From LWVWA Legislative 2/16/25 newsletter:

The cutoff for policy bills to be passed from their respective policy committees in the chamber of origin is this Friday, February 21. That means there is intensive work going on in committees, with committee leadership having to determine how many bills can be handled in this remaining period of time. This intensity is exacerbated by the large number of bills that are continuing to be introduced. Note that House bills begin with “1000”; so a bill such as “HB 1800” means that it is number 800 of bills having been filed in the House. Similarly, Senate bill numbers begin with “5000”; so bills such as “SB 5600” means that it is the 600th bill to be filed in the Senate. 

Support Local News. SB 5400, Supporting local news journalism; creating the Washington Local News Sustainability Program, would generate about $20 million annually for local news with funding from a surcharge of 1.22 percent on the gross income of for-profit social media platforms and search engines. Vibrant and independent news journalism is key to an informed electorate. This bill passed the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee as a substitute and is now in the Senate ways & Means Committee awaiting a public hearing. Contact your local Senator HERE and ask them to SUPPORT the substitute bill request by scheduling it for public hearing before Friday, February 28.

Reduce the Use of Long-Term Solitary Confinement. HB 1137, Establishing Uniform Policies and Procedures within Department of Correction Facilities Relating to Disciplinary Proceedings and Administrative Segregation, would increase the burden of proof for infractions to a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) and reduces the types of infractions that will result in solitary confinement. These changes will result in a reduction in the use of long-term solitary confinement, which will improve the mental and physical health of incarcerated people and increase the likelihood that they will safely return to our communities upon release. This bill passed as a substitute from the House Community Safety Committee and is scheduled for public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee at 4:00 pm, on Monday, February 17, 2025. Sign in PRO on HB 1137 HERE before 3:00 pm on Monday, February 17

Keep Industrial Stormwater Polluters Accountable. These bills, HB 1937 and SB 5712, Establishing a Presumption of Compliance for Entities Covered Under the State’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit Under Certain Circumstances, would allow industrial stormwater polluters to shield themselves from certain enforcement and exempt all transportation facilities across the state from having to take stormwater samples. This will cause chaos for permittees working to follow their permits in good faith. These bills were just introduced on February 11 and have public hearings this week: HB 1937 has a hearing at 1:30 pm on Monday, February 17, in the House Environment & Energy Committee. SB 5712 has a public hearing at 1:30 pm on February 18 in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee. Sign in CON on HB 1937 HERE before 12:30 pm on Monday, February 17. Sign in CON on SB 5712 HERE before 12:30 pm on Tuesday, February 18.

Support Affordable and Moderate-Income Housing Development. These bills, HB 1235 and SB 5148, Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act, would require cities and counties that plan under the Growth Management Act to submit their housing elements and housing development regulations to the Department of Commerce for review within certain timelines, in order for their housing elements and housing development regulations to take effect. It prohibits these cities and counties from denying an affordable or moderate-income housing development unless they have received a final determination of compliance from Commerce, or certain other conditions are met. HB 1235 had a public hearing on January 21 but is not yet scheduled for executive session. SB 5148 passed the Senate Housing Committee as a substitute on February 7 and is now scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18. Sign in PRO for SB 5148 HERE before 3:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18.

For additional action items, which help pass bills the League supports on specific issues, click on the see all action alerts, and take action on the ones you are most interested in. The Lobby Team is very grateful for our members’ and others’ help.

There are many more action alerts in this weeks legislative newsletter! Get the LWVWA Legislative newsletter delivered direct to you by subscribing here.