Climate Action This Week: Electricity and Heating; Concerning the management of Plastic Packaging materials; Use of Force by Officers; and Peace Officer’s Duty to Intervene.

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* 1. Maintaining residential electricity and heating service for low-income households and households with people with disabilities (Electricity and Heating) - HB 1490

This bill establishes a year-round energy service shutoff moratorium for low-income households or households with people with disabilities. It also closes a gap in the existing winter moratorium. 

We urge you to sign in now as “Pro” for the hearing.  

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Environment and Energy on Thursday, February 11, 1:30 PM.

Please sign in here by 12:30 on Thursday to support HB 1490, Electricity and Heating and select “Pro” in the position button.

P.S. When you fill out the form, please leave the “organization” field blank, unless you have a paid position with an organization.

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* HB 1490 also needs to be voted out of committee before the cut-off on Monday February 15.

Please also call or email the following members of the House Committee on Environment and Energy and ask them to hold an executive session and vote yes on HB 1490 before the cut-off. 

Click here to send an email to the Chair and Vice Chair of the committee.

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

Chair Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) – (360) 786-7952 – Joe.Fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov 
Vice Chair Rep. Davina Duerr (D-01) – (360) 786-7928 – Davina.Duerr@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: I’m writing to ask Rep. [Name] to ensure HB 1490 gets an executive session and is voted out of committee before the cut-off on February 15.

Then choose from the points below or feel free to write your own.
  • It is clear: keeping people connected to energy saves lives. Now we have a state legislative opportunity with HB 1490 Electricity and Heating to keep low-income households and households with people with disabilities connected to energy.
  • A recent study by the National Bureau of Economic Research showed that the coronavirus infection rates last year were 4.4% lower in communities that banned electricity and water service disconnections during the pandemic. 
  • The same study showed that death rates from the disease were 7.4% lower in those communities.

  Chair Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-34) Vice Chair Rep. Davina Duerr (D-01)
I called
I emailed

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* 2. Concerning the Management of Plastic Packaging Materials - HB 1488

This problematic bill regulates the use of plastic but is deeply flawed and would actually be a step backwards. It contains many exceptions and it would work against a stronger bill, SB 5022, Product Stewardship, that is currently moving in the Senate. 

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Environment and Energy on Thursday, February 11, 1:30 PM.

Please sign in here by 12:30 PM on Thursday to oppose HB 1488, Concerning the Management of Plastic Packaging Materials and select “Con” in the position button.

P.S. When you fill out the form, please leave the “organization” field blank, unless you have a paid position with an organization.

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* 3. Use of Force by Officers - HB 1310

This bill establishes a standard for use of physical force by peace officers. It would require officers to exhaust de-escalation tactics before using any physical force, and then physical force must be the minimum necessary. Deadly force can only be used as a last resort where it is necessary and there are no alternatives. The bill also reduces the criminal liability protections for homicide or use of deadly force by peace officers.

Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Public Safety on Thursday, February 11, 1:30 PM.

Please call or email the following members of the Committee and ask them to vote yes on HB 1310.

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

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

Chair Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45) – (360) 786-7878 – Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Tina Orwall (D-33) – (253) 656-5265 – Tina.Orwall@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: I’m writing to ask Rep. [Name] to vote YES in support of HB 1310.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • This bill will make a clear statewide standard that all Washington law enforcement officers are expected to use their de-escalation training, without resorting to use of force unless circumstances require it.
  • 21CP Solutions, which is consulting with the City of Tacoma regarding policing, has made preliminary recommendations that align well with HB 1310.
  • Current law allows police to arrest someone by any means. And we've seen the results of any means, which are unacceptable.

  Chair Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45) Rep. Tina Orwall (D-33)
I called
I emailed

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* 4. Concerning a peace officer’s duty to intervene - SB 5066

This statewide bill requires officers to act when they witness misconduct by other officers. It requires an officer to intervene when another officer uses excessive force and to render aid to any injured person. Officers are also required to report wrongful conduct by another officer.

Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on Thursday, February 11, 4:00 PM.

Please call or email the following members of the Committee and ask them to vote yes on SB 5066.

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

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

Chair, Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-23) – (360) 786-7644 – Christine.Rolfes@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Sen. June Robinson (D-38) – (360) 786-7674 – june.robinson@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Steve Conway (D-29) – (360) 786-7656 – steve.conway@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24) – (360) 786-7646 – kevin.vandewege@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: I’m writing to ask Senator [Name] to vote YES in support of SB 5066.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • This bill empowers officers that want to do the right thing. It provides for setting up clear processes to make sure they can call out wrongdoing and intervene when they need to.
  • The bill provides direction to and a framework for any officer to step in when they see excessive force or other wrongdoing.
  • People, particularly black people and people of color, have been brought to jails after being beaten when they should have been taken to hospital.

  Chair Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-23) Vice Chair Sen. June Robinson (D-38) Sen. Steve Conway (D-29) Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24)
I called
I emailed

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* Thanks for taking action with us! How did that go?

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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