From LWVWA 3/16/25 Legislative newsletter:
In the week ahead, legislators will be working in committees to hold hearings on bills that were passed by the opposite chamber. Bills referred to policy committees in the opposite chamber must be passed by those committees no later than April 2 or they will die for this session. This week will also include publication and wide discussion of the latest revenue forecast. The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council is required to submit a revised revenue forecast on or before March 20 in odd-numbered years. The revenue forecast is used by the legislature to assure that its budget, when adopted, has the most recent information available.
Additionally, most state legislators have scheduled town hall meetings to discuss what is happening in the legislature. Take a look at our calendar to identify town hall meetings in your state legislative district—as well as your federal congressional district—with information available as of the date of this publication.
PRIORITY ACTIONS
Help Keep Rents Stable. HB 1217, also known as “Rent Stabilization,” would improve the current situation of rent gouging and short notices to tenants, making them unable to adjust to rent increases. It would limit rent and fee increases to 7% during any 12-month period and prohibit rent and fee increases during the first 12 months of a tenancy for tenants subject to the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act and the Manufactured/Mobile Home Landlord-Tenant Act, regardless of the length or type of lease, with certain exemptions. It would also provide a variety of other tenant protections. The long title for this bill is “Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement.” HB 1217 passed the House as a second substitute and was referred to the Senate Housing Committee, where it has a public hearing at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, March 19. Sign in PRO for HB 1217 HERE before 12:30 pm on Wednesday, March 19
Improve Recycling Outcomes—Keep SB 5284 Moving. SB 5284, the Recycling Reform Act (Improving Washington’s solid waste management outcomes. Formerly, the Re-WRAP Act) would reform the state’s recycling system to both cut down on waste and drive rates of recycling higher. It’s a multifaceted solution to a complex problem lawmakers should approve and Gov. Bob Ferguson sign into law. Its passage would make Washington the sixth state to adopt “Extended Producer Responsibility” on packaging, following successes of similar programs in British Columbia and in Europe. The results speak for themselves: Whereas Washington has been keeping less than 50% of material out of landfills, British Columbia’s EPR-driven system hovers close to 80%. The companion bill HB 1150 was referred to House rules so has previously been heard in and passed out of House committees. Sign in PRO on SB 5284 HERE before 12:30 pm on Monday, March 17.
Pass SB 5033 to Monitor PFAS (the forever chemicals) in Biosolids (organic material reclaimed from sewage). Led by Senator Jeff Wilson, SB 5033, concerning biosolids, would establish a monitoring program for PFAS (i.e., the forever chemicals) in biosolids from wastewater treatment facilities. Biosolids are spread in forests and on farms and we are concerned about the impacts of these bioaccumulating toxic chemicals. STATUS: Bill passed out of the Senate: unanimously – yeas, 49; nays, 0. It is scheduled for public hearing at 1:30 pm on March 17 in the House Environment & Energy Committee. Sign in PRO on SB 5033 HERE before 12:30 pm on Monday, March 17
Support Investment in a Trust for Old Growth Forests. Urge the Legislature to invest in conservation efforts to protect natural resources, expand public access and ensure a sustainable future for Washington State by putting $30 million in the Capital budget for eight projects in the Department of Natural Resources’ trust land transfer (TLT) program. Contact your legislators HERE.
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. Thank you for your support for the League’s issues!
There are many more action alerts in this weeks legislative newsletter! Get the LWVWA Legislative newsletter delivered direct to you by subscribing here.