Action Alerts for bills will be shown here in accordance with the schedule of the testimony hearings.
Bills below are for the week of: Saturday, February 22nd to Friday, February 28th, 2025.
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Environment
A hearing on HB 1037 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5053 amends existing laws regarding the creation and governance of public facilities districts in Washington State. It allows towns and cities in counties with populations under one million to create such districts, either individually or through agreements with contiguous towns or counties. Additionally, it specifies that cities with populations between 80,000 and 115,000 in counties with populations over one million can also establish districts if they meet certain conditions. The bill introduces provisions for the governance structure of these districts, including the composition of boards of directors, which can vary based on how the district is formed. Notably, it allows for the creation of additional public facilities districts under specific conditions and clarifies the boundaries of these districts.
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Transportation
A hearing on SB 5710 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5710 addresses diesel vessel procurement for the Washington State Ferries by authorizing the department of transportation to contract for the acquisition of clean diesel ferry vessels to replace the current Issaquah class. The bill allows the department to use multiple procurement methods, including design-build, design-bid-build, or lease-to-buy options, and provides flexibility in the vessel acquisition process. Notably, the bill includes a 13 percent bid price credit for vessels constructed in Washington state, which represents the economic impact and additional costs associated with out-of-state shipbuilding.
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Environment
A hearing on HB 1071 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1071 is a bipartisan bill that aims to increase Washington state’s recycling rate to 65 percent for packaging and paper products. The bill mandates a statewide needs assessment to identify necessary investments and improvements to the recycling system. It also establishes a producer responsibility program, requiring producers to register and report data on the volume of products sold and to increase the use of postconsumer recycled content. An advisory committee will guide the process, and penalties are outlined for noncompliance. The bill also addresses low-income discounts for solid waste services and clarifies the Pollution Control Hearings Board’s jurisdiction over appeals.
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Safety
A hearing on HB 1085 has been scheduled:
Washington State House Bill 1085 is a bipartisan bill that aims to improve school safety by increasing penalties for violence and intimidation at schools and extracurricular activities. The bill strengthens penalties for interfering with school activities through force or violence, specifically targeting threats against school officials and volunteers at athletic events. Increased fines and jail time are proposed, along with mandatory exclusion from school or events for those convicted. The bill also mandates public signage notifying people of these enhanced penalties. Finally, the bill expands the definition of those protected under the law to include more school personnel and volunteers.
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Safety
A hearing on HB 1125 has been scheduled:
HB 1125 proposes amendments to the state’s sentencing laws. The bill will give our liberal judges more authority to modify lengthy sentences for dangerous inmates who reportedly meet specific criteria. The number of Democrats supporting this legislation and the absence of any conservative lawmakers should be your first clue that this is a bad bill.
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Environment
A hearing on HB 1294 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1294 from the Washington State Legislature extends the life of the Pesticide Application Safety Committee to July 1, 2035. The bipartisan bill establishes the committee’s composition, responsibilities, and reporting requirements. The committee’s main tasks include researching pesticide data collection, exploring safety improvements, and recommending policy changes.
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Elections
A hearing on HB 1448 has been scheduled:
HB 1448 introduces ranked choice voting (RCV) into local elections, replacing the current, straightforward “top-two” primary system with a more complex and unnecessary voting method. Instead of simply selecting their preferred candidate, voters would be required to rank multiple candidates in order of preference. This system complicates the election process and introduces unnecessary confusion, making it harder for voters to navigate their ballots effectively. Even some Democrats are speaking out against the bill. Brian Hatfield, legislative director for Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, a Democrat, said that the committee needs to “take into consideration the additional expense, the logistical problems and the confusion that would result in moving from our current system which relies on simple addition to a system that relies on an algorithm.” He called ranked choice voting a “regressive move”.
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Taxes
A hearing on HB 1553 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1553 extends Washington state’s dairy inspection program from June 30, 2025, to June 30, 2031. The small assessment funds will continue to be collected by the director, deposited into the dairy inspection account within the agricultural local fund, and used exclusively for dairy industry inspection services. The assessment is capped and processors with low monthly assessments are exempt. If a milk processing plant fails to pay the assessment, the unpaid amount can become a lien on the plant’s property and will be collected similar to delinquent taxes.
