Dear friends and neighbors,
Last Friday brought our second major cutoff of the session as all fiscal bills had to be voted out of their respective committees. With the exception of legislation considered necessary to implement the budget (either the 2011 supplemental budget or the 2011-13 biennial budget), it is unlikely that legislation that did not make it out of committee prior to this deadline will be passed this session.
Now that legislation has moved through the committee process, my colleagues and I will be spending most of our time for the next week on the House Floor approving bills and sending them to the Senate for the next step in the legislative process. You can keep track of what bills we are voting on each day by checking the House Floor Calendar.
“Evergreen Legacy” Bills pass House
Yesterday, we focused on a set of bills which help protect and enhance our state’s natural resources. Amongst the flurry of bills deemed part of the “Evergreen Legacy” package passed by the state House were three bills that I sponsored. The three measures modernize and streamline regulatory practices dealing with forestry lands and fisheries.
In an effort to streamline the permitting process for small forest landowners practicing forestry HB 1582, will help ultimately save money both for the landowners and for counties that process the permits. The measure provides small forest landowners the opportunity for a more streamlined permitting process making it easier for them to keep their lands in forestry and saves counties’ resources.
Also passed was HB 1254, providing new research opportunities to the Institute of Forest Resources at the University of Washington, through new collaborations and funding mechanisms. The Institute of Forest Resources will further research for new scientific information critical to a sustainable forest industry, healthy rural and urban communities and forests, and enhanced water and habitat protection. This bill will help maintain the UW’s role as a leader in smart forestry practices.
And for the anglers in Washington, HB 1698 brings needed changes to the Puget Sound Recreational Salmon and Marine Fish Enhancement Program to help improve recreational fishing opportunities. The program is accountable for generating millions in economic activity for Washington each year, but has focused solely on releasing hatchery-raised fish. This bill shifts the program’s focus, optimizing fishing opportunities through alternative methods and strategies of raising and releasing more species of salmon.
These bills now move to the Senate for further consideration before passing into law. I was honored to have strong bipartisan support on all of this legislation and look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to keep them moving through the process. I believe strongly that the environment is a trust we all share and am proud to be a steward of our natural resources by advancing this legislation.
Oil Spill Bill passes
Also part of our environmental focus yesterday, HB 1186, concerning our state’s oil spill program, passed through the House as well. This legislation incorporates lessons learned from last year’s BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico so that we can avoid a similar disaster from happening in Puget Sound. It modifies and strengthens the oil spill program and is key to protecting the health of the Puget Sound.
I received lots of feedback on this bill and want to encourage you to continue to contact me with your thoughts and opinions. It’s always helpful to hear from constituents regarding the issues that are important to them.
Washington is growing!
The 2010 census numbers are all in and Washington is officially the 13th-largest state in the nation now. According to the official count, there are 830,000 more people living in our state now than there were a decade ago. Because of that, we have earned an additional seat in the U.S. Congress.
Following every census, the Washington Redistricting Commission resets our legislative and congressional boundaries to keep population counts consistent between each district. That work is underway right now, and the Census just released its data from the 2010 count, along with this interactive map on the HDC Advance: Census Map – Where we’re growing
As always, it is an honor to serve the people of the 40th district and the state. Please continue to share your thoughts and questions with me—and don’t forget to stop by if you’re in Olympia!
Warm regards,
Kristine