Week of February 18, 2008

These are the archived Hot Lists for the week of February 18, 2008. Please check this week's Hot List for the most up-to-date information.

• Hot List for the State House

• Hot List for the State Senate

HOUSE

POSSIBLE HOUSE FLOOR ACTION

2SHB 2426: Creating a preference for high-efficiency lighting in state government.
POSITION: SUPPORT

• Requires state agencies to use solid-state lighting or fluorescent lighting where it is technically feasible and price competitive.

HB 2564: Adding bicyclist and pedestrian safety information to drivers' education curriculum.
POSITION: SUPPORT

• This bill would add pedestrian safety and bicycle safety to the basic minimum curriculum for driver training. This safety legislation is named for Matthew “Tatsuo” Nakata, a former legislative assistant, who was tragically struck and killed in a marked crosswalk in 2006.
• HB 2564 is one of the priority issues for Transportation Advocacy Day 2008, held on January 29th, presented by a coalition of eleven organizations promoting transportation solutions for healthier communities.

SHB 2647:  The children's safe products act.
POSITION:  SUPPORT; oppose all amendments except Rep. Darneille's

• Prohibits manufacture or sale in Washington of any children's products that contain excessive amounts lead, cadmium, and phthalates, including toys, jewelry, cosmetics, and car seats intended for use by children.
• Collects information on other toxic chemicals that are present in toys and other children's products, to determine whether further action is needed. Requires manufactures of children's products to disclose to consumers and governments toxic chemical content.

SHB 2797:  Addressing the impacts of climate change through the growth management act (a.k.a. Local Solutions to Global Warming; Rep. Geoff Simpson, Prime Sponsor).
POSITION: SUPPORT

• One of the four environmental community priorities for 2008, the substitute sets in motion the important first steps to help local governments reduce their climate impact.  The substitute adds a goal to the GMA of addressing climate change and provides local governments with the tools and support to manage growth in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the likely affects of climate change.
• Cities and counties representing nearly 70% of the state’s population have committed to reducing their climate impact - it’s time to help them succeed.  This bill ensures that local governments will have access to the tools needed to measure and reduce their climate impact before the next comprehensive plan cycle begins and to fund jurisdictions taking immediate action to address and adapt to climate change.  

HB 2815: Relating to creating a framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the Washington economy (a.k.a. Climate Action and Green Jobs; Rep. Hans Dunshee, Prime Sponsor).
POSITION: SUPPORT w/o weakening amendments

• One of the four environmental community priorities for 2008 and Governor request legislation.  Key elements of the bill are mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions; accountability for reaching the pollution reduction goals adopted by the Legislature last year; design of a multi-sector, market-based system for reducing pollution that will be brought back to the Legislature in 2009; and a program to prepare Washington workers for new jobs in the clean energy economy.
•  The bill has evolved to include study provisions for how to reduce transportation-related emissions and for market-based approaches in addition to cap-and-trade. The bill declares that the state will look out for Washington’s interests in designing the market-based system, and requires that the state recommend how forestry and agriculture may receive benefits for storing carbon.

2SHB 2844: Regarding Urban Forestry (a.k.a. Evergreen Cities Act; Rep. Ruth Kagi, Prime Sponsor).
POSITION: SUPPORT

• This environmental community priority bill is a compromise version that still significantly moves forward the bill’s original intent.
• This bill establishes a voluntary program with tools and resources necessary to help the 90% of Washington Communities that lack forest management plans. It creates “Evergreen Cities” recognition, model plans, urban forest inventory, funding, technical assistance, and incentives for cities to preserve, restore, and establish trees to maximize urban forests’ economic and environmental benefits.
  
  

SHB 2847: Creating a sales and use tax exemption of materials and services used in the low-income weatherization assistance program.
POSITION: SUPPORT

• Increases the potential use of weatherization services that decreases energy use and lowers energy bills by exempting property and services used in delivering the weatherization assistance program.

HB 2880: Excluding car-sharing activities from the rental car tax.
POSITION: SUPPORT

• Last summer, the Department of Revenue decided to start imposing the state and county car rental tax on car sharing entities like Flexcar and others. This additional tax –which was not anticipated in any state budgets–results in a 10% increase in costs to car sharing users, making it a notably more expansive choice to use per hour.
• This legislation, developed in consultation with Revenue, crafts a narrow exemption for true car-sharing organizations. Car sharing offers several sustainability benefits, including “reducing congestion and pollution and helping to achieve growth management objectives,” as also noted in to the Governor’s September 7, 2007 letter.

HB 3096: Financing the state route number 520 bridge replacement project.
POSITION: SUPPORT – but do not adopt Clibborn amendment 1144

• The state route 520 bridge is one of the most vulnerable structures in the state and in danger of failure during either a heavy windstorm or an earthquake. HB 3096 provides for strategies for financing the SR-520 bridge.
• We applaud many of the bill’s components, including potential early tolls, potential federal authorization of I 90 tolling, and a tolling implementation committee, which would seek public input on tolling and use of revenues, incentives for using transit or carpooling, and variable tolls in the corridor. The bill out of committee is a major improvement in leaving the design issues for other forums—design should remain out of this bill, and Amendment 1144 should not be incorporated on the floor.

SENATE

POSSIBLE SENATE FLOOR ACTION

SB 6307: Regarding Marine Managed Areas.
POSITION: SUPPORT

• Develops a coordinated plan for the state’s several state aquatic protection area programs, under the aegis of the Puget Sound Partnership.
• Calls for strategic network of marine managed areas to help achieve the Partnership’s goal to recover Puget Sound to health by 2020.

SSB 6580:  Addressing the impacts of climate change through the growth management act (a.k.a. Local Solutions to Global Warming; Sen. Chris Marr, Prime Sponsor).
POSITION: SUPPORT

• One of the four environmental community priorities for 2008, the substitute sets in motion the important first steps to help local governments reduce their climate impact.  The substitute adds a goal to the GMA of addressing climate change and provides local governments with the tools and support to manage growth in ways that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the likely affects of climate change.
• Cities and counties representing nearly 70% of the state’s population have committed to reducing their climate impact - it’s time to help them succeed.  This bill ensures that local governments will have access to the tools needed to measure and reduce their climate impact before the next comprehensive plan cycle begins and to fund jurisdictions taking immediate action to address and adapt to climate change.

SB 6822: Establishing goals to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
POSITION: SUPPORT

• This bill, based closely on one of the Climate Advisory Team’s “most promising” proposals, would set initial state goals to reduce per capita vehicle miles traveled (VMT). It would also convene a collaborative process to give growing regions the tools, strategies, and flexibility to plan for success.
• SB 6822 is one of the priority issues for Transportation Advocacy Day 2008, held on January 29th, presented by a coalition of eleven organizations promoting transportation solutions for healthier communities.