Climate Action This Week: 
  • Strengthening Energy Codes
  • Modifying the Standard for Use of Force
  • Law Enforcement Detention and Pursuit
  • Climate in the Growth Management Act
  • Reducing Methane Emissions from Landfills
  • Telecommunications Access
  • Organic Materials Management
  • Incentivizing Rental of ADUs to Low-Income Households
  • Closing Growth Management Act Loophole
  • Reducing Emissions from Outdoor Power Equipment
  • Climate Resiliency Surcharge
Thanks for taking action with us!

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* Your information

We think these first three actions will take 10-15 minutes.

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* 📜 1. Strengthening energy codes - HB 1770

Local jurisdictions in Washington are currently restricted from passing residential energy codes that are stronger than the state code set every three years by the State Building Code Council (SBCC). To address this problem, this bill would require the SBCC to develop an optional residential reach code for energy use.  In addition, it would raise the energy efficiency target for all new buildings to an 80% reduction in energy from 2006 levels and require all buildings be net-zero ready in the 2034 building code. 

We are following the lead of Shift Zero on this bill.

HB 1770 was scheduled for a vote in the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee this morning, on Wednesday, February 23 at 8:00 AM. We expect it to pass out of the committee.

✏️ Follow this link and tell your senator to request that HB 1770 be brought to the floor and passed. When you “verify” your district, you can select which of your elected leaders to communicate to. For this bill, select your Senator.

The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I support HB 1770. Please make sure this bill is moved to the floor so that it can be voted on and passed.”

📑 Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • We need to allow our cities and counties to move more quickly toward healthier, more energy efficient and climate-friendly construction for all new homes.
  • By raising the energy efficiency target for all new buildings and requiring all buildings be net-zero ready in the 2034 building code, this bill is an important step toward reaching Washington’s energy goals.

📜 2. Modifying the Standard for Use of Force - HB 2037

HB 2037 removes important protections crafted last year by the legislature. It would authorize the use of physical force against anyone fleeing from a “lawful temporary investigative detention,” also known as a Terry Stop, if police have “reasonable suspicion” they have committed even a very minor offense. People often flee interactions with police out of fear that they will be harmed, not because they have committed a crime. This bill gives police more leeway to use force and is a step backward. In practice “reasonable suspicion” leads to racial profiling.

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

Scheduled for Executive Session in the Senate Law and Justice Committee on Thursday, February 24, 10:30 AM.

We asked you to oppose this bill on Monday by leaving comments on the legislative website. Unfortunately, it looks likely to pass but we do have the opportunity to support an amendment which will improve it.

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* ✏️ Follow this link to email members of the Senate Law and Justice Committee. 

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

Chair Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45) -- (360) 786-7672 -- manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-27) - (360) 786-7652 - Yasmin.Trudeau@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-48) – (360) 786-7694 – Patty.Kuderer@leg.wa.gov 
Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-43) – (360) 786-7628 – Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-32) – (360) 786-7662 – Jesse.Salomon@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]: “Do not pass HB 2037 unless the amendment to Sec. 3(d) is added to protect vulnerable community members.”

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability has proposed the following amendment to protect vulnerable community members from police violence by requiring officers to clearly inform a person they are being detained. Amend Sec. 3(d) to read: “(d) Prevent a person from intentionally fleeing or stop a person who is intentionally and actively fleeing a lawful temporary investigative detention for a criminal offense, provided that the person has been given notice that he or she is being detained and is not free to leave.”  DO NOT PASS HB 2037 unless this amendment is also passed.
  • HB 2037 would allow officers overly wide discretion of use of force for fleeing the scene of a Terry Stop, which are usually conducted for low level offenses and require a very low legal standard of reasonable suspicion.
  • People often flee when they fear they will be harmed. This is especially true of youth and in BIPOC communities where the history of disproportionate violence creates reasonable fear of law enforcement.

