the Washington Constitution. Because the subjects could not be separated, the court affirmed a King County judge’s order striking down the entire initiative.

The ruling is consequential for utilities, builders and local governments because I-2066 reached well beyond a single consumer-access rule. According to the [Legislature’s official summary](https://leg.wa.gov/media/cwmn1hvl/2066-initiative-summary-final.pdf?ref=theamericanquorum.com), it required large combination utilities to provide gas service to eligible customers, limited the ability of cities and counties to discourage gas use, changed state energy-code policy and rolled back portions of the 2024 law governing Puget Sound Energy’s long-term decarbonization planning.

Voters approved the initiative in November 2024 with 51.7% of the vote. The [Secretary of State’s ballot explanation](https://www.sos.wa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-07/Initiative%202066%20-%20Explanatory%20Statement%5F0.pdf?ref=theamericanquorum.com) told voters that a “yes” vote would repeal or prohibit certain laws and rules that discouraged natural-gas use or promoted electrification, while requiring specified utilities and governments to provide gas to eligible customers.

Thursday’s decision turns on legislative structure, not on whether gas or electric appliances are preferable. The majority said initiatives are presumed constitutional and should be read as an informed voter would read them, but it found that a broad title cannot cure provisions with substantially different regulatory effects. The court did not reach every other constitutional argument raised in the case.

Justice Sal Mungia’s dissent, joined by Justices Charles Johnson and Sheryl Gordon McCloud, would have upheld the measure. The [court’s case information sheet](https://www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/index.cfm?fa=opinions.showOpinion&filename=1042400MAJ&ref=theamericanquorum.com) identifies Stephens and five other justices in the majority, with one justice not participating and a former justice serving temporarily.

For residents and businesses, the immediate effect is legal rather than a direct change to a monthly bill: the statutory restrictions created by I-2066 no longer control state and local policy. Existing utility tariffs, building permits and code requirements still depend on the agencies and local governments that administer them. The ruling restores the legal framework that existed apart from the initiative, while leaving policymakers free to propose narrower legislation or another ballot measure.

Supporters and opponents framed the result sharply. [Washington State Standard reported](https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2026/09/17/wa-high-court-tosses-natural-gas-measure-approved-by-voters/?ref=theamericanquorum.com) that the Building Industry Association of Washington criticized the ruling, while environmental and local-government plaintiffs welcomed it. Any renewed effort will have to address the court’s central holding: separate policy changes cannot be bundled merely because they all touch energy use.