⚠️ Action Alerts ⚠️Click on the links below to take action on bills. Want to know more about a bill and why we support it? Review our 2025 Legislative Issues page. |
Making Democracy Work |
Making Democracy Work
No action alerts this week.
ELECTIONS AND MONEY IN POLITICS
SJR 8008 Concerning Article V Conventions; cancel all past convention applications.
Rescinds prior applications for a constitutional convention. It is unclear whether applications from WA State for a constitutional convention ever expire and whether the scope set forth in the applications must be adhered to. Wealthy interest groups could exploit decisions made by our ancestors to amend the Constitution and remove or alter our federal rights. This bill does not prohibit future applications for a constitutional convention. This bill passed the full Senate on February 19: 47; nays, 1; absent, 0; excused, 1. This bill is scheduled for a Hearing in House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations March 19 @ 1:30PM
⚠️ Sign in PRO HERE before 12:30 pm on Wednesday, March 4.
LOCAL NEWS AND DEMOCRACY
SB 5400 Supporting local news journalism. Sen. Marko Liias’ bill, with a substitution by Sen. Rebecca Saldaña, offers a significant opportunity to help rebuild the local news ecosystem in Washington, which has been hit so hard by recent closures and decreases in staffing and coverage.
Ways and Means committee chair Sen. June Robinson has called for a hearing at 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 18. Please contact your senator, particularly if they are on Ways and Means, and let them know of your support. Ask them to pass the bill to the floor for a vote or add it to the budget.
The bill would generate about $20 million for local news outlets from a nominal surcharge on the gross income of for-profit social media platforms and search engines. Therefore, it raises its own revenue and would not take dollars from the General Fund, a vital concern with the state facing the budget shortfall.
SB 5400 offers one of the most responsible approaches to helping address the local news crisis. Social media platforms and search engines benefit handsomely from content they take without providing compensation to the original producers of that news. But the bill does not treat these businesses unfairly as it would require none of them to pay more than $6 million annually.
Several studies link the decline with significant negative impacts on our democracy and the health and well-being of our communities. Washingtonians need and deserve to have credible, reliable sources for news about what’s happening in their communities, in their halls of justice, in local government and in the sports fields around them.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5400 HERE before 3:00 pm on Tuesday, March 17.
SB 5458/HB 1060 Concerning newspapers and eligible digital content. This bill is basically a technical correction for legislation passed in 2023 exempting newspaper printers and publishers from Business & Occupation taxes for 10 years. It would require the printers and publishers to submit complete annual tax performance reports. Passed by the Senate on a 49-0-1 vote, SB 5458 is scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 a.m. HB 1060 passed the House on a 97-0-1 vote, and is scheduled for executive hearing in the Senate Ways & Means committee at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18.
⚠️ If one of your Representatives is in Finance, indicate your SUPPORT for SB 5458 HERE by 7:00 am on Tuesday, March 18.
⚠️ If your senator is on Ways & Means, indicate your SUPPORT for HB 1060 HERE before 3:00 pm on Tuesday, March 18.
REDISTRICTING
No action alerts this week.
Environment
CLIMATE CRISIS & ENERGY
HB 1183 Building code and development regulation reform. revises the Growth Management Act (GMA) providing regulatory relief setbacks, roof heights, and such to enable additional external thickness for retrofitted insulation on walls and roofs. This will enable energy efficiency retrofits for some houses and buildings currently at the building code limits.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 1183 HERE by Monday, March 17 at 12:30 pm.
SB 5466 Improving reliability and capacity of the electric transmission system. Establishes the Washington Electric Transmission Office within the Department of Commerce to, among other duties, support the expansion of and upgrades to the electric transmission system and be a state-wide resource for transmission capability. A seven-member advisory board will advise this Office on transmission needs, system enhancements, and other policies. Exemptions from the State Environmental Policy Act for upgrading or rebuilding an existing transmission line by reconductoring with advanced conductors or with grid-enhancing technologies(GETs). This is a step in the State’s implementation of the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA).
⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5466 HERE by Monday, March 17 at 12:30 pm.
