Action Alerts
Click on the links below to learn more about bills currently being reviewed in the state legislature. You can “take action” on these most pressing bills by sending a suggested, editable email to legislators, encouraging them to vote to promote the League issue in question.
Take Action to Improve Voting Access for Citizens in our County Jails
Democracy depends on participation of all citizens—including those awaiting trial in our county jails. We believe every citizen should have an equal opportunity to vote, no matter their race, income, or circumstances. HB 1174 provides a comprehensive plan to improve access and remove barriers to voting for eligible jail inmates.
Click here ask all members of the Appropriations Committee to vote YES on HB 1174
Pass SB 5078—Related to Firearm Industry Responsibility
Please help reduce gun violence in this country, including in Washington State. You can help by asking that SB 5078 be moved with a Do Pass recommendation out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee before the cut-off for bills with fiscal impact on Friday, February 24. One of the ways to reduce gun violence is to require that the industry take responsibility for certain aspects of gun sales and ownership. This bill does that. It has already passed one committee on the policy basis; it just needs this fiscal committee approval to move forward.
Click here to ask the Senate Ways & Means Committee to PASS SB 5078.
This Week in the Legislature
Hang On, The Ride Is Speeding Up!
We reached a significant cutoff date for this year’s legislative session: February 17. That was the last date for bills to be passed out of the respective Senate or House policy committees where the bill was introduced. Any bills that did not pass out of policy committees are effectively “dead” for this year. Many of those bills may be reintroduced in 2024.
This deadline does not apply to the House fiscal committees, the Senate Ways and Means committee or the Transportation committees. There was a great deal of work at the end of last week, as legislators strived to move bills out of policy committees. This week the number of hearings and executive sessions will ramp up as legislators work to meet the next deadline, February 24. That is the last day to pass bills out of House fiscal committees, the Senate Ways and Means committee, and Transportation committees in the house of origin.
Since the timeline for this next step in only one week, we may not have an opportunity to let you know in a timely manner when things are happening. The committees are posting their Agendas as we progress through the week. If you are following particular legislation, be sure to click through on the blue bill number (on leg.wa.gov) on the legislation grid or weekly updates to get the most up-to-date status on a given bill, and thus determine your action. And be sure to check information on the individual issue web pages.
There are several other ways you can follow the hearings and legislative process:
- Via TVW (Washington State’s public affairs TV network), and
- On the Washington State Legislature website.
Check out the weekly updates for each issue (below) for information on how to testify, and how to sign on PRO or CON to proposed legislation.
The 2023 Legislative Issues
LWVWA Legislative Issues From the 2023 Washington State Legislative Session
Click on an issue to learn more about session results on bills the League supported and “This Week’s Updates” to read the issue chair’s report on this past week. When a “⚠️” appears next to an update, it indicates there are actions to take for this week. Click on the “⚠️” to be taken to our Action Alerts page.
Democracy Elections | Issue overview | Read this week's update⚠️ Money in Politics| Issue overview | Read this week's update Education | Issue overview | Read this week's update Redistricting | Issue overview | New task force underway - see updates
Environment Climate Crisis and Energy | Issue overview | Read this week's update Forests| Issue overview | Read this week's update Growth Management | Issue overview |Read this week's update⚠️ Solid Waste Management | Issue overview |Read this week's update ⚠️ Transportation | Issue overview | Read this week's update ⚠️
Social and Economic Policy Housing and Homelessness | Issue overview | Read this week's update ⚠️ Health Care | Issue overview | Read this week's update ⚠️ Behavioral Health | Issue overview | Read this week's update Children's Services | Issue overview | Read this week's update ⚠️ Early Care and Education of Young Children | Issue overview | Read this week's update⚠️ Criminal Justice | Issue overview | Read this week's update⚠️ Revenue | Issue overview | Read this week's update⚠️ Gun Safety| Issue overview | No updates this week⚠️
League of Women Voters of Washington 1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 900, Seattle, WA 98101 206-622-8961 | 1-800-419-2596 | www.lwvwa.org
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.
The League of Women Voters of Washington
1511 Third Ave, Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
United States