WA SB6157

Creates the Washington Wildfire Prevention and Protection Council, a 15-member body including representatives from state agencies, tribes, utilities, and legislature to oversee wildfire mitigation and administer a new fund

Establishes the Wildfire Prevention and Protection Fund to reimburse electric utilities for third-party damages from covered wildfires caused by utility negligence, with claims eligible for wildfires occurring after July 1, 2021

Requires electrical companies to participate in the fund through one-time contributions and annual surcharges; consumer-owned utilities may elect to participate; all participating utilities must maintain approved wildfire mitigation plans and commercial wildfire insurance

Directs investment earnings from the fund to be transferred annually to the existing Wildfire Response, Forest Restoration, and Community Resilience Account for prevention and mitigation activities

Prohibits fund disbursements to utilities found by a court to have acted with gross negligence, willfulness, or intentionality, and shields the state from liability for claims exceeding available fund balances