HB 1462 Reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrofluorocarbons. Hydrofluorocarbons are potent greenhouse gases with global warming potentials that are hundreds to thousands of times greater than carbon dioxide. The widespread use of hydrofluorocarbons in refrigeration, air conditioning, and heat pumps makes them significant contributors to climate change. Although usually short-lived, when vented those gases create an acute warming influence at a critical time in our mitigation efforts. Better working fluid alternatives are available and in use as covered in the LWVWA Action Workshop last December. Let’s continue making improvements such as this.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 1462 HERE by Monday, March 18 at 12:30 pm.
FORESTS
HB 1563/SB 5491 Establishing a prescribed fire claims fund pilot program. One of the purposes of the pilot program is changed from supporting coverage for losses from burning by nonpublic entities to burning by nonstate and nonfederal entities. Fire suppression costs of the DNR are removed as an eligible claim. The definition of "cultural fire practitioner" is modified to mean a person approved by an Indian tribe as having relevant burning experience, rather than associated with an Indian tribe with that experience. The bill broadens intent language references to forestlands managed by fire to include other landscapes. See more here. The bill passed the House and is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 1:30 pm on March 17.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1563 HERE before 12:30 am on Monday, March 17.
SB 5157 Concerning the direct sale of valuable materials for habitat restoration projects. It allows direct sales of valuable materials like large trees with root wads from public lands up to $250,000 in appraised value may be sold to entities using those materials for habitat restoration projects under certain conditions. The bill allows direct sales of valuable materials like large trees with root wads from public lands up to $250,000 in appraised value may be sold to entities using those materials for habitat restoration projects under certain conditions. Learn more here. The bill passed the Senate and is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources at 10:30 AM
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 5157 HERE before 9:30 am on Tuesday, March 18.
Act now to support Washington’s public lands.
Now is the time to urge your legislators to prioritize conservation efforts to protect our natural resources, expand public access, and ensure a sustainable future for Washington State. LWVWA signed a letter coordinated by Washington Wild to budget leaders also signed by 135 elected officials, local businesses and conservation and recreation groups supporting a $30 million request for Trust Land Transfer (TLT) funding. Washington State legislators are currently engaged in budget negotiations in Olympia.
⚠️ Contact your legislators HERE and ask for $30 million for eight TLT projects in the capital budget.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
No action alerts this week.
WASTE DIVERSION
SB 5284 The Recycling Reform Act (Improving Washington’s solid waste management outcomes. Formerly, the Re-WRAP Act): Championed by Representative Liz Berry and Senator Liz Lovelett, this bill would establish a product stewardship program for packaging and printed paper, including recycling and reuse targets and plastic source reduction. STATUS: HB 1150 did not pass out of house: vehicle is now the Senate bill. STATUS: SENATE: passed; yeas, 27; nays, 22; absent, 0; excused, 0, March 7; HOUSE: Public Hearing scheduled in House Committee on Environment & Energy March 17 at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5284 HERE by Monday, March 17, at 12:30 pm.
HB 1154 Adding Ecology approval for landfill permits (Ensuring environmental and public health protection from solid waste handling facility operations): Championed by Rep. Davina Duerr, this bill adds Ecology approval, in addition to local health jurisdictions, for landfill permit approvals. It also adds civil penalty of up to $10,000 per day for operating solid waste facilities without a permit. STATUS: HOUSE: passed; yeas, 58; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused. SENATE: First reading, Public hearing in Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, March 18, 2025, at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1154 HERE by Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 12:30 pm.
SB 5033 PFAS in biosolids (Concerning biosolids): Led by Sen Wilson, this establishes 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: passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, HOUSE: referred to Environment & Energy; Public hearing scheduled in House Committee on Environment & Energy, March 17, at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5033 HERE by Monday, March 17, at 12:30 pm.
HB 1293 Concerning litter: Championed by Rep Klicker, this bill adds penalties together for littering in an amount less than or equal to one cubic foot and sets up a littering solutions task force to provide policy recommendations to the legislature. STATUS: HOUSE: passed; yeas, 90; nays, 7; absent, 0; excused; SENATE: Public hearing in Environment, Energy & Technology, March 18, 2025, at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1293 HERE by Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 12:30 pm.
