LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF WASHINGTON: Legislative Newsletter (Jan. 30, 2022)
Editor’s Note: The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Washington sent this legislative newsletter on Jan. 30, 2022. Our mission at the Voter Interests Project is to monitor elected officials and ballot measures; we generally do not report on the activities of non-profit organizations. However, the LWV Whidbey Island chapter conducts candidate forums during most election cycles, and are therefore of particular interest to voters. The LWV of Washington’s website states, “The League is a Nonpartisan Source You Can Trust”; however, the LWV does take positions on public policy. Our observation is that their policy positions inform their management of voter forums. Therefore, we believe it to be of interest to our readers to know the positions for which the LWV advocates.
Action Alerts
Click on the links below to learn more about bills currently being reviewed in the state legislature. You can “take action” on these most pressing bills by sending a suggested, editable email to legislators, encouraging them to vote to promote the League issue in question.
Ask the Senate Law & Justice Committee to pass the KOCA (Keep Our Care Act) out of committee
The Keep Our Care Act, SB 5688 and HB 1809, would ensure that mergers of health care provider organizations would sustain affordable health care and necessary services. To date, many mergers of hospitals and medical practices have resulted in elimination of essential health care services such as reproductive health care, end of life care and more, and have resulted in higher costs of care. This act would establish certain procedures that would protect health care consumers access to affordable care. Help save our necessary care by supporting the Keep Our Care Act.
Action This Week on Climate Change and Better Use of Our Resources
Make a big impact for the climate and environment this week. Four bills are scheduled for a vote in on February 1 in the House Environment and Energy Committee. They all make progress on fighting climate change and diverting waste toward a more productive end. Read more:
HB 1682 Concerning a compliance pathway specific to emissions-intensive, trade-exposed businesses for achieving their proportionate share of the state’s emissions reduction limits.
HB 1799 Concerning organic materials management.
HB 1814 Expanding equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects.
HB 1896 Providing for responsible environmental management of batteries.
► Please ask your Representative to vote for the above bills
Visit the Current Actions page to learn how to support all actions.
MOVING TOWARD CUTOFF THIS WEEK – BILLS ARE DROPPING LIKE FLIES!
Last week was the third full week of the 2022 legislative session (the session began Jan 10, and concludes on March 10). Many bills will not proceed, and the approaching cut-off deadlines will likely trim the list even further. The first cutoff is Thursday, Feb 3 requiring bills to be voted out of their policy committee in order to move forward. Bills with a fiscal impact get an extra four days. If a committee Chair brings a bill for a vote (i.e. executive session), it usually means they have the votes to pass.
We have a constitutional amendment moving through the legislature. Read more about it in the Forests issue Weekly Report.
Your help on bills as noted by each issue chair continues to be very helpful. Please read about the issues below that you are interested in and sign in to support the League’s work where you can.
LWVWA Legislative Issues From the 2022 Washington State Legislative Session
Click on an issue to learn more about session results on bills the League supported and “This Week’s Updates” to read the issue chair’s report on this past week.
Democracy
Elections | This week’s updates
Money in Politics | This week’s updates
Education | This week’s updates
Redistricting | This week’s updates
Natural Resources and Climate Change
Climate and Energy | This week’s updates
Growth Management | This week’s updates
Transportation | This week’s updates
Social and Economic Policy
Housing and Homelessness | This week’s updates
Health and Behavioral Health | This week’s updates
Calendar
- No events this week.
Other Ways to Follow the State Legislature
- Washington State Legislature website, leg.wa.gov.
- Washington State’s public affairs TV network, TVW.org.
