Week of February 4, 2008

These are the archived Hot Lists for the week of February 4, 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

House Committee Action

• 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 was 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.

• 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.
• Full funding is critical to ensure 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.  

• By revising low-cost bidding restrictions, creating a Farm to School Program, and promoting local purchasing, this environmental community priority will help improve kids' nutrition and will increase the number of dollars spent in Washington for Washington farm products.
• This bill enjoys huge public support and is backed by a coalition that includes the farm bureau, schools, public health advocates, individual farmers and parents across the state.

• One of the four environmental community priorities for 2008, now Governor request legislation as well. This bill creates a structure and timeline for implementing the state’s global warming pollution reduction goals, and creates a program to prepare Washington workers for new jobs in the clean energy economy. The bill ensures the state delivers on the goals the Legislature adopted last year, by providing concrete accountability for results.
• The bill helps helps position Washington’s industries at the forefront of developing the clean energy economy by signaling that there will be markets for clean energy and a workforce trained to deliver those products and services.

• Trees, forests and vegetation in the places we live are one of the most cost effective ways to reduce stormwater runoff, water and air pollution.  This can save the state and our cities millions of dollars in engineered stormwater management systems and make our cities great places to live, work, shop and play.
• Creates new urban forest program with model plans and ordinances, inventory, funding and increased technical assistance for cities and counties to preserve existing trees, restore urban forests on public lands and expand forest canopy in our cities, towns and suburbs.

• This bill will increase consumer and business demand for energy-efficient appliances and equipment to conserve energy and water, reduce power bills and meet our state-of-the-art energy efficient appliances and equipment.  The tax exemption sunsets after two years.   
• This bill passed unanimously out of the House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee. Support includes utilities, businesses, environmental and local governments support.  

• Performance contracting is a proven strategy for gaining the greatest energy efficiency savings in state buildings, schools, libraries, fire stations, public hospitals and other public facilities … projects that more than pay for themselves through reduced utility costs. The net benefit to taxpayers is lower operating costs for public buildings through reduced utility costs.  
• Provides a sales tax exemption for state and local governments that contract for performance-based energy efficiency improvements in public buildings resulting in increased energy efficiency, reduced energy costs in public buildings and reduced climate pollution.  

Executive Session

• The Forest Practices Board is a delicately balanced body that sets the state’s policies for forest management on state and private lands.  Their charge is to maintain a healthy environment and a viable timber economy.  Labor should have a voice on the board.
• This bill would add a 13th seat, affecting the board dynamics.  Therefore, the bill should be amended to grant labor one of the existing 12 seats.

• We support the intent of this bill, which seeks to prevent the "de-watering" of communities in Northeastern Washington who are pressured to sell of their water rights to downstream users. However, as written, the bill could also impede water transfers designed to get water back in the rivers and restore in stream flows.  
• This issue needs to be worked over the interim, and there is $150,000 in the Governor's budget to investigate and recommend appropriate ways to tackle this important issue.

• Extends existing sales and use tax exemptions for renewable energy development to include biomass and extends the deadline to 2014.

SENATE

Senate Committee Action

• This bill prohibits disposal of hazardous waste at contaminated sites listed on the National Priority (“Superfund” list) list until the site is in compliance with state and federal environmental laws.
• The proposed substitute bill implements the key provision of the most-popular ballot initiative in Washington history (I-297 with 1.8 million “yes” votes) within the guidance from the federal courts, and is agreed-to by the Governor’s office and the Department of Ecology.

• 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.
• SB 6420 was 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.

• Creates new urban forest program with standards, funding and increased technical assistance for cities and counties to preserve existing trees, restore urban forests on public lands and expand forest canopy in our cities, towns and suburbs.
• Trees, forests and vegetation in the places we live are one of the most cost effective ways to reduce stormwater runoff, water and air pollution and make our cities great places to live, work, shop and play.

• By revising low-cost bidding restrictions, creating a Farm to School Program, and promoting local purchasing, this environmental community priority will help improve kids' nutrition and will increase the number of dollars spent in Washington for Washington farm products.
• This bill enjoys huge public support and is backed by a coalition that includes the farm bureau, schools, public health advocates, individual farmers and parents across the state.

• One of the four environmental community priorities for 2008, now Governor request legislation as well. This bill creates a structure and timeline for implementing the state’s global warming pollution reduction goals, and creates a program to prepare Washington workers for new jobs in the clean energy economy. The bill ensures the state delivers on the goals the Legislature adopted last year, by providing concrete accountability for results.
• The bill helps position Washington’s industries at the forefront of developing the clean energy economy by signaling that there will be markets for clean energy and a workforce trained to deliver those products and services.

• 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.

• This bill will increase traffic and congestion by allowing irresponsible development to occur despite the inability to handle additional capacity.
• While it’s important to focus additional growth in our urban areas, it’s critical to ensure that infrastructure is capable of meeting the needs of higher densities. 

• 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. By focusing on developing the necessary tools and incorporating climate change into land use plans, this bill supports immediate action while laying the ground work for the 2011 comprehensive plan update cycle.
• 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.

• The State Legislature is the Trustee of State owned trust lands and has a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that interests to these lands are managed with undivided loyalty to the State Trust.
•  A legal question exists as to State ownership of sand and gravel on Maury Island. This bill requires that, until a judgment is entered by a Washington appellate court that determines title, DNR shall not authorize any portion of the state-owned aquatic lands for transportation of materials from the mining operations. Expires January 1, 2011.

• 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 was 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.