HB 1497 Compost, organics management (Improving outcomes associated with waste material management systems): Championed by Representative Beth Doglio, this bill would address composting and other management of organic (yard and food waste) in order to divert the material from the landfill and avoid methane gas generation. STATUS: HOUSE: passed; yeas, 57; nays, 39; absent, 0; excused, 2. SENATE: public hearing in Senate Environment, Energy & Technology, March 18, 2025 at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1497 HERE by Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 12:30 pm.
HB 1756/SB 5628 Concerning lead in cookware. LWVWA supports measures to reduce the exposure to toxics in the home. Watching bills to be sure that the bill passed last year is not weakened. STATUS: HOUSE: no action; vehicle is now SB 5628 SENATE: March 12 passed; yeas, 48; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 1. HOUSE: Public hearing in House Environment & Energy Committee March 18, 2025, at 4 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5628 HERE by Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 3 pm.
SB 5175 Solar panel recycling program revision (Concerning the photovoltaic module stewardship and takeback program): Led by Rep Kloba and Sen. Shewmake, this bill delays the solar panel recycling program and establishes a photovoltaic module advisory committee to make program recommendations by June 1, 2026. LWVWA does not support extending deadlines. STATUS: SENATE: passed; yeas, 49; nays, 0; absent, 0; excused, 0. HOUSE: public hearing in House Environment & Energy on March 20, 2025 at 8 am.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5175 HERE by Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 7 am.
TRANSPORTATION
No action alerts this week.
Social & Economic Policy
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
No action alerts this week.EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION
SB 5509 Siting of child care centers. Provides that cities, towns and code cities must allow child care centers as an outright permitted use in all zones except industrial zones, light industrial zones, and open spaces. They may allow child care centers in other zones, including industrial or light industrial zones, and must provide for conditional use approval for on-site child care centers in industrial or light industrial zones, except in and around high hazard facilities. Fiscal note: $224,000 for the Department of Commerce and $5,977,000 in local government costs. Passed with amendment by the Senate on Mar 6. Public hearing scheduled in House Local Government March 18 at 10:30 am. Possible executive session on March 21 at 10:30 am.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5509 HERE by Tuesday, Mar 18 at 9:30 am.
SB 5655 Concerning child care centers operated
in existing buildings. Provides that
when a child care center is operated in an existing building with more than one
use, building and fire officials must calculate the occupancy load based only
on the areas where child care services are provided. Substitute provides
clarifications. Fiscal note: $18,946 in estimated operating costs FY 2025-2027.
Passed by full Senate Feb 25. Scheduled for public hearing in House Early
Learning & Human Services Mar 18 at 1:30 pm. Possible executive session Mar
21 at 8:00 am.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5655 HERE by Tuesday, Mar 18 at 12:30 pm.
K-12 Education
SB 5123 Expanding protections for certain students to promote inclusivity in public schools. Students may not be discriminated against in WA public schools based on ethnicity, gender identity, homelessness, immigration status and neurodivergence (these are added to the list from 2010). Substitute bill adds definitions. Substitute bill passed the Senate on Mar 6. Scheduled for public hearing in House Education on Mar 17 at 1:30 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5123 HERE by Monday, Mar 17 at 12:30 pm.
SB 5192 Concerning school district materials, supplies and operating costs. Allocations for materials, supplies and operating costs (MSOC) increased. MSOC categories are eliminated, but school districts required to report expenditures to OSPI using categories. Engrossed substitute provides that MSOC allocations may only be used for MSOC; MSOC calculations to be based on a three-year rolling average using the adjusted annual implicit price deflator. Engrossed substitute passed the Senate on Mar 6. Scheduled for public hearing in House Appropriations on Mar 19 at 4:00 pm.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5192 HERE by Wednesday, Mar 19 at 3:00 pm.
