AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 30, No. 8
February 23, 2007 (Plain Text Version)

What’s Ahead – Key Issues

HB 2309, increasing the property tax lid to 100% plus inflation, will be heard by the House Finance Committee on Monday, February 26 at 6 pm. AWC supports this bill. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
A re-crafted Senate version of the bill to clean-up and protect Puget Sound, SB 5372, is scheduled for hearing before the Senate Water, Energy and Telecommunications Committee on Friday, February 23 at 1:30 pm. See the Environment & Water section for more information.
SB 5594 would change from 75% to 60% the amount of assessed value needed by non-code cities seeking annexation using the petition-method. AWC strongly supports this change. The bill will be heard by the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee on Monday, February 26 at 10 am. See the Land Use & Housing section for more information.

The Streamlined Sales Tax bill, SSB 5089, passed out of the House Finance Committee on February 23 with a vote of 7-2. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
An amended version of the auto theft bill, SHB 1001, passed out of the House Human Services Committee on February 22 with several amendments that weaken the juvenile penalty enhancements. See the Law & Justice section for more information.
Several cities have expressed concern about HB 2151, which grants qualified electors the authority to divide cities into wards for council elections. It was heard on February 20 in the House Local Government Committee. See the General Local Government section for more information.

If your city receives funds from the city-county assistance account, call your legislators and ask for their support of HB 2022, which would allocate additional funds to the account. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
HB 1851 would give cities the authority to levy an additional one-tenth of one percent sales and use tax for criminal justice services. Please call members of the House Finance Committee and ask them to move this bill. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
HB 1858 and SB 5767, the House and Senate versions of the Transportation Benefit Districts legislation, will be up for Executive Session next week. If you have legislators on either the House or Senate Transportation Committee, please contact them and request they support these bills. See the Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development section for more information.
SB 5647 would give cities additional flexibility when using hotel/motel revenues. City offiicials are encouraged to call their legislators asking for their support of this bill. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
SB 5854 would limit the ability to collect delinquent utility debt from property owners. Please contact the members of the Senate Consumer Protection & Housing Committee and share your concerns. See the General Local Government section for more information.