Climate Action This Week: Low Carbon Fuel Standard; Closing a Loophole in the GMA; Farm Workers; Community Oversight; Law Enforcement Data; Clean Cars 2030; Working Families Tax Credit; Regulating ADUs Outside Urban Growth Areas; Increasing Housing Inventory, Protecting Residential Tenants

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* 1. Low Carbon Fuel Standard for Transportation: HB 1091

This bill would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel. Transportation fuels are responsible for the majority of Washington's greenhouse gas emissions. Air pollution from transportation sources disproportionately impacts people of color and lower-income populations. Successful Clean Fuels Programs have been implemented in California and Oregon. Washington should join them!

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Wednesday, March 10, 8:00 AM.

Please sign in here to support HB 1091 Low Carbon Fuel Standard for Transportation and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* 2. Senate bills that need a floor vote.

Two important Senate bills need to be moved to the floor and voted on before 5pm on Tuesday, March 9. The Vesting Date of the Growth Management Act closes a loophole to prevent developers avoiding its provisions. The Farmworker Overtime Act would remove the unfair agricultural exemption from our overtime law so farm workers would finally receive overtime pay.

Please call or email the following members of the Senate Rules Committee and ask that the following bills receive a floor vote.

Click here to send an email to all three members of the committee.

If the above link did not work, please address your emails to:

Vice Chair, Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33) – (360) 786-7664 – Karen.Keiser@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Andy Billig (D-03) – (360) 786-7604 – Andy.Billig@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Marko Liias (D-21) – (360) 786-7640 – Marko.Liias@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill number. And be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!

Script: “Hello, I’m contacting Sen. [Name] because of his/her role on the Rules Committee and I have two bills that I would like to see receive a floor vote. May I give you the bill numbers?"
  • SB 5042 Growth Management Act Vesting 
  • SB 5172 Farm worker overtime

  Vice Chair, Sen. Karen Keiser (D-33) Sen. Andy Billig (D-03) Sen. Marko Liias (D-21)
I called
I emailed

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* 3. House bills that need a floor vote

And four House bills that we’ve been supporting need to be moved to the floor and voted on before 5pm on Tuesday, March 9. These are strong bills that address police accountability, the climate crisis and progressive taxation.

Please call or email the following members of the House Rules Committee and ask that the following bills receive a floor vote.

Click here to send an email to all four members of the committee.

If the above link did not work, please address your emails to:

Rep. Lauren Davis (D-32) – (206) 673-3501 – Lauren.Davis@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-33) – (253) 981-6278 – Mia.Gregerson@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Alex Ramel (D-40) – (360) 786-7970 – Alex.Ramel@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Tarra Simmons (D-23) – (360) 930-8127 – Tarra.Simmons@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill number. And be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!

Script: “Hello, I’m contacting Rep. [Name] because of his/her role on the Rules Committee and I have four bills that I would like to see receive a floor vote. May I give you the bill numbers?"

  Rep. Lauren Davis (D-32) Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-33) Rep. Alex Ramel (D-40) Rep. Tarra Simmons (D-23)
I called
I emailed

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* 4. Concerning regulation of accessory dwelling units located outside of urban growth areas - HB 1298

This one we're opposing!

This bill would undermine the rural element of the Growth Management Act by allowing for the development of detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) outside of designated Urban Growth Boundaries, which would potentially increase greenhouse gas emissions, put a strain on rural infrastructure and have other harmful consequences.

Please click here to comment on this bill and ask your representatives to vote NO. When you “verify” your district, you can select which of your elected leaders to communicate to. For this house bill, select your two Representatives.

“Position” - please select “Oppose”. The first sentence of the written comment should be: I strongly oppose HB 1298 and urge you to vote No.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own: 
  • This bill would increase, potentially double, density in rural communities, putting severe strain on rural infrastructure and services that aren't equipped for intensified development.
  • The increased population would result in up to a doubling of water consumption that would threaten instream flows and salmon survival.
  • The greater density would inevitably result in increased travel, significantly undermining our efforts to curb climate change through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled.

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* 5. Increasing housing inventory by removing arbitrary limits on housing options - SB 5235

This bill addresses the lack of affordable and diverse housing in our state by prohibiting cities and counties from imposing laws that put an arbitrary limit on the number of people allowed to share a home if they are not legally related. It would also (with a limited exception) prohibit cities and counties from requiring the property owner to live on site if the property has an accessory dwelling unit.

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government on Wednesday, March 10, 10:00 AM.

Follow this link to provide a written comment on Increasing housing inventory, SB 5235 via the legislative website.

“Position” - please select “Pro”. The first sentence of the written comment should be: I strongly support SB 5235 and urge you to vote yes.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • Washington has a homelessness crisis. This bill presents common-sense solutions at no cost to the state.
  • Low-income individuals benefit from shared housing living situations.
  • Washington has a history of housing discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity.  Redlining policies preventing housing access to African Americans and exclusionary covenants impacting Asian-Americans have had lasting effects on homeownership rates for communities of color. This bill is one of several bills to root out systemic oppression in Washington.  
  • ADUs create more housing for multi-generational families. This bill will remove owner-occupancy requirements.

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* 6. Protecting residential tenants by penalizing unlawful lease provisions and limiting the reasons for eviction, non-renewal, and termination - HB 1236

This bill delineates the reasons for just-cause eviction as well as for military personnel getting out of a lease, and provides for adequate periods of notice for eviction for such things as renovation or sale of rental properties. It also specifies penalties for landlords knowingly including illegal provisions in rental agreements and for taking the personal property of tenants.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing & Local Government on Thursday, March 11, 8:00 AM.

Please sign in here to support HB 1236 Protecting Residential Tenants and select “Pro” in the position button.

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* Thanks for taking action with us! Do you plan on attending a Town Hall? If so, please tell us which district!

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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