HEALTH CARE
HB 1186 Expanding the situations in which medications can be dispensed or delivered from hospitals and health care entities. This bill would add certain drugs to the authority of emergency room MDs and RNs to dispense prepackaged medications deemed essential to the ongoing appropriate treatment of a patients care on discharge. This bill passed the House on March 4 and was referred to the Senate Health and Long-term Care Committee, where it is scheduled for public hearing at 10:30 am on Tuesday, March 18.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1186 HERE before 9:30 am on Tuesday, March 18.
SB 5124 Establishing network adequacy standards for skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation hospitals. This bill would require the Health Care Authority to work with stakeholders to establish and adopt network adequacy standards for post-acute care services by no later than June 30, 2026. These standards must include skilled nursing facilities and inpatient rehabilitation facilities that keep care as local as possible and set time standards by which care must be provided with the intention of assuring timely access to needed health services. This bill passed the Senate on March 3 and was referred to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, where it has a public hearing at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5124 HERE before 12:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18.
HB 1162 Concerning workplace violence in health care settings. This bill requires health care settings to conduct timely investigations of workplace violence incidents and requires health care settings to annually update workplace violence prevention plans based on investigation findings, an analysis of systemic and common causes of workplace violence incidents, and other factors.
It is undeniable that workplace violence needs to be addressed more comprehensively, involving shared responsibilities from all levels. These include legislation; healthcare management's dedication, firm support, assurance, and clearly defined policy, reporting procedures, and training; the healthcare workers' commitment to update their awareness and knowledge regarding workplace violence; and the provision of technical support and assistance from professional organizations, NGOs, and the community. Incivility, bullying, and violence in the workplace are serious issues in nursing, with incivility and bullying widespread in all settings. This under-reported epidemic has devastating results on the healthcare industry. Studies show that WPV can affect the quality of care and care outcomes, contribute to the development of psychological conditions, and reduce the RN's level of job satisfaction and organizational commitment. The magnitude of the problem is only increasing post pandemic. Washington is facing an acute shortage of nurses and workplace violence is a major issue in nursing recruitment.
The League supports this bill because reducing the nursing shortage is critical to maintaining the quality of the healthcare workforce in Washington. HB 1162 passed the House as a second substitute bill and was referred to the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee, where it is scheduled for public hearing at 10:30 am on Tuesday, March 18 and executive session on March 21.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1162 HERE before 9:30 am on Tuesday, March 18.
SB 5200 Concerning veterans' medical foster homes. This bill would include among the exemptions from regulations of adult family homes a medical foster home that is under the oversight and annually reviewed by the United States department of veterans affairs in which care is provided exclusively to three or fewer veterans. This bill passed the Senate on March 3 and was referred to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, where it is scheduled for public hearing at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5200 HERE before 12:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18.
SJM 8002 Memorial to the US Congress and President regarding Medicare. This Memorial would oppose proposed federal changes to the Medicare program which would further privatize the system, increasing the cost to both government and public. It has passed the Senate and was referred to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, where it has a public hearing at 8:00 am on Friday, March 21.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SJM 8002 HERE before 7:00 am on Friday, March 21.
SJM 8004 Memorial to the US Congress and President Concerning Universal Health Care. This Memorial describes a national universal health care program as the most efficient and cost-effective means of providing access to health care for everyone and how it could eliminate the economic, physical and mental health pain and suffering so many Americans are experiencing due to lack of timely access to health care and/or debt incurred. It calls for authority for the State of Washington, in the absence of a federal program, to create its own universal health care program. This bill passed the Senate on February 12 and was referred to the House Health Care & Wellness Committee, where it will have a public hearing at 8:00 am on Friday, March 21.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SJM 8004 HERE before 7:00 am on Friday, March 21.
HB 1971 Increasing access to prescription hormone therapy.This bill requires health plans that cover prescription hormone therapy to reimburse a 12-month refill of prescription hormone therapy at one time. This bill passed the House was referred to the Senate Health & Long-Term Care Committee, where it has a public hearing at 8:00 am on Friday, March 21.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1971 HERE before 7:00 am on Friday, March 21.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
HB 1217 Rent Stabilization. The long title 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.” This bill 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. 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.
