This phase of legislative action, referred to as “floor action” began last week and will continue until Tuesday evening, February 13. On Wednesday, February 14, each chamber will resume committee work, hearing bills that were passed by the opposite chamber. The week ahead is week six, with four to go. This is the transition from committee work to voting on bills “on the floor” of each chamber. Bills must be passed in their house of origin by the cutoff on February 13 or they will die.
PRIORITY ACTIONS
From LWVWA 2/11/24 Newsletter:
Standardize Statewide Procedures for Correcting Missing or Mismatched Ballot Signatures
SB 5890, Reducing Ballot Rejection Rates, aims to minimize ballot rejections by introducing opportunities for statewide voter education and offering support and guidance to county election offices and workers. The emphasis on voter registration and encouragement is crucial, as each rejected ballot represents a voice left unheard. The proposed legislation seeks to enhance accessibility and community education, particularly targeting groups with historically high rates of ballot rejection. Sign in PRO on SB 5890 here before 12:30 PM on February 14.
Pass Bills to Improve Washington’s Recycling Outcomes
There are two bills related to recycling that may be heard on the floor of the House this week, if they have not already seen action over the weekend. These bills are separate and passing both will provide the best waste reduction and recycling outcomes for Washington! The two bills are:
- HB 2049 The ReWRAP Act, which extends producer responsibility by incentivizing producers to use reusable, recyclable, or compostable packing. It also expands standardized recycling and supports Washington’s circular economy.
- HB 2144 The Bottle Bill, which will provide a deposit return system for qualifying beverage containers (between four ounces and one gallon), including glass, metal, plastic bottles, or cans used for beverages intended for human consumption. The exception is dairy and baby formula containers.
Even if you have previously registered your support, please contact your Representatives in support of HB 2049 and HB 2144 here by February 13.
To learn more, see all action alerts here. And don’t forget to sign up for the weekly LWVWA Legislative newsletter here.