Time for action

Deadlines come rather quickly during the shorter 60 day session and those deadlines begin next week. The House deadline for bills out of the Policy Committees is Tuesday, February 2. The Senate deadline is Friday, February 5. Many approved policy bills move next to the Rules Committee and are eligible to be "pulled to the floor" for final action by that chamber – House or Senate. Other bills with monetary impacts must be reviewed and approved by a fiscal committee (Ways and Means, Finance, Capital Budget or Transportation) before being advanced to the Rules Committee and potential action by the full chamber. The deadline for bill approval by a fiscal committee is Tuesday, February 9 for both the Senate and House.

Please – we need you to make calls and send emails today to assist in the movement of AWC priority bills. Contact on the following bills and issues would be particularly helpful – details on these bills are enclosed within this Bulletin.

• Fiscal flexibility (SB 6164, HB 2650, HB 2749 and SB 6424/HB 2773) – Contact members of the House Finance Committee and Senate Ways and Means Committee urging them to advance proposals that provide you more flexibility with you existing revenue streams.
  
  
• Street maintenance utility (HB 2618) – Contact members of the House Transportation Committee and ask them to approve this needed infrastructure tool.
  
  
• Wrongful death (SB 6508) – Contact members of the Senate Government Operations Committee and ask them to hold this legislation for it would expand the scope of liability in wrongful injury or death causes of action resulting in a substantial financial impact on cities.
  
  
• GMA timeline obligations (HB 2992/SB 6611 and HB 2916) – Contact your House members and ask them to encourage the Local Government & Housing Committee to pass HB 2916 and HB 2992 providing for additional time to update your GMA plans. Let them know that HB 2916 is our preferred proposal. Contact your Senators and encourage them to support changes to SB 6611 that would include the 10-year update frequency and move it forward from Committee.
  
  
• Public reords (SHB 2582/SSB 6367 and HB 2583/SB 6368) – SHB 2582/SSB 6367 would allow cities to respond to public records requests by posting records on their website and referring requesters to the link. Each bill has been approved by their respective policy committee. HB 2583/SB 6368 would provide for a voluntary conference between the agency and the requestor to clarify the request, which could be considered by the court in any subsequent litigation. Please contact your legislators and ask them to support these proposals.

Deadlines are quickly approaching. Please make contact today!!

City Legislative Action Conference

A quick thank you to the over 300 city and town officials who attended AWC’s City Legislative Action Conference this week. They heard from the Governor, her key staff, legislative leadership and legislative advocates for our priority bills. They also meet with their local legislators advancing AWC’s agenda.

Thanks again – the time you take to come to Olympia and meet with your legislators does make a difference.

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