Senate Bill 5373, or Washington STRONG, will secure up to $16 billion for investments to assist in post-pandemic recovery, reduce the state’s carbon footprint, and reduce the effects of climate change and pollution in marginalized communities both urban and rural. Funding begins with tax obligation bonds that can begin achieving results quickly and that will be repaid with a tax on carbon. Last week, the bill received a hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy and Technology, but we need a vote in that committee to move it toward a vote on the Senate floor. Ask the Senate Environment Committee to hold a vote on the Washington STRONG Act.

Senate Bill 5182 would remove advisory votes from the ballot. They create voter confusion and discouragement, and often leave voters feeling so overwhelmed that they do not vote the entire ballot. The advisory votes are misleading to voters, because they are about decisions that have already been made. They add significantly to the costs of elections and voters are not informed about them because reliable information is virtually impossible to find.

This bill must pass the Senate by Tuesday and it's important for Senators to know there is also support for this in the House. Send this email now!

Visit the Current Actions page to learn how to support all actions.

By Raelene Gold, Natural Resources Issue Chair      

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LWVWA Issues

The LWVWA supports the following League Legislative Issues in the current Washington state legislative session. Click on an issue to learn more, including current and upcoming bills affecting the issue. In this virtual legislative session, you can also testify for a bill online.

Elections | Critical actions needed to protect election workers and support Ranked-Choice Voting.

           

Natural Resources | Progress made towards resilience for climate impacted natural resources.

ENSURING SOCIAL JUSTICE

     

IMPROVE EDUCATION

ESTABLISHING FAIR REVENUE

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How to tesify for a bill online

In addition to contacting your legislators via Action Alerts, bill comments, emails and phone calls, you can register to testify remotely, submit written testimony or have your position noted for the legislative record. Speak for yourself and explain your personal interest in the bill. Unless you obtain permission, you should not emphasize the League in testimony.  

• Visit the "Participating in Committee Hearings" section of the Washington State Legislature's website.
  
• Press the "Register to Testify Remotely" button, even if you just want to submit written testimony or have your position noted for the record.
  
• Select House or Senate.
  
• Use the dropdown menus at the top to select the committee and the hearing date and time.
  
• Select the bill you’re interested in, then select the type of testimony — oral, written or noting your position for the record — and follow the directions provided. 
  
• Fill out your identifying information, then hit "Submit" at the bottom.

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Calendar

• Tuesday, March 9—Last day to pass bills in the state legislature in their house of origin by 5 p.m.
 
• Wednesday, March 10—Legislative Districts 1 and 27 Town Halls.
  
   
• Thursday, March 11—LWVWA, DKG and FDF present Speak Up School data presentation.
 
• Thursday, March 11—Legislative Districts 41 and 47 Town Halls.
 
• Saturday, March 13—Legislative Districts 5, 40, and 43 Town Halls.
 
• Monday, March 15—Legislative Districts 2, 17, 32, and 36 Town Halls.
 
• Tuesday, March 16—Legislative District 42 Town Hall.
 
• Wednesday, March 17—Legislative Districts 10, 11, 14 and 45 Town Halls.

Other ways to follow the state legislature

• Washington State Legislature website, leg.wa.gov.
• Washington state's public affairs TV network, TVW.org.