January 22, 2024

Week 3 of session and the first cutoff deadlines grow near – Now is the time for city officials to engage on key bills
The legislative session is driven by cutoff deadlines. Confused on what those are? Watch our video explainer below. These deadlines mark the points by which bills must advance, otherwise they are considered dead for the session. The first policy committee cutoff is January 31, followed by the fiscal committee cutoff on February 5. Committees only have a few meetings left to hear and vote on straggler bills before those deadlines.

Now is the time to let legislators know if you want a bill to pass, or if you want a bill to “die” in committee. AWC is working hard on several bills we want to see pass and a few we want to “die,” or more politely, “not advance.” Find out which of those are on our weekly Bill Hot Sheet.

City officials are a powerful group, and together your voice matters in the legislative process. Communicate your position on bills impacting your community. Don’t wait and don’t assume someone else will do it – session moves fast, and every voice is needed. Wondering how to make your voice heard? First and always, contact your local legislators. Second, testify on a bill, submit written comments, or sign in and make your position known. Third, respond to AWC’s requests for feedback or action, like adding your name to a sign-on letter. Have any questions? Just ask us. We are here to make sure your voice is heard.

Candice Bock
Government Relations Director

Check out these three bills addressing law enforcement recruitment and retention

• Under SB 6242, the state would pay 100% of costs for basic law enforcement training. Since the 2017-2019 biennial budget, the state has only paid 75% of a new law enforcement recruit's training at the academy and required local governments to pay the remaining 25% of total costs, or nearly $5,000 per recruit. More
• SB 5424 allows Washington law enforcement agencies to adopt flexible work policies. More
• Under SB 6157, “Dreamers” would be eligible for civil service. More

Bill addressing vexatious public records litigation scheduled for hearing
HB 2307, which limits vexatious public records claims by modifying administrative and judicial review processes for public records requests and responses, is scheduled for a public hearing in the House State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on Wednesday, January 24, at 1:30 pm. Join AWC in providing testimony to the Legislature about your city’s experience with vexatious public records lawsuits. More

AWC highlights city budget priorities in letter to budget writers
AWC sent a letter to the budget leadership in the House and Senate on city budget priorities. It included continued support for $10 million to fund police officer recruitment and retention; additional law enforcement training; funding for affordable housing; backfill for low tax base city-county assistance due to declining REET revenues; continued investment in behavioral health treatment, including city co-responder teams; unwinding the diversion of Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) funds from intended uses for environmental programs and reduction of toxic pollution; and continued support for infrastructure, including the Public Works Assistance Account. For more on AWC’s budget priorities, see our budget matrix for the Governor’s proposed supplemental budget. More

Sign the letter supporting AWC’s priority to revise the arbitrary property tax cap – Deadline extended
The deadline has been extended to sign the city letter in support of SB 5770, AWC’s priority legislation to revise the arbitrary property tax cap. If you haven’t already, fill out this form to add your signature to the letter no later than Noon on January 25. We need a strong showing of city support to make a difference. More

The property tax bill, SB 5770, is a crucial funding option for cities
SB 5770 is a legislative priority for AWC, and for cities all over the state, because cities can’t wait another generation to fix the structural gap in revenues that limits their ability to respond to community needs and new demands for services. In this brief video, AWC Government Relations Director Candice Bock explains the bill, addresses common concerns, and shares what members can do to get involved in supporting SB 5770.

Learn how legislative cutoff dates work
Legislative cutoff dates are an important part of the legislative process. These dates impact bills on their journey to become law, serving as deadlines for committees and floor action. Watch our 90-second explainer video to learn how the cutoff dates work and why they’re important to your advocacy efforts. More

AWC's bill tracker
Stay current on city-related bills moving through the Legislature and read AWC’s weekly coverage through our new AWC bill tracker. Learn how to use the tracker with these brief instructions and short video.

Bills added to the tracker this week:

• Affordable housing: Trailer bill for middle housing law (HB 2321); Affordable rental housing (HB 2308/SB 6175)
• Broadband: Digital Equity Act updates (HB 2313)
• Budget & finance: Property tax cap fix sign-on letter (SB 5770); Tourism promotion area exemption flexibility (HB 2137/SB 6202); Bingo and raffle gambling tax threshold (HB 2317)
• Economic development: Bills impacting tax increment financing (HB 2354/SB 6230)
• Environment & natural resources: Costly changes to new Organics Management Law (HB 2301/SB 6180)
• General government: Giving cities the option to move to ranked choice voting (HB 2250/SB 6156)
• HR & labor relations: Adopting WA Cares long-term care program recommendations (SB 6072); Incentives to hire “hard-to-place" job seekers (SB 5472)
• Land use & planning: Automatic expansion of the urban growth area (HB 2158); Amendments to the Wildland Urban Interface Code (SB 6120); Property owner reimbursements (HB 2343)
• Pensions: Changes in benefits and eligibility in LEOFF (SB 6197); Increasing pre-LEOFF firefighter funeral benefits (SB 6263)
• Public safety & criminal justice: New penalties for eluding police and resisting arrest (HB 2390/SB 6200); New diversion-type program (HB 1994); Creating a felony for assault of an off-duty police officer (SB 5299)
• Public works & infrastructure: Change order amendments (SB 6192)
• Transportation: Jaywalking (SB 5383)

Tip: Bookmark the tracker and check back regularly for the latest updates.

Congress takes action to avert partial shutdown ahead of Jan. 19 deadline. With a winter storm in the forecast, Congress passed a third continuing resolution through March 1 for some federal agencies, such as the Dept. of Transportation, and March 8 for others, like the Dept. of Defense. More

U.S. Supreme Court will hear Ninth Circuit’s Grants Pass homeless case. Although the Supreme Court declined to hear the 2018 case of Martin v. Boise, it has accepted review of Johnson v. Grants Pass, which the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals decided in 2022. In its decision, the Ninth Circuit expanded its holding in Martin. Oral arguments begin in April. The question before the Court is, “Does the enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property constitute ‘cruel and unusual punishment’ prohibited by the Eighth Amendment?” More

AWC Friday City Action Calls (AWC members only)
Join our city action calls each Friday at 12:30 pm during the legislative session to hear updates from your AWC lobbyists on the latest action on the hill and progress on bills of importance to cities. Make sure to sign up in advance each week. Register now to receive the link for this week’s call.

Priority fact sheets with bill numbers now available
Learn more about AWC’s 2024 City Legislative Priorities and download the fact sheets on each topic—now updated with relevant bill numbers. These fact sheets are vital tools for conversations with legislators, colleagues, and constituents alike, providing an overview of each issue, as well as important data and potential talking points to use as you share your unique city story.

wacities.org/Advocacy | Legislative issues
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