Climate Action This Week:
  • Fossil fuel financing fee on banks
  • Prohibiting low-level traffic stops
  • Community Solar
  • Expanding green hydrogen
  • Business emissions reductions
  • Incentivizing zero emissions outdoor power equipment
  • Vehicle per mile charge
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* Your information

Here are our first three actions. We think these will take about 15 minutes.

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* 📜 1. Imposing a state climate resiliency and mitigation surcharge on large financial institutions financing the global fossil fuel industry while recognizing the financial institution industry's efforts to address climate change - SB 5967

This bill introduces a modest fee on global financial institutions funding fossil fuel projects. Institutions whose funding of fossil fuel projects is more than 4% of their total funding (after subtracting their funding of renewables) are charged .5% of their gross profits. Fees collected will be placed in the state Climate Resiliency Account.

We are following the lead of Stop The Money Pipeline, a coalition of Indigenous and climate groups.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee is meeting Monday, February 7, from 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

Please call or email key members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee and ask that they schedule a hearing and a vote. 

✏️ Click here to send an email to key members of the Senate 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, Capital, Sen. David Frockt (D-46) -- (360) 786-7690 -- david.frockt@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Operating & Revenue, Sen. June Robinson (D-38) -- (360) 786-7674 -- june.robinson@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Member, Sen. Lynda Wilson (R-17) -- (360) 786-7632 -- lynda.wilson@leg.wa.gov
Assistant Ranking Member, Sen. Sharon Brown (R-08) -- (360) 786-7614 -- sharon.brown@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 Sen. [Name] to ensure SB 5967 is scheduled for a hearing and vote before the fiscal cutoff at the end of the day, Monday, February 7

  I called I emailed
Chair, Sen. Christine Rolfes
Vice Chair, Sen. David Frockt
Vice Chair, Sen. June Robinson
Ranking Member, Sen. Lynda Wilson
Assistant Ranking Member, Sen. Sharon Brown

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* 📜 2. Prohibiting traffic stops for certain traffic violations - SB 5485

This bill would end traffic stops for certain low-level offenses such as expired tabs, equipment violations, and improper turns.

Traffic stops are the most common form of police-citizen interaction. Black drivers are disproportionately pulled over by police and are disproportionately killed by officers. This bill would end traffic stops for certain low-level violations that increase the risk of adverse interactions without enhancing public safety.

We are following the lead of the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability.

The Senate Transportation Committee is meeting Monday, February 7, 12:30 PM.

Please call or email key members of the Senate Transportation Committee and ask that they schedule a vote by the end of day Monday.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key members of the Senate committee.

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

Chair, Sen. Marko Liias (D-21) - (360) 786-7640 - Marko.Liias@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Sen. Rebecca Saldaña (D-37) – (360) 786-7688 – Rebecca.Saldana@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Member, Sen. Curtis King (R-14) – (360) 786-7626 – Curtis.King@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 Sen. [Name] to ensure SB 5485 is scheduled for a vote before the fiscal cutoff at the end of the day, Monday, February 7.

  I called I emailed
Chair, Sen. Liias
Vice Chair, Sen. Saldaña
Ranking Member, Sen. King

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* 📜 3. Expanding equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects - HB 1814 and Expanding Green Hydrogen - HB 1792

Both of these bills need attention in the House Finance Committee.

SHB 1814 intends to expand equitable access to the benefits of renewable energy through community solar projects. It provides a new one-time credit for start-up costs and virtual net metering for community solar projects with low-income residents and low-income service provider subscribers.

We are following the lead of Olympia Community Solar on this bill. 

HB 1792 authorizes public utility districts (PUDs) and municipal utilities to produce, use, sell, and distribute “green” electrolytic hydrogen. Hydrogen is emerging as one of the leading options for storing energy from renewables and, when made with electrolysis, provides a clean resource for energy-intensive manufacturing.

350 WA is tracking this bill.

Both bills are scheduled for a public hearing in the House Finance Committee on Monday, February 7, 8:00 AM.

Please call or email key members of the Finance Committee and ask them to schedule a vote for these two bills before the end of the day on Monday, February 7.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key members of the House committee.

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

Chair, Rep. Noel Frame (D-36) - (206) 962-5098 - Noel.Frame@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. April Berg (D-44) - (425) 939-8423 - April.Berg@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Amy Walen (D-48) - (425) 883-3366 - Amy.Walen@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Member, Rep. Ed Orcutt (R-20) - (360) 786-7990 - Ed.Orcutt@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 1814 and HB 1792 are scheduled for a vote before the fiscal cutoff at the end of the day, Monday, February 7.

