House amends, passes fire aid bill

OLYMPIA — The state House of Representatives has stripped the flexibility of wildfire victims in rebuilding out of a bill introduced by Rep. Mike Volz, R-Spokane.

Volz’s original House Bill 1899 would have allowed wildfire victim’s to rebuild under Jan. 1, 2023, construction codes, if they so chose.

The amended version strips that flexibility and would only make assistance available to victims rebuilding using more energy efficient and environmental-friendly ways.

Subject to the funding availability, the state Department of Commerce would establish and administer the program to help qualifying...