• SB 5854 would limit the ability to collect delinquent utility debt from property owners. Please contact the members of the Senate Rules Committee as soon as possible and ask them to let the bill die. See the General Local Government section for more information.

• SHB 1858, an AWC priority bill which provides for the imposition of fees by Transportation Benefit Districts, is eligible for House floor action at any moment. Please contact your House members and request their support for this bill. See the Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development section for more information.

• Contact House members to remind them of the importance of passing the streamlined sale tax legislation this year and ask them to bring SSB 5089 to the House floor for a vote soon. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.

• HB 1369 and SB 5498 are two bills that would give cities greater fiscal flexibility when using voter-approved taxes. Please call your legislators and ask them to support these bills. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.

• While SHB 1873, which would expand liability for wrongful injury or death causes of action, was amended to limit the scope of additional liability, AWC still opposes this legislation, which has been moved to the House floor and is now eligible to be voted on at any time. See the Law & Justice section for more information.

What’s Ahead

• The last day for bill consideration in the house of origin is Wednesday, March 14 at 5 pm. This means that all bills, unless they are necessary to implement the budget, must pass out of either the House or the Senate by that time in order to remain alive for the session.

Last Week’s Highlights

• SSB 5647, which would expand the definitions of "tourism-related facility" and "tourism promotion," passed the Senate on a vote of 35-12. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.

• HB 2368, the municipal business and occupation tax bill, was heard and approved by the House Finance Committee. The bill is now in House Rules. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.

• SHB 1277, which would expand the LIFT authority, passed the House on March 8 on a 96-2 vote. See the Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development section for more information.