CAPR Legislative Update for Week Ending 2/5/22 Cut-off and bill status information
Thank you CAPR members and friends for your help in testimony and comments!
We provided testimony against bad legislation and won some important battles!
For bills still in play things can change fast due to cut-off dates and fiscal or transportation status, here is why:
The first cut-off day was February 3, Last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) in house of origin, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
The next cut-off day will be February 7, Last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees in house of origin.
By February 15, we are at the point where if a bill has not passed in the house it originated in, it will be dead.
By February 24, cut-off, Last day to read in committee reports (pass bills out of committee and read them into the record on the floor) from opposite house, except House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees.
There were over 2000 bills in play, but the most alarming bills were quickly identifiable. We the people allow for too many bills to be introduced each year it causes infringement on rights and chaotic processes.
This list covers some bills we fought against this session, bills members have asked about, and bill status.
Engrossed Second Substitute1099 Improving the state's climate response through updates to the state's comprehensive planning framework. A bad bill containing per capita vehicle miles traveled, greenspace and enhancing fish and wildlife habitat, climate impact items, adding a goal to the shoreline management act, environmentaljsutice and disparities items, wildfire mitigation, transit and transportation, greenhouse gas emissions, and so on and on. from last session which has passed the House but still must have an executive hearing in the Senate committee and then go to the Senate floor for a vote if it is to pass. Still needs fighting until the 24th. Much to object too, keep up the fight!
Comment on this bill https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1099 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
Engrossed Second Substitute 1117 Promoting salmon recovery through revisions to the state's comprehensive planning framework. This bill from last session has a to have a public and executive hearing in the Senate after passing the House, and then go to the Senate floor if it is to pass. One of the most damaging problems in this bill is the concept of net ecological gain, previously permitting depended on preventing or not causing harm, but this bill would require enhancement or improvement to habitat and salmon recovery. This gain or enhancement may not be attainable, is costly, and also dependent on mitigation. Without nexus and proportionality takings could happen, private property would likely be impacted. Still needs fighting until the 24th!!!
Comment on this bill https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1117 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
Substitute House Bill 1653 Improving statewide coordination in support of anadromous fish recovery. This bill has gone through the process in the house but then sent to the fiscal committee, Appropriations. This will give it more time to get through the process, but has not passed the House on the floor, and has not progressed through the Senate at all. Creates a Salmon Advisory Cabinet, tribes and treaty rights along with agencies, leaving out counties. Just more salmon recovery bureaucracy, money spent, and goal oriented rather than action oriented but likely to brainstorm more innovation on ways to regulate us all. It would be best if the bill were to die, so still should be fought! Comment on this bill, https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1653 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
Substitute House Bill 1684 Concerning public health and fluoridation of drinking water. If you do not want to be forced to ingest fluoride in your drinking water, then fight this bill! Many in CAPR and other organizations have been fighting it, and with a public hearing in Appropriations committee tomorrow, it will still be fought by CAPR and others in oral and written testimony. Even if it gets to the floor for a vote in the House, it still has to go through the process in the Senate before February 28th!
Comment on this bill https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1684 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
Substitute House Bill 1753 Concerning tribal consultation regarding the use of certain funding authorized by the climate commitment act. This bill has gone through the process in the house but then sent to the fiscal committee, Appropriations where it has had a public and executive hearing so could be read and voted on the House floor. This will give it more time to get through the process, but has not yet passed the House on the floor, and has not progressed through the Senate at all. The governor's Climate Committment Act created a funding pool that according to this bill will require applicants for funds to pre-apply and consult with tribes and prohibits funding peninding this tribal process. Will also include the Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, goodbye to progress! It would be best if the bill were to die, so it still should be fought!
Comment on this bill https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1753 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
1772 Increasing legislative involvement in gubernatorial proclamations relating to a state of emergency. This was the best bill to plan for and prevent future tyrannical behavior from a governor. Sadly, in what has now become far too typical partisan pattern, the majority party, aka the democrats in Olympia slow walked the bill, never gave it an executive hearing, and sent it to its death. We do note this bill was not a “governor’s request” bill. This is a loss for all citizens. In similar fashion, 1305 Concerning the right to refuse vaccines and health-related measures was not allowed to progress and never had a hearing. 1381 Limiting the governor's emergency powers, ensuring legislative balance of power, and regulating government agency emergency authority met the same fate, never had a hearing, and is now dead as well.
Comment on 1772 https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/1772 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
1838 Protecting, restoring, and maintaining habitat for salmon recovery. Was what could easily be the most obnoxious and divisive bill presented in years upon years. It proposed to create huge buffers of up to 200 feet on private properties, force compliance, and enforce through extreme high fines of $10,000 per day for what would have been arbitrary and capricious compliance violation. This bill would have ruined and bankrupted property owners and farms creating untold loss and damage to citizens and food supply. The bill sparked outrage throughout the state that will not soon be healed. Thousands testified against the bill, which is now dead, but not forgotten. Thank you to CAPR members fighting this horrendous bill.
2026 Implementing a per mile charge on vehicles. The bill has had a public hearing but not an executive hearing that would release it from the committee to the floor. The cut-off for this is on the 7th, so it may have a executive hearing on the 7th. CAPR opposes the bill based on over convoluted, complicated implementation plans and privacy invasion concerns. Rural hit harder than urban of course.
Comment on 2026 https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/2026 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
4209 Adding a new section to the Washington state Constitution regarding the conservation and protection of the state's natural resources. This was yet another highly unconstitutional bill sponsored by Representative Lekanoff, as is her habit (1838). CAPR testified extensively on this bill, as did many CAPR members with testimony and comment, thank you CAPR members! This outlandish bill would have nullified important standards in our constitution, the affront to the constitution that would occur with this bill has caused the bill to be denied an executive hearing and it is dead this session!
5042 Concerning the effective date of certain actions taken under the growth management act. Eliminates the vesting doctrine, encourages litigation through GMA hearings board, this bill is still in play and has passed the senate and has had a reading, but not a public or executive hearing in the House Energy and Environment Committee. This bill still needs to be fought against and could be in play until February 24.
Comment on this bill https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5042 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
Substitute Senate Bill 5882 Clarifying the existence of riparian stock watering rights. This is a good bill that clarifies laws and rules regarding off channel livestock watering rights. It has a path to be heard on the Senate Floor as it has gone through the legislative process and a second rules reading. Worth commenting on still as it will be in play until the 24th, and has a companion bill in the house, 2106.
Comment on this bill https://app.leg.wa.gov/pbc/bill/5042 or call 800 562 6000 legislative hotline
February 6, 2022