Providing for the future of clean energy, fighting human trafficking, and protecting women and minorities were the top priorities for the House on Wednesday.
Building a sustainable future
House Bill 2708 – The House voted 97-1 to open the door for the future of alternative energy with a bill sponsored by Rep. Gael Tarleton (D-Seattle).
In 2002 the Legislature created a list of qualified green energy resources that electric utility companies must offer their customers as an alternative to traditional energy. When the law was written, legislators used the best data and technology to create the list, but the definitions of energy resources has become outdated.
HB 2708 will add liquid organic fuels—notably fuel extracted from woody pulp—to the list of approved sources. The idea of extracting fuel from pulp came to Tarleton from Seattle Steam.
“I am so honored to have people working around our state trying to help us figure out the path forward,” Tarleton said.
HB 2183 – This bill will require the joint committee on energy supply and energy conservation to make recommendations on ways to improve the effectiveness of environmental and energy policies.
Sponsored by Rep. Jeff Morris (D-Mount Vernon), HB 2183 will give utility companies more certainty so they’re able to plan for the future and provide energy resources at the lowest costs.
Putting an end to human trafficking
The House passed two bills to fight human trafficking and strengthen the punishments for traffickers.
HB 1791 – This bill, sponsored by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland), will amend the state law on trafficking a minor to make the act a sexual offense. This would mean that traffickers would have to register as sex offenders when convicted.
“This is another important step in our battle to end human and sex trafficking,” Goodman said.
HB 1791 passed 97-0-1.
HB 2644 – Sponsored by Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-Shoreline), this bill will broaden protections for victims of human trafficking by including the coercion into involuntary servitude as a definition of human trafficking.
“One of the most subtle ways traffickers coerce victims into servitude is by keeping their papers, identification cards and passports as collateral,” Ryu said.
In the United States, 70 percent of trafficking involves labor. This bill, which passed 93-4-1, would define individuals who withhold identification or immigration documents or threaten to notify immigration enforcement as human traffickers.
Protecting the rights of women, minorities, and domestic violence victims
The House is dedicated to creating, strengthening, and safeguarding laws that protect those with the disadvantages.
HB 1674 – The Office of Minority and Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE) is responsible for administering a federal program designed to level the playing field for disadvantaged businesses. Unfortunately, some companies are abusing the program.
Rep. Sharon Tomiko Santos (D-Seattle) is looking to end that abuse with House Bill 1674. The bill give the OMWBE the authority to investigate fraud and catch companies that exploit the system meant to protect women and minorities.
“There are some who would abuse the system and manipulate it for their own advantage, hurting others,” Santos said. “This bill will ensure a fair playing field for all the honest contractors who live in your community and my community.”
The bill, which passed 73–25, will be sent to the Senate for consideration.
HB 1840 – Sponsored by Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland), this bill will protect victims of domestic violence by creating a due process of law for the removal of firearms from the possession of their abuser.
“Every day, today, three women will lose their lives at the hand of their intimate partners,” Goodman said. At least two of those three homicides were perpetrated with a firearm.
This bill, which passed 97-0-1, would establish a due process of law so firearms could be temporarily revoked from an abuser who has a protection order against them and the court found them to be a credible threat. If an abuser meets both of these criteria and refuses to turn in a firearm, they could be subject to unlawful possession of the second degree.