Bring in the robots!
This week my bill HB 1325 had its first hearing! I created HB 1325 to regulate and encourage the use of Personal Delivery Devices (PDDs) on our sidewalks. These devices essentially look like coolers on wheels and produce a fraction of the pollution that comes from full sized vehicles. These PDDs make deliveries within the final mile of their destination to prevent the unnecessary use of full sized vehicles on the roads. Many feel that these devices will help mitigate the damaging effects of climate change and assist in lowering traffic congestion in urban areas.
To see these PDDs in action, you can watch our video here.
Support for our law enforcement
Another one of my bills had a hearing as well this week. HB 1253 reduces the wait time for new police recruits to begin their training from 6 months to 2 months. This legislation has been well received by the law enforcement community as a whole. Steve Strachan, the executive director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs noted this week, “Washington’s law enforcement agencies have struggled, for more than a decade, with excessive wait times getting a recruit into the academy.” This reduction in wait time will greatly help law enforcement agencies improve their efficiency in personnel turnover. For more information visit here.
Climate bills are moving through the House
The science is clear: climate change poses significant risks to our economy, our health, and our quality of life. The most recent National Climate Assessment, a federal report prepared by hundreds of scientists, details the disruptive impacts anticipated in the United States and the Pacific Northwest if we don’t take action now to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Several bills that would help move our state toward a cleaner future are making their way through the House. Here’s where they currently stand:
Clean Fuel Standard (HB 1110): Addresses our state’s biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions – the transportation sector. Transportation represents 45 percent of our emissions. A clean fuel standard would improve local air quality and provide economic benefits to Washington communities by increasing demand for biofuels produced here. The bill advanced out of the Environment & Energy committee last week and is now before the Transportation committee.
Phasing out super pollutants (HB 1112): Hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, are primarily used in commercial and industrial refrigerants. They are known as “super pollutants” because they can be thousands of times more damaging to our climate that carbon dioxide. This bill phases out HFCs in our state and transitions to alternatives. It was voted out of the Environment & Energy committee last week and is now in the Appropriations committee.
Abiding by the Paris Climate Agreement (HB 1113): The Paris climate agreement was an unprecedented collaboration between almost every nation in the world to address the global threat of climate change. In 2017, the Trump Administration withdrew the United States from the agreement. This bill simply aligns Washington’s greenhouse gas emissions limits with those established by the US’s commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement. It had public hearings on January 15 and 17, and is scheduled for possible executive session in the Environment & Energy committee this week.
100% Clean Electricity (HB 1211): This bill will help transition our state to a clean energy future by removing carbon emissions from the generation of electricity. It requires utilities to gradually transition away from fossil fuel-generated electricity, setting a preliminary “coal elimination” deadline of 2025, and a final “clean grid” deadline of 2045. The bill had a public hearing in the Environment & Energy committee on January 22, and is scheduled for possible executive session next week.
Increasing Energy Efficiency (HB 1257): The fastest-growing source of emissions in Washington is emissions from buildings. By retrofitting old buildings and updating standards for new ones, we can cut carbon emissions quickly and economically, while creating good-paying jobs. A bill to help move us towards this goal had a public hearing this week in the Environment & Energy committee and is scheduled for possible executive session next week.
Measles
Last week, Governor Inslee declared a state of emergency in response to the measles outbreak in Clark County. There has been one confirmed case in King County and measles could easily spread. If you have questions, local public health districts are a great resource and source of information for keeping ourselves healthy.
For most people, getting immunized against measles is a safe and effective way to prevent the spread of the disease. However, children under the age of one and people with certain medical conditions cannot get the vaccine.
Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself and those who cannot get immunized.
With the current outbreak, kids in Clark County who aren’t immunized are unable to attend school and parents with infants are scared to take their babies out of the house. To try and reduce outbreaks in the future, I am supporting legislation to remove the personal or philosophical exemption from the measles vaccination for school attendance. Exemptions would still exist for medical and religious reasons.
Thank You
Thank you all for taking to the time to read this week’s newsletter and for taking an interest in our progress in the House of Representatives. If you have any questions, inquiries, or concerns please feel free to contact me with the info below.
Sincerely,
Shelley Kloba
Representative, 1st Legislative District
Washington State Legislature