LEGISLATURE 2023-24: Legislative Update: Our Budget Requests & Protection of Our Environment (CLYDE SHAVERS)
State Representative Clyde Shavers (D-Oak Harbor) posted this on his legislative website on Thu., Feb. 29, 2024, and mailed it to constituents on Fri., Mar. 1, 2024.
Dear Friends and Family,
With a week left in the legislative session, we’re heading into early morning—late night voting on the House floor. Here’s a wrap-up of the past two legislative sessions:
As of this writing, a total of 2,013 bills have been introduced by House members. Of those bills, 315 bills ended up passing the Senate—in other words, 15.6 percent of total introduced bills.
Our office introduced a total of 26 bills—five bills were signed into law last year; and so far, three bills are moving in the Senate this year. That means (hopefully) we will end with eight bills signed into law—in other words, 30.76 percent of our total introduced bills.
Our office also cosponsored a total of 94 bills—with some still working their way through the Senate. I also introduced a resolution that acknowledged the 82nd anniversary of Executive Order 9066 during the Day of Remembrance.
Finally, we hosted six town halls across our district (with one more scheduled in March) during the legislative sessions.
That’s a lot of numbers—and a lot of work in 165 days!
Budget Update
As a member of the Capital Budget committee, I am proud of the substantial investments we’ve included in our proposed House operating, capital, and transportation budgets. The following are budget requests that will help our community grow and prosper:
Capital Budget:
- $77,000 for Camano Lutheran Childcare Center
- $200,000 for Indoor Sports Complex Feasibility Study to expand recreational / sports opportunities in Oak Harbor
- $93,000 for bed expansion design at the Ituha Stabilization Facility in Oak Harbor
Operating Budget:
- $250,000 for Drinking Water Infrastructure Assessment to ensure Island County has safe and reliable drinking water sources
- $198,000 for Village Community Services’ Arlington Housing Trust for housing for the developmentally disabled community
- $224,000 for Bearwise Bear Risk Assessments to reduce human-bear conflict
- $100,000 for WSBCTC Unemployment Insurance Materials
I look forward to helping finalize these important investments in our final state budget.
An Update on Bills Important to Our Farming Communities
As our communities face harsher climate effects including droughts, heatwaves, and floods, it is important for all of us to work together towards ensuring a healthier environment. That’s why we are dedicated to pursuing two approaches in environmental protection.
First, I am committed to investing in clean energy technologies that create good-paying jobs, lowers energy bills, and supports a path toward energy independence.
House Bill 1924—which supports fusion technology—passed the Senate and will be signed into law. By incorporating this technology into our state’s clean energy policies, we can more easily meet our energy needs.
Fusion is among the most environmentally friendly source of energy with zero carbon emissions without creating any long-lived radioactive nuclear waste. By clashing atoms together, fusion can release a million times more energy than burning fossil fuels. In essence, with fusion, we are creating stars on Earth – and a cleaner, better future.
House Bill 1768—which incentivizes the use of green hydrogen—passed the House and awaits a floor vote in the Senate. By providing a public utilities tax exemption to light/power businesses using green hydrogen, this bill fosters private-public partnership and innovation that spurs local economic development.
Through a chemical process known as electrolysis, we can use electrical currents to separate hydrogen from oxygen in water. Green hydrogen is a clean energy source that only emits water vapor—and using our existing infrastructure, it is 100 percent sustainable, storable, and a viable form of energy.
Second, I am committed to ensuring our farming community is meaningfully involved in environmental protection.
House Bill 1936—which provides a tax credit for farmers in a conservation program—unfortunately did not move out of the House. This tax credit can go towards new equipment, seed, feed, and other expenditures. This helps farmers keep natural resources and farmland healthy for all—while also ensuring farms prosper with a tax credit. This is a win-win for everyone.
Our legislative district is beautiful. We have a lot to be proud of—and a lot to protect.
Honored to Serve You
Thank you for the opportunity to continue my life-long dedication to public service. As a veteran having attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduated from Naval Nuclear Power School, trained at a naval nuclear reactor plant, and served in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as a public affairs officer, I am honored to serve you here in the Washington State Legislature.
Always at Your Service,
Rep. Clyde Shavers