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Taxes
A hearing on HB 1623 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1623 sets minimum wage regulations under the age of 18 and the requirement that employers who allow credit card tips may not deduct any portion of an employee’s tips or gratuities to pay for credit card processing fees, thereby protecting employee earnings. The bill also clarifies that tips and service charges are in addition to the minimum wage and cannot be counted towards it. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance wage protections for employees and ensure they receive the full benefit of customer gratuities.
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Environment
A hearing on HB 1670 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1670 aims to increase transparency around sewage spills in Washington State by requiring the Department of Ecology to create a public-facing website and notification system for reporting sewage spills. By July 1, 2026, the department must develop a website that provides detailed information about sewage spills, including the volume of discharge, treatment level, date and time of the incident, location, potential impact area, and steps taken to contain the spill. The website must be designed to be accessible to people with limited English proficiency. Furthermore, by July 1, 2027, the department must also implement a public notification system that allows people to receive alerts about sewage spills within four hours during regular business hours.
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Elections
A hearing on HB 1710 has been scheduled:
HB 1710 creates unnecessary government overreach, forcing local governments to obtain state approval before making common election changes. Routine election adjustments, such as moving polling places, redrawing district lines, or even relocating ballot drop boxes, would now require state approval. Small communities and rural districts, particularly those with at least 6,000 residents of a so-called “protected class,” will be disproportionately impacted. This bill sets a dangerous precedent, allowing future election laws to further erode local autonomy and diminish voter confidence in fair and impartial elections. At its core, HB 1710 is unnecessary, costly, and politically driven. Please register CON.
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Elections
A hearing on HB 1750 has been scheduled:
HB 1750 redefines “voter suppression” and “vote dilution” in an overly broad way, making local governments vulnerable to frivolous lawsuits. The bill fails to acknowledge that voter participation is often influenced by individual choice rather than systemic barriers, meaning even minor differences in turnout among demographic groups could be weaponized in court. Furthermore, it explicitly prohibits certain common-sense defenses, such as election integrity measures designed to prevent fraud, unless those measures are backed by “substantial evidence,” another ill-defined and subjective requirement. If enacted, HB 1750 would make it nearly impossible for local governments to maintain fair and efficient election systems without constant fear of legal challenges. Election policies that have been in place for years could suddenly be deemed unlawful, forcing costly changes with little to no evidence of actual voter suppression.
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Education
A hearing on SB 5007 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5007 is focused on supporting students who are chronically absent and at risk of not graduating high school. You can’t teach kids who aren’t in the classroom, and absenteeism has become a major barrier to ensuring all students receive the education they deserve. This bill strikes a balance, respecting local and parental authority while ensuring schools have the tools to reengage students and help them succeed.
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Environment
A hearing on SB 5033 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5033 addresses the sampling and testing of biosolids (municipal sewage sludge) for PFAS chemicals, which are known as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment. The bill requires the Washington State Department of Ecology to establish PFAS chemical sampling and testing requirements for biosolids by July 1, 2027, and complete a comprehensive analysis of PFAS levels in Washington state’s biosolids by July 1, 2028. By December 1, 2028, the department must submit a report to the legislature with a summary of the analysis and recommendations for future action.
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Elections
A hearing on SB 5382 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5382, aka “The Initiative Killer,” would require those gathering initiative signatures to sign a declaration under penalty of false swearing that information written by signers is accurate and they were not paid for their signature. It also directs the Secretary of State, in validating signatures, to verify the address listed by a person on an initiative or referendum petition is the same as the one that is on their voter registration card. Specifically, if there is no address match or if the address is not specified, the signature will not be considered valid. Brian Heywood, founder of Let’s Go Washington, blasted the bill. “The legislature is showing what they really think about 3 million voters engaging in citizen advocacy,” he said in a statement. “This bill is politically motivated to solidify the power of the majority and silence anyone who questions their authority.”
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Education
A hearing on SJR 8200 has been scheduled:
Senate Joint Resolution 8200 proposes a Washington state constitutional amendment. The amendment modifies Article VII, section 2, and Article VIII, section 6, concerning property tax limitations and municipal debt. It aims to streamline the process for school districts to levy taxes and issue bonds, requiring a 55% voter approval rather than adherence to the existing threshold of 60%. Specific exceptions and conditions are outlined for exceeding tax and debt limits, including provisions for infrastructure projects and bond repayments.