From LWVWA 1/30/22 Newsletter

Bills needing your action this week

Be involved. Legislators need to hear from you!

SB 5688 and HB 1809 Keep our care act.

These bills would ensure that mergers of health care provider organizations would sustain affordable health care and necessary services.  To date, many mergers of hospitals and medical practices have resulted in elimination of essential health care services such as reproductive health care, end of life care and more, and have resulted in higher costs of care. This act would establish certain procedures that would protect health care consumers access to affordable care.  Help save our necessary care by supporting the Keep Our Care Act.

Ask the senate Law & Justice Committee to pass the Keep Our Care Act bill out of committee before February 3rd. The LWV recommends passage of this bill.

Make a big impact for the climate and environment this week. Four bills are scheduled for a vote in on February 1 in the House Environment and Energy Committee. They all make progress on fighting climate change and diverting waste toward a more productive end. Read more below and ask your representatives to vote for these bills.

• HB 1682 Concerning a compliance pathway specific to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed businesses for achieving their proportionate share of the state’s emissions reduction limits.
• HB 1799 Concerning organic materials management.
• HB 1814 Expanding equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects.
• HB 1896 Providing for responsible environmental management of batteries.

UPDATES ON BILLS WE ADVISED ACTION

• SB 5042 Concerning certain actions taken under the growth management act. Passed Senate on January 26th, moved to House.
• SB 5769 Reforming the state tax system by providing tax relief to residents, employees, and employers. Public hearing held in the Senate Committee on Business, Financial Services & Trade at 8:00 AM, January 25th.
• HB 1876 Fiscal Impact of Ballot Measures: Referred to Rules Committee.
• SHB 1156 /SB 5584 Increasing Representation & Voter Participation Local Options Bill: SHB 1156 referred to Rules Committee, second hearing scheduled March 10. SB 5584 referred to Ways & Means Committee.
• SB 5182 Repeal Advisory Votes: stuck in Rules committee.
• HB 1919 Concerning recommendations by the public disclosure commission: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30pm January 31st.
• SB 5560 Redistricting: Executive action taken on January 28 in the Senate Committee on State Government & Elections recommending passage. On floor vote schedule.
• HB 1630 Establishing restrictions on possession of weapons in certain locations: Stuck in Rules Committee. Not yet on floor schedule.
• HB 1664 Concerning prototypical school formulas for physical, social, and emotional support in schools: Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 3:30 PM, Tuesday February 1. Not yet on floor schedule.
• SB 5568 Concerning preemption of municipal laws restricting the open carry of weapons: Passed to Rules Committee January 28th.
• HB 1485 Recognizing Women’s Suffrage Day as a legal holiday: Stuck in House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations.
• HB 1652 Concerning conservation district elections: Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 8:00 AM, Wednesday February 2.

Lots happening as February 3rd cutoff approaches. Read all about it in the LWV state newsletter here.

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