Week of January 21, 2008

This is the archived Hot Lists for the week of January 21, 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

n

• HB 1773 would set statewide direction for tolling policy. The Clibborn striker (H2925.2) represents a significant improvement over the version considered in committee.
• Amendments should be incorporated to add “management” to the set of tolling purposes, to consider relevant social equity, environmental, and economic issues, and to be consistent with the state’s adopted greenhouse gas reduction goals. OPPOSE the Ericksen amendment, however, which will set the bill back.

• Potentially undermines habitat and fish protection efforts by adding an unnecessary exception to permit requirements for flood mitigation and repair during a State of Emergency.
• Existing law already contains adequate provisions for emergency situations and flexibility in case of “imminent danger.”  This bill will create confusion and could lead to abuse.

• Prohibits manufacture or sale in Washington of any children's products that contain excessive, dangerous amounts of the toxins 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.

• Allows counties, flood control districts, and diking districts to remove and deposit gravel “in any manner deemed expedient” without agency oversight or enforcement so long as the gravel removal is beneficial for flood control or flood impact reduction.
• Would hinder the state’s salmon recovery efforts, open the door for significant ESA conflicts on rivers with listed species and and strip environmental compliance and enforcement authority from state agencies.  

; Rep. Geoff Simpson, Prime Sponsor)

• One of the four environmental community priorities for 2008, this bill adds a goal to the GMA of addressing climate change and provides local governments with the necessary tools and support to manage growth in ways that reduce climate emissions and adapts to the likely affects of climate change.
• Promising negotiations are underway with stakeholders on a substitute bill that ensures cities and counties will be able to inventory, measure and mitigate climate emissions in time for the next comprehensive planning cycle in 2011.

• This bill will expand markets for Washington farmers and increase children's access to nutritious, locally-grown fruits and vegetables.
• By easing up on low-cost bidding restrictions, creating a Farm to School Program, and establishing new policies to get Washington-grown food to those who need it most, this environmental community priority will help support farmers, preserve farmland, and improve the health of Washington's kids.

• 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.
• ast year, the Legislature adopted goals to reduce the state’s global warming pollution, increase clean energy jobs, and reduce fossil fuel dependence.  This bill ensures that the state delivers on those goals by providing concrete accountability for results.

• 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.

• Energy efficiency is the cleanest, cheapest and most abundant source of energy available.  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.
• Bill has support from the food industry and utilities.  

• This bill will reduce the amount of unwanted household medicines flushed down the drain into our waterways.  It will also decrease chances of accidental poisonings and illegitimate use from unwanted medicines stored in our homes.
• Drug companies will provide a medicine collection and disposal program that is convenient, safe and free for all Washington residents.  

SENATE

Senate Committee Action

Public Hearing

• Eliminates critical water resource protections in the guise of fire prevention by allowing unlimited groundwater withdrawals for “the application of water to trees or other vegetation in order to prevent or address hazardous fire conditions.”
• This bill lacks safeguards to prevent abuse, and would allow users to suck up to 5,000 gallons of water per day during the dry summer months when aquifers levels are most at risk.  

Public Hearing

• 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.

• SB 6355 would set statewide direction for tolling policy. The definition of toll facility needs to be clarified to represent a broader definition that includes the transportation corridor, and ideally, the larger system.
• The 10% cap on spending of toll revenues for transit and choices must be removed so that the legislature can make specific spending decisions on a case-by-case basis. Amendments should also add “management” to the set of tolling purposes and add consistency with the state’s adopted greenhouse gas reduction goals.

POSITION: SUPPORT

• This bill requires all vessels to maintain at least 300 feet from orca whales.
•  Allows for enforcement of key element of whale recovery plan.

• 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.

• This bill will expand markets for Washington farmers and increase children's access to nutritious, locally-grown fruits and vegetables.
• By easing up on low-cost bidding restrictions, creating a Farm to School Program, and establishing new policies to get Washington-grown food to those who need it most, this environmental community priority will help support farmers, preserve farmland, and improve the health of Washington's kids.

• 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.
• Last year, the Legislature adopted goals to reduce the state’s global warming pollution, increase clean energy jobs, and reduce fossil fuel dependence.  This bill ensures that the state delivers on those goals by providing concrete accountability for results.

• One of the four environmental community priorities for 2008, this bill adds a goal to the GMA of addressing climate change and provides local governments with the necessary tools and support to manage growth in ways that reduce climate emissions and adapts to the likely affects of climate change.
• Promising negotiations are underway with stakeholders on a substitute bill that ensures cities and counties will be able to inventory, measure and mitigate climate emissions in time for the next comprehensive planning cycle in 2011.

• Requires the department of ecology to better monitor groundwater levels in order to better determine existing resources and trends.
• Groundwater monitoring provides critical information necessary to balance competing water resource needs and shape long term policies to address the affects of climate change on our water resources.