Action Alerts for bills will be shown here in accordance with the schedule of the testimony hearings.
Bills below are for the week of: Monday, February 17th to Friday, February 21st, 2025.
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Safety
A hearing on HB 1668 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1668 addresses various aspects of community custody and supervision of offenders in Washington state, with several key provisions focusing on improving oversight, accountability, and technology in tracking and managing individuals under community supervision. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Corrections to exercise discretion when recommending escape charges for individuals who fail to maintain contact, establishes a new process for community corrections officers to coordinate with local law enforcement in locating and apprehending individuals who have absconded, and mandates enhanced electronic monitoring capabilities that include real-time tracking, tamper-alert technology, and victim notification systems.
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Safety
A hearing on HB 1968 has been scheduled:
Washington State House Bill 1968 modifies the definition of endangerment with a controlled substance, escalating it to a Class B felony. The bill specifically targets fentanyl and synthetic opioids, as well as methamphetamine and its precursors. Exemptions from criminal liability are granted to specified Department of Children, Youth, and Families personnel. The amendment clarifies what constitutes criminal exposure of children and dependent adults to these dangerous substances. The bill ultimately aims to strengthen penalties for endangering children and adults via controlled substances.
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Education
A hearing on SB 5574 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5574 mandates the inclusion of Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander history in the public school curriculum in Washington State. It requires the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) to adopt learning standards for this history by September 1, 2028. This is another ethnic studies mandate virtue signaling the intent to combat “racism”. The Board of Education didn’t add ethnic studies to graduation requirements because of the previous backlash from parents. Furthermore, local school boards should be deciding curriculums, not the legislature. Senate Bill 5574 is meant to do what the Board of Education couldn’t. Please oppose this bill.
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Life
A hearing on HB 1677 has been scheduled:
This Senate Bill mandates that public higher education institutions provide access to abortion medications for students by the 2026-27 academic year. The bill cites significant barriers for students seeking abortion services, including distance to facilities and increased wait times. Not surprisingly, the legislation does not take into account the dangers of utilizing abortion medications without physician supervision but instead emphasizes the purported safety and efficacy of the abortion medications. Unbelievably, the bill also notes the medications importance in regards to academic success. In other words, kill the baby so you can achieve better grades.
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Environment
A hearing on SB 5630 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5630 specifically aims to emphasize the legislature’s intent to continue providing payments to support farm fuel users and transporters who purchase fuel for agricultural purposes that is exempt from carbon dioxide emission thresholds under the Washington Climate Commitment Act (CCA) and ensures they receive financial assistance for their exempt fuel purchases. This is part of a broader effort to promote sustainable agricultural practices while maintaining compliance with environmental regulations.
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Housing
A hearing on SB 5729 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5729 aims to address the housing crisis in Washington state by streamlining the permitting process for affordable housing construction. It introduces a new section emphasizing the need to expedite permit approvals, which have been identified as a significant barrier to increasing housing units. The bill amends existing laws to clarify that local governments must base project reviews on adopted comprehensive plans and development regulations, and it limits the scope of project reviews by prohibiting reexamination of certain alternatives and appeals, except for code interpretation issues. Overall, the legislation seeks to facilitate quicker approvals for housing projects, thereby contributing to the alleviation of the housing shortage in the state.
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Housing
A hearing on HB 1022 has been scheduled:
Washington House Bill 1022, also known as the “Homes for Heroes Act,” proposes a $15 million pilot program to assist eligible essential workers with down payments and closing costs on homes. The program targets individuals in critical occupations facing housing affordability challenges, such as firefighters, nurses, and police officers. Funding is capped, and the program is set to conclude in 2027, with reports on its effectiveness due to the legislature. Loan amounts are limited to 5% of the first mortgage or $25,000, and loans are interest-free, deferred until the mortgage is paid or the property is sold. The bill aims to alleviate Washington state’s workforce crisis by making homeownership more accessible to essential workers.
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Taxes
A hearing on HB 1384 has been scheduled:
This bill aims to provide a tax exemption for the first 20,000 gallons of wine sold by wineries in Washington state. It amends RCW 66.24.210 to introduce a new tax structure for wineries that sell less than 20,000 gallons of table wine or cider in a calendar year. Specifically, these wineries will be subject to a reduced tax rate of $0.0528 per liter for their sales, and they will not be liable for any other taxes under this section on the first 20,000 gallons sold, except for taxes imposed for the Washington wine commission.
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Environment
A hearing on SB 5091 has been scheduled:
Senate Bill 5091 aims to amend Washington’s motor vehicle emission standards by establishing a more flexible approach that does not require the adoption of California’s emission standards. It mandates the Department of Ecology to create rules for motor vehicle emission standards that align with the federal Clean Air Act, while explicitly prohibiting the adoption of California’s standards. Additionally, the bill updates existing regulations regarding vehicle registration and emissions testing, including changes to the validation period for compliance certificates and the criteria for vehicle exemptions from emission tests.
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Safety
A hearing on HB 1896 has been scheduled:
House Bill 1896 aims to enhance local law enforcement in Washington State by allowing counties and cities to impose a local sales and use tax of 0.10 percent, which will be credited against the state tax. This tax revenue is designated specifically for hiring additional commissioned law enforcement officers, with provisions for its use in criminal justice purposes if the local commissioned rate exceeds the national average. The bill also emphasizes the need for increased law enforcement training, mandating the Criminal Justice Training Commission to provide a minimum number of basic law enforcement training classes in the upcoming fiscal years.