Winter has come
Happy Fantastic Friday everyone. I hope you are all warm and safe. This past week was hard on many residents in western Washington. Between harsh road conditions, downed power lines, and collapsing trees, I am happy to report that all legislators returned to work without serious injury.
Getting down to business
I introduced a new bill, HB 1996, last week to create a new license plate design for stewards of the San Juan Islands. These selfless individuals deserve to be recognized for their service to our communities and our environment.
My bill, HB 1849, will have its executive hearing next week. This bill is designed to remove the archaic requirement of platting state owned aquatic lands.
HB 1485 passed out of Executive Committee this week. This bill implements the use of religious coordinators in our Department of Corrections. This is to ensure that all inmates receive the opportunity to partake in their religion of choice with a leader of the same faith.
Notable meetings
This week I met with:
Officials from the City of Mount Vernon
- We discussed the building projects happening in Downtown Mount Vernon.
Washington State Parks
- We discussed projects to keep Washington state parks accessible to visitors.
Town of La Conner
- We discussed funding for the local regional library district with Mayor Hayes, Commissioner Wesen, and guests.
Port of Bellingham
- We discussed the capital budget project for a salmon hatchery study.
Town of Hamilton
- We discussed flood plains with Mayor Cromley.
Policy committee ‘cutoff’ in Olympia
With hundreds of bills introduced each session, it can be quite a challenge to make sure that everything keeps moving along. Cutoff dates are self-imposed deadlines that the legislature agrees to in order to funnel and narrow down the number of bills that can be considered at each stage of the legislative session.
The first cutoff deadline is quickly approaching. Policy committee cutoff is next Friday, February 22. If a bill does not pass out of a policy committee by the cutoff date, it is dead for this session. The only exception to these cutoff dates are bills that are necessary to implement the budget.
These cutoffs are essential for the effective operation of the Legislature but it makes for a high paced, sometimes tense period for legislators, lobbyists, and the citizens we represent who closely watch if their bills pass or die.
If the bill passes the first cutoff date, then it continues in the process.
Many bills are introduced during the session, but remember not all bills will become law.
House Democrats introduce bold Green Transportation legislation
How will Washington state lead the way when it comes to new technology and ideas for a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system? One possible answer to that question is through House Bill 2042.
The bill includes major reforms to move away from the costs and pollution of fossil fuels and toward cleaner technology, including:
- Making electric vehicles more affordable and accessible for everyone;
- Increasing the network of electric car chargers across the state;
- Helping transit agencies transition to electric buses;
- Solving the last-mile problem in mass transit, to get you from a ferry terminal, bus stop or train station to your final destination; and
- Enhancing efforts to get cars off the road through increased carpooling, vanpooling, telecommuting, walking, biking, or taking mass transit instead of driving alone to work every day.
This legislation works hand-in-glove with clean fuel and electricity reforms moving through the House Environment & Energy Committee.
The goal of all these related reforms is to keep Washington state a world leader on new ideas in clean technology, and to leave our children with a cleaner, more sustainable transportation system.
Thank you all for taking to the time to read this week’s Fantastic Friday and for taking an interest in our progress at the House of Representatives. I will be sending out a Fantastic Friday letter every Friday throughout the legislative session. Please feel free to reach out to me using the information below, with any questions, inquiries, or concerns you may have. I am here for you!
Sincerely,
Debra Lekanoff