  I called I emailed
Chair Sen. Manka Dhingra
Vice Chair Sen. Yasmin Trudeau
Sen. Patty Kuderer
Sen. Jamie Pedersen
Sen. Jesse Salomon
📜 3. Law enforcement detention and pursuit - SB 5919

We oppose this bill. SB 5919 is similar to HB 2037. This is another very dangerous bill that would expand the use of high-speed vehicular pursuits, lower the expectations for when officers are required to de-escalate, erode the protections fought for in last year’s accountability legislation, and expand the use of physical force by police officers.

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

Scheduled for Executive Session in the House Committee on Public Safety, Thursday February 24, 10:00 AM.

We asked you to oppose this bill on Monday by leaving comments on the legislative website.  We now need you to call or email key members of the House Committee on Public Safety and urge them not to pass SB 5919 out of committee.

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* ✏️ Follow this link to email members of the House Committee on Public Safety. 

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

Chair Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45) - (360) 786-7878 - Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov
Rep. David Hackney (D-11) – (206) 490-0914 – David.Hackney@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Tina Orwall (D-33) - (253) 656-5265 - Tina.Orwall@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Bill Ramos (D-05) – (425) 654-4402 – Bill.Ramos@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 oppose SB 5919 and not to pass it out of committee.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • If SB 5919 were to pass it would reverse life-saving gains made last year. Police killings are down 62% in Washington State compared with 5% nationally. That is an estimated 30 lives saved last year.
  • Law enforcement has been using fear tactics and misinformation to push back on last year’s legislation. Legitimate concerns from law enforcement have been addressed by bills moving through the legislature. For example, HB 1735 clarifies that officers are not prevented from assisting on behavioral health crisis calls, and HB 1719 allows for acceptance of less-lethal military equipment. However, SB 5919 expands the authorization of use of physical force by law enforcement and rolls back the intent of last year’s carefully crafted de-escalation and use of force standards.
  • SB 5919 would allow officers wide discretion to use physical force on a person fleeing the scene of a “Terry Stop”, even though this is meant to be a temporary investigative stop. It requires a very low legal standard of reasonable suspicion. 
  • The level of force authorized by SB 5919 is unwarranted and puts community members at risk of police violence.
  • In practice, we have seen that reasonable suspicion equates to racial profiling and can lead to tragic outcomes. SB 5919 will result in increased racial profiling and state violence against all community members, especially Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Youth who are disproportionately the victims of police violence.

  I called I emailed
Chair Rep. Roger Goodman
Rep. David Hackney
Rep. Tina Orwall
Rep. Bill Ramos
All done? Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and click the orange “DONE” button to submit your actions!
Here are our next three actions. We think these will take about 15 minutes.

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* 📜 4. Climate in the Growth Management Act - HB 1099

This important update to the Growth Management Act calls for planning that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, foster resilience, and require jurisdictions to incorporate environmental justice goals in land use planning.

We are following the lead of Futurewise on this bill. 

Scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Thursday, February 24, 4:00 PM.

Please sign in here to support HB 1099 before Thursday, February 24, 3:00 PM and select "Pro" in the position button.

📜 5. House bills moving to the Senate Ways & Means Committee

Several bills are scheduled to be voted out of their policy committees this week and the Senate Ways & Means Committee will be their next stop. Since the “opposite chamber fiscal cut-off” is end of day Monday, February 28th, this is our chance to let the committee members know that we expect these bills to be passed out of their committee.

✏️ Please call or follow this link to email these members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee and request that the following bills be voted out of committee before the fiscal cut-off, end of day Monday, February 28th.

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

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 that the following bills are voted out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee before the fiscal cut-off end of day Monday, February 28th.”

Feel free to include the specific bills you’re most excited about; your passion is powerful. You can speak to all of these bills, or some of them. It’s up to you. These are all bills that will die this session unless they’re voted out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee by the end of the day Monday, February 28th.
Reducing Methane Emissions from Landfills - HB 1663 This bill requires landfills to monitor and reduce methane emissions. It would have the additional benefit of capturing other pollutants. 

