April 11 - Hot List for State Senate

POSSIBLE SENATE FLOOR ACTION

EHB 1702: Establishing a process for the payment of impact fees through provisions stipulated in recorded covenants.

• Forcing jurisdictions to delay the collection of impact fees will make that collection both more difficult and uncertain.
• While it comes off as a minor change, HB 1702 could undermine impact fees altogether -- that's why we're joined by the cities, fire chiefs, and schools districts in opposing this bill.

SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION

SHB 1700: Modifying the requirements related to designing various transportation projects.

• This bill simply allows flexibility for cities, counties and developers to use updated guidelines for designing for bike and pedestrian uses. Currently they must employ design standards that were last updated in the 1980s, this will let them incorporate the latest and greatest in safe and efficient design principles.
• This bill will improve public safety, protect our environment, and promote healthy communities.

SB 5604: Concerning creating clean water jobs through storm water pollution funding (a.k.a. Clean Water Jobs Act of 2011).

• The most significant jobs-creator in front of the legislature, this bill will raise new revenue for clean water infrastructure by imposing a pollution fee upon oil. SB 5604 will provide ongoing funding for necessary projects that will reduce flooding and improve our communities.
• A fee on oil will free up tens of million dollars to go to other important government functions. As you struggle to figure out how to balance the state budget, do not let oil companies off the hook: pollution fees are a fair and publicly-popular solution to a piece of our state’s budget crisis.

SB 5862: Regarding the administration of natural resources programs.

• This bill raises fees but trades away environmental protection, a significant net loss for streams and fish.
• The bill requires understaffed agencies to take on major new administrative work “integrating” two sets of rules; WDFW loses its authority to ensure fish protection when major work is done in forest streams; and longer logging permits jeopardize timely, science-based improvements to logging practices on-the-ground.