Rep. Stephanie Barnard brings a state-led perspective to environmental policy grounded in innovation, energy reliability, and long-term economic sustainability. In Washington, she has built a growing body of work focused on how states can address complex energy and environmental challenges through practical policy, regional collaboration, and advanced energy solutions, with a particular emphasis on nuclear energy.
She serves on the House Energy and Environment Committee and is the ranking member on the House Technology, Economic Development, and Veterans Committee, where her work focuses on the intersection of environmental policy, nuclear innovation, grid reliability, energy affordability, and economic growth.
She is the founder and chair of the Washington Legislative Nuclear Energy Caucus, launched in 2023 to expand education and policy engagement around nuclear energy and emerging technologies. She also founded the Western States Advanced Nuclear Consortium, a multistate effort exploring collaboration on advanced nuclear development, transmission planning, and future energy needs across the West. She is also a member of the National Conference of State Legislatures’ Nuclear Workgroup and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators. 
Her legislative work includes sponsoring measures related to advanced nuclear energy, transmission capacity, utility adequacy, energy project development, and clean energy manufacturing, including HB 1210, which supports clean energy transformation projects and advanced nuclear manufacturing in Washington.
Through her Keeping the Lights On initiative and broader work with utilities, regulators, researchers, and industry leaders, she has advanced the view that states play a critical role in shaping environmental policy by pursuing reliable, affordable, forward-looking solutions that include nuclear energy as a key part of the future.