Organic Materials Management - HB 1799 This bill would keep more organic material out of landfills where it is a significant contributor to methane emissions, provide financial incentives to encourage communities and businesses to separate and compost organic waste, and make it easier for grocery stores to donate edible food rather than send it to landfills.

Telecommunications access - HB 1723 This bill makes broadband more accessible to all Washingtonians, addressing the current equity problems.

Incentivizing rental of accessory dwelling units to low-income households - HB 1841 This bill would allow counties to provide a property tax exemption for an accessory dwelling unit for as long as it is rented to a low-income household.

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* I called key committee members about this many bills: (there are 4 bills listed)

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* I emailed key committee members about this many bills:

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* 📜 6. Growth Management Act Update - SB 5042

This important bill would close a ‘sprawl loophole’ in the GMA and protect farmland, forests, and critical habitats from unnecessary and harmful development and sprawl. The loophole allows developers to go ahead with irreversible destruction of the land even while their permits are being challenged through the appeals process.

This Senate bill is now making its way through the House. It was voted out of the House Environment & Energy Committee on Tuesday, February 22.

We are following the lead of Futurewise on this bill.

✏️ Follow this link and tell both of your representatives to request that SB 5042 be brought to the floor and passed. When you “verify” your district, you can select which of your elected leaders to communicate to. For this bill, select both your Representatives.

The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I support SB 5042.  Please make sure this bill is moved to the floor so that it can be voted on and passed.”

📑 Then add the sentence below or feel free to write your own.
  • It’s time we closed this “sprawl loophole” which allows developers to go ahead with irreversible destruction of the land even while their permits are being challenged through the appeals process. After 14 years it’s time to make the GMA fully effective. 

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, we think these last two actions will take 5-10 minutes.

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* 📜 7. Climate Resiliency Surcharge - SB 5967

A revised version of this bill was introduced at Tuesday’s hearing. It no longer charges global financial institutions a surcharge for funding fossil fuel projects, it only transfers a modest amount of their Business and Operations taxes from the General Fund to the Climate Resiliency Account. While that is a step toward mitigating the impacts of such projects, it does not send nearly the same message, that the financiers of fossil fuel projects need to realign their investments. This significantly weakens the bill.

We are following the lead of Stop The Money Pipeline on this bill. 

Please email the bill sponsor, Sen. Reuven Carlyle, and ask him to strengthen the bill. 

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

Sen. Reuven Carlyle (D-36) – (360) 786-7670 – Reuven.Carlyle@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 his office know if you are a constituent of his district!

Script: I’m writing to ask Senator Carlyle to strengthen SB 5967, Climate Resiliency Surcharge.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • The global financial institutions funding the climate crisis should be held accountable for the damages they are causing to Washingtonians.
  • Merely shifting money out of the General Fund for the purposes of mitigating climate impacts does not address the root causes of the climate crisis -- the financial industry’s support of the fossil fuel industry.
  • This bill is no longer charging a surcharge.
  • Financial institutions whose fossil fuel project financing is 1% or less should not be given a tax break. 

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* 📜 8. 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.

We’re following the lead of 350 WA on this bill.

This bill had a hearing in the House Finance Committee on February 17th but it has not yet been scheduled for a vote.

✏️ Follow this link to email members of the House Finance Committee and request that HB 1918 be voted out of 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 Minority 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 Representative [Name] to vote HB 1918 out of committee.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • This bill uses tax incentives to speed private sector transition off the noisy, highly polluting leaf blowers and other outdoor equipment used in landscaping.
  • This bill provides small but simple fixes to reduce our emissions. It will exempt zero-emission outdoor power equipment from the sales tax beginning in 2023, and will require government agencies to purchase zero emissions outdoor power equipment, when possible, starting in 2025.

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

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* As always, thank you for taking action with us! Please remember to click “Done” when you are finished.

How did that go?

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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