From LWVWA 4/6/25 Action Legislative newsletter:

Monday, April 7, is the 85th day of the 105-day legislative session, with 20 days left until the April 27 adjournment. This past week was the cut-off for bills that passed the opposite chamber to be considered in policy committees. Tuesday this week, April 8, is the cut-off for bills to pass the fiscal and transportation committees.

Both the House and Senate have adopted their respective proposed Operating, Capital and Transportation budgets and will be negotiating a single package for final adoption by April 27. This year there are significant challenges posed by the downturn in estimated revenue compared to the levels of service that are needed—and the threats of greatly reduced federal funding. This makes the Legislature’s job very tough, and it is exacerbated this year by differences of opinion with the Governor over whether, and if so, what, new revenues should be adopted to reduce cuts in services that would leave our most needy residents even more vulnerable.

Support the Legislature’s Revenue Proposals. This year the Legislature faces immense challenges in developing the state budget. The large gap between forecast revenue and estimated costs to sustain previous levels of service—combined with the looming threats of large federal funding cuts—makes this biennium budget tougher than ever. In the past, extensive budget reductions have been devastating. Washington needs to continue to provide services as best it can at current levels so that the most vulnerable people in the state are not harmed. The only way to achieve this is by enacting fair new revenue sources that can increase the available funding from among those able to pay. The Legislature will be facing a challenge as well in negotiating the final budget with the Governor, who has spoken in opposition to progressive new revenue sources. 

Tell the Legislature HERE that the public supports them in holding firm on their revenue proposals in the final adopted budget.

Support Rent Stabilization. HB 1217 is one of the most important bills of this session. It is imperative to helping address the housing and homelessness crisis. Rent stabilization is an important strategy for keeping people housed. When rents are predictable, changing only a certain amount per year and with reasonable notice, tenants can use the time and information to determine what steps to take to sustain their housing. However, without rent stabilization provisions, landlords often gouge their tenants. The lack of affordable housing means that this puts huge pressure on people who can’t afford sudden and high increases in their rents and adds to the homelessness crisis in this state. Let the Senate Ways & Means Committee know HERE by 9:00 am on Monday that you support this bill and urge them to pass it out of committee and forward it to the Senate Rules Committee.

Support Improved Recycling In Washington. The Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284) will provide universal recycling services for Washingtonians across the state and make plastic and paper producers pay for it. Specific incentives are built in to reduce plastic packaging. More jobs will be created and recycling will be standardized in Washington. The Recycling Refund Bill (aka Bottle Bill—HB 1607) will establish a system that facilitates the return of beverage containers, with a 10 cents deposit. Studies from other states show that bottle bills will reduce litter and help create high recycling rates for beverage containers. Washington’s recycling systems have not been able to keep up with the influx of plastic/paper packaging and beverage containers flooding into our homes and environment. We need to act to revamp our recycling system, reduce litter and plastic pollution, and create more jobs in Washington. Tell your legislators HERE to pass the Recycling Reform Act (SB 5284) and the Recycling Refund Bill (HB 1607).

Support Local News. The local news decline that continues to affect Washington and the rest of the nation is linked to several negative impacts, including reduced voter turnout, increased political polarization, higher government costs, reductions in the number of candidates seeking office, challenges for public health, and less civic engagement. SB 5400 would address this crisis and its resulting impacts by generating about $20 million annually for qualifying local news outlets in Washington to employ journalists.  The funds would be generated by way of a nominal surcharge on for-profit social media platforms and search engines. As a result, no General Fund dollars would be used.  Social media platforms and search engines benefit handsomely as they take content the news outlets produce without providing compensation and by siphoning off critical ad revenue from them.  In fact, a November 2023 study by professors at Columbia University and the University of Houston estimated that Google and Facebook owe U.S. news outlets at least $12 billion a year for the value that news content adds to their platforms.

The bill features strong criteria for establishing which news outlets would be eligible for funding, which would be paid as grants. Recipients would have to produce original content on a regular basis; have transparent processes for error identification, correction and fact checking; engage professionals to cover matters of public interest; and be transparent in providing ownership details.  At all times, control of content produced by recipient news outlets would remain with the editors and producers. Send a message HERE to your legislators in support of SB 5400 into the final budget for 2025-2027.

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!

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