  I called I emailed
Chair, Rep. Frame
Vice Chair, Rep. Berg
Vice Chair, Rep. Walen
Ranking Member, Rep. Orcutt
All done? Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and click the orange “DONE” button to submit your actions!
If you have a little more time, this next action will take about 5 minutes.

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* 📜 4. Business Emissions Reductions - HB 1682

Emissions-intensive, trade-exposed (“EITE”) businesses are core industries, primarily manufacturing, that release large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions and face significant national or global competition for their products. The 2021 Climate Commitment Act (CCA) required the legislature to define the schedule and pace of EITEs’ emissions reductions (“compliance pathway”) for achieving their proportionate share of the state's emissions reductions from 2035 through 2050. The bill also adds to the list of programs available for funding from the Climate Commitment account.

350 WA is tracking this bill.

The House Appropriations Committee is meeting Monday, February 7, 10:00 AM.

Please call or email these key members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask that they schedule a hearing and a vote by the end of day Monday.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key members of the House committee.

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

Chair, Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-03) – (360) 786-7946 – Timm.Ormsby@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Steve Bergquist (D-11) – (253) 214-3275 – Steve.Bergquist@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-33) – (253) 981-6278 – Mia.Gregerson@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Nicole Macri (D-43) – (206) 333-4228 – Nicole.Macri@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Minority Member, Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-31) – (360) 786-7946 – Drew.Stokesbary@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 1682 is scheduled for a hearing and a vote before the fiscal cutoff at the end of Monday, February 7.

  I called I emailed
Chair, Rep. Ormsby
Vice Chair, Rep. Bergquist
Vice Chair, Rep. Gregerson
Vice Chair, Rep. Macri
Ranking Member, Rep. Stokesbary
All done? Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and click the orange “DONE” button to submit your actions!
If you still have time, these last two actions will take about 10 minutes.

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* 📜 5. Reducing emissions from outdoor power equipment - HB 1918

This bill exempts zero-emission outdoor power equipment from the sales tax beginning in 2023, and, beginning in 2025, requires government agencies to purchase zero emissions outdoor power equipment, when possible. This legislation uses tax incentives to speed private sector transition off the noisy, highly polluting leaf blowers and other outdoor equipment used in landscaping.

350 WA is tracking this bill.

The House Finance Committee is meeting Monday, February 7, 8:00 AM and does not yet have this on the agenda.

Please call or email key members of the House Finance Committee and ask that they schedule a hearing and a vote by the end of day Monday, February 7.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key members of the House committee.

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

Chair, Rep. Noel Frame (D-36) - (206) 962-5098 - Noel.Frame@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. April Berg (D-44) - (425) 939-8423 - April.Berg@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Amy Walen (D-48) - (425) 883-3366 - Amy.Walen@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Member, Rep. Ed Orcutt (R-20) - (360) 786-7990 - Ed.Orcutt@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 1918 is scheduled for a hearing and vote before the fiscal cutoff end of day, Monday, February 7.

  I called I emailed
Chair, Rep. Frame
Vice Chair, Rep. Berg
Vice Chair, Rep. Walen
Ranking Member, Rep. Orcutt

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* 📜 6. Vehicle Per Mile Charge - HB 2026

This bill begins to move us away from the gas tax as a method for funding road maintenance and transportation infrastructure. That’s important since the gas tax will raise less and less revenue as we transition to hybrid and electric vehicles.

350 WA is tracking this bill.

Please call or email key members of the House Transportation Committee and ask that they schedule a vote by the end of Monday, February 7.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key members of the House committee.

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

Chair, Rep. Jake Fey (D-27) – (253) 238-0511 – Jake.Fey@leg.wa.gov
1st Vice Chair, Rep. Sharon Wylie (D-49) - (360) 786-7924  - Sharon.Wylie@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Minority Member, Rep Andrew Barkis (R-2) - (360) 584-9846  - Andrew.Barkis@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 2606 is given a vote before the fiscal cutoff at the end of today, Monday, February 7.

  I called I emailed
Chair, Rep. Fey
1st Vice Chair, Rep. Wylie
Ranking Minority Member, Rep. Barkis

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* Phew! That was a lot of work under time pressure! Thank you for participating in trying to keep some of these great bills alive. How did that go?

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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