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.
Stop Utility Cutoffs During Heat Emergencies
HB 1329 (preventing utility shutoffs during heat alerts) prohibits utilities and landlords from terminating water or electric service to any residential user during days for which the National Weather Service has issued certain heat-related alerts. If service is already disconnected, it requires a prompt and reasonable attempt to reconnect service for the time of the heat event, provided the user agrees to a payment plan.
Click here to ask your WA state representative to VOTE FOR HB 1329
Hold Police Accountable for Misconduct
People who are harmed by police misconduct should be able recover damages, just like victims of other types of harm. HB 1025, the Access to Fairness Act, allows people to recover damages when the police violate their constitutional rights. It eliminates the doctrine of qualified immunity that has been applied to make it almost impossible for victims of police violence to obtain justice.
Click here to ask your representatives to vote YES on HB 1025.
This Week in the Legislature
Getting Close to the Halfway Point
We’ve passed two important cutoff dates:
Last Friday, February 17—the last day non-fiscal bills could be considered and passed out of their respective policy committees in the house of origin;
This past Friday, February 24—fiscal cutoff, the last day bills from House fiscal committees and Senate Ways & Means and Transportation committees could be passed out of those committees in the house of origin.
Starting on Monday, February 27, legislators will be very busy voting on bills on the floor, through March 8. That is another significant deadline, the last day to pass bills in their houses of origin. The House and Senate rules committees will consider all bills passed from the policy and fiscal committees and decide whether and in what order to schedule them on the floors of both chambers. Then, bills that have survived in their houses of origin, will move to the other chamber, and the process begins again with policy and fiscal committees.
Much of the action next week will take place on the floors of the House and Senate, with legislators voting on bills. At this time we do not have precise information as to what bills will be voted on or when. As we move forward this week and the following week, the number of “live” bills will probably decrease as voting continues.
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this note; there you can click on the yellow triangles to get access to information about bills you are following, and how to support or oppose them.
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 | No update this week 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 |Read this week's update
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