by Cindy Alia 3/23/25
Lady Justice has failed the citizens of Washington state with a ruling that overturns Initiative 2066 an initiative that would serve well all citizens in the state. But never fear this lady will not rest on her laurels, there will be much more work for her to do as challenges to a widely criticized superior court judge's ruling are in the works.
On November 5, 2024, Washington voters passed Initiative 2066 with a resounding 62% approval, backed by over 500,000 signatures—far exceeding the 324,000 required. This citizen-driven measure, aimed at preserving natural gas access and resisting forced electrification, tapped into widespread support for property rights and financial relief. Yet, on March 21, 2025, King County Superior Court Judge Sandra Widlan struck it down, ruling it unconstitutional for violating the single-subject rule and full-text requirements under Article II, Section 19. For advocates of initiative rights, this decision undermines a democratic triumph, with homeowners and restaurants now bracing for fallout as an appeal looms.
I-2066’s passage reflected a unified cry against state overreach. Homeowners championed their right to choose gas over costly electric heat pumps ($10,000–$20,000 to install), while the restaurant industry saw it as a lifeline. Gas powers high-heat cooking—grills, woks, ovens—that electric systems can’t replicate affordably, with retrofits costing $50,000–$100,000 per kitchen. For eateries already squeezed by thin margins, losing gas could spell closure, a fear that fueled urban and rural support alike. The Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) hailed the 500,000+ signatures as proof of its popularity, a direct exercise of Article II, Section 1’s promise of citizen lawmaking.
Widlan’s ruling—that I-2066’s mix of gas access, utility tweaks, and efficiency rollbacks breached the single-subject rule—has ignited debate. Critics, including the BIAW, argue it dismisses voter intent for legal technicalities, pointing to a misleading ballot title as further justification. They’ve vowed a Supreme Court appeal, banking on precedents like Eyman v. Wyman (2019), though Lee v. State (2016) warns of constitutional limits. For now, I-2066’s fate tests the balance between judicial oversight and the half-million voices who backed it, with property autonomy and restaurant survival hanging in the balance.
While the invalidation of I-2066, a voter-passed measure aimed at preserving natural gas access for all citizens has for the time being undermined the law in favor of a rather smug defiance of voter intent by the opponents of the new law, the ruling will not be the final word, with sponsors of the popular measure vowing to take the case to the state Supreme Court.
It is likely the thousands of proponents of the law will once again rally to support and protect the will of the people of Washington with equal vigor and dedication to their liberties they displayed in signature gathering and voting on the measure.
March 24, 2025