SB 5313 Adding to the list of provisions prohibited from rental agreements. This bill would prohibit landlords requiring tenants to agree to a variety of legal actions, including class actions, nondisclosure agreements, arbitration disputes, and payment of nonessential services. This bill passed the Senate and was referred to the House Housing Committee, where it is scheduled for public hearing at 1:30 pm on Monday, March 17.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5313 HERE before 12:30 pm on Monday, March 17.
SB 5298 Relating to the notice of sale or lease of manufactured/mobile home communities. This bill would remove the requirement for an owner to provide a notice of sale for a manufactured or mobile home community (MHC), modify the requirements for a notice of opportunity to purchase when selling or leasing an MHC, require the owner to provide the Department of Commerce with an update on the status of the sale every six months of delivering the notice of opportunity to purchase. It would offer greater protection to owners of manufactured and mobile homes who rent the land under the residence. SB 5298 passed the Senate as a substitute on March 6 and was referred to the House Housing Committee, where it is scheduled for public hearing at 1:30 pm on Monday, March 17 and executive session on March 20. See the action item above.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5298 HERE before 12:30 pm on Monday, March 17.
HB 1696 Modifying the covenant homeownership program. This bill would modify the Covenant Homeownership Program by raising the area median income threshold for eligibility to 140 percent, authorizing full loan forgiveness once a loan has been in repayment for at least five years, and modifying one of the membership positions on the oversight committee. The Covenant Home Ownership Program was implemented several years ago to support home ownership by individuals who are low income and were disadvantaged by or a descendant of someone who was excluded from homeownership in Washington by a racially restrictive real estate covenant on or before April 1968. The bill passed the House on March 6 and was referred to the Senate Housing Committee, where it is scheduled for public hearing at 1:30 pm on Wednesday, March 19.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1696 HERE before 12:30 pm on Wednesday, March 19.
SB 5148 Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act. This bill would require cities and counties that plan under the Growth Management Act to submit their housing elements and housing development regulations to the Department of Commerce for review within certain timelines, in order for their housing elements and housing development regulations to take effect. It prohibits these cities and counties from denying an affordable or moderate-income housing development unless they have received a final determination of compliance from Commerce, or certain other conditions are met. This bill passed the Senate and was referred to the House Housing Committee, where it has a public hearing at 8:00 am on Thursday, March 20.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5148 HERE before 7:00 am on Thursday, March 20.
CHILDREN'S ISSUES
No action alerts this week.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
HB 1233 Maintaining a $1 Per Hour Minimum Wage for People in Prison. This bill originally required that people participating in Class II or Class III Correctional Industries work programs be paid at least $1 per hour. The substitute bill now simply makes participation in work programs voluntary, except where the court orders a defendant to perform community restitution.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1233 HERE before 12:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18
SB 5219 Expanding Graduated Reentry. This bill expands the graduated reentry program, including the community parenting alternative program, to 18 months. It also expands eligibility for the community parenting alternative program.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5219 HERE before 3:00 pm on Tuesday, March 18
HB 1815 Prevents Unfair Punishment of Youth for Prison “Riots.” Youth at the Green Hill facility have been unfairly charged with participation in prison “riots,” resulting in felony convictions and lengthy additions to their sentences. This bill limits application of the prison riot offense to adult facilities.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1815 HERE before 7:00 am on Wednesday, March 19
SB 5282 Reestablishing Advisory Board for Missing and Exploited Children Task Force. This bill reestablishes the advisory board for the task force focused on identifying, arresting, and convicting individuals who exploit children.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5282 HERE before 12:30 pm on Monday, March 17
HB 1131 Expanding Clemency and Pardons Board. This bill expands the Clemency and Pardons Board from five to ten members and specifies the backgrounds of the additional members.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for HB 1131 HERE before 12:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18
SB 5296 Modernizing Youth Sentencing. This bill requires the court to find, by clear and convincing evidence, that commitment to a juvenile rehabilitation facility is necessary, rather than community-based placement.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5296 HERE before 12:30 pm on Tuesday, March 18.
REVENUE
No action alerts this week.