2024 is a short legislative session (60 days!) and it starts today. To be heard by legislators, stay on top of the fast moving legislative calendar. To help with that, sign up for the LWVWA Legislative newsletter here. From LWVWA via email, your to do list right NOW:

ELECTION ACTION ALERTS

• HB 1885 Strengthening campaign finance disclosure by prohibiting campaign contributions and expenditures by foreign-influenced corporations. Ending foreign-influenced corporate spending in elections protects the basic principle of democratic self-government – for the people, by the people, and improves trust in our elections. Foreign investors are already prohibited from spending money directly or indirectly to influence U.S. elections, including state and local elections. Multinational corporations with significant foreign investment currently spend unlimited corporate funds to influence our elections. This bill closes this loophole.  Let the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee know you support this bill! Sign in Pro before 12:30 pm, Tuesday Jan. 9.
• SB 5856  Voter Registration Challenges. This is a priority bill supported by the Washington State Auditors and by the Secretary of State’s office. This bill updates the process for Voter Registration Challenges, making the challenger’s requirements more uniform and the process more efficient across the state. Sign in Pro before 12:30 pm Tues., Jan. 9
• HJR 4208 Removing Gendered Terms from the Constitution. By removing obsolete language that used only male pronouns and replacing them with either title of office or a gender-neutral term, we can bring our WA State Constitution into the 21st century. This amendment requires a ⅔ vote from both the House and the Senate, then final approval comes from a vote by the people of Washington.  Sign in PRO by 12:30 pm, Wed., Jan. 10
• SB 5890 Reducing ballot rejection rates through updates to ballot curing, canvassing, reporting, and outreach processes. We believe that every vote should count, and this bill reduces rejected ballots, and also makes fixing the issues more transparent and easier for voters. Sign in PRO  by 12:30 pm, Tues., Jan. 9

CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION ALERT

• SB 6039 Geothermal energy resources. New as of Friday, this bill requires a geological survey to facilitate identifying geologic features of both sources of geothermal energy and potential hazards  such as inducing seismicity (earthquakes). Geothermal is used for clean base-load electricity generation. The state already leases state-owned land for geothermal energy, and this bill will require an update to the lease rates for development of geothermal resources. Depending on appropriations available, grants may be offered to private entities to share direct costs of exploration activities in high potential areas. Sign in Pro to the hearing by the end of January 8 or no later than 7:00 am on January 9.  

WASTE DIVERSION ACTION ALERT

• HB 2049 Improving Washington’s solid waste management outcomes. (Re-WRAP Act). Legislation on extended producer responsibility (EPR), recycling, and waste reduction. Bill supporters estimate that enacting The Re-WRAP Act will put $104 million back into our economy on an annual basis by saving resources, improving recycling, and reducing environmental impacts. Recycling and reuse targets will be set and costs for the recycling system will shift from ratepayers to the manufacturers that have created the problem. Click here for resources about Extended Producer Responsibility and multiple factsheets. Hearing – House Environment & Energy @1/9/2024 4:00:00 PM. Please sign in PRO by 1/9/2024 @ 3:00 p.m. 
• HB 2144 – Providing for a deposit return program for qualifying beverage containers to be implemented by a distributor responsibility organization. This deposit return system will provide the best possible recovery, reuse, and recycling outcomes when combined with the potential material recovery targets for consumer packaging extended producer responsibility system described in the Re-WRAP Act (HB 2049). Qualifying beverage container includes: any separate, sealed glass, metal, or plastic bottle or can, that contains any beverage intended for human consumption, and in a quantity of greater than four ounces and less than or equal to one gallon. Exceptions: carton, foil pouch, drink box, or metal container that requires a tool to be opened, and any container that contained dairy milk as a first ingredient and infant formula. Bill includes provisions for a Consumer Convenience Advisory Council and education/outreach activities. Hearing – House Environment & Energy @ 1/9/2024  4:00 p.m. Please sign in PRO by 1/9/2024 @ 3:00 p.m.