February 12, 2024

Things change fast during session; AWC is here to help you keep up
In any legislative session, action can happen fast, but it's especially true in a short session. Bills can quickly take a turn, and proposals you thought were moving can suddenly be dead. This is why we ask city officials to stay continually engaged throughout the session: we often need your feedback right away and regularly ask you to contact your legislators. Our bill tracker and Hot Sheet are designed to make sure you have the information you need to be informed and to engage with legislators.

With just over 20 days left, there is still a lot of work to do. The next revenue forecast is set for release on Valentine’s Day, and the Legislature will turn its attention to the supplemental budget proposals. This mid-biennium budget update can be substantial depending on the outcome of the revenue forecast. AWC has communicated to legislative budget leaders the funding priorities that are important to cities. We encourage city officials to share these priorities with your legislators and ask the budget writers to include them in their drafting.

I want to thank everyone who was able to attend last week’s City Action Days. It was wonderful to see so many city officials in town to engage in the legislative process. If you couldn’t make it, you can get the latest updates during our City Action Calls, held each Friday throughout session.

Candice Bock
Government Relations Director

Despite strong start, bill to revise the outdated property tax cap dies under weight of anti-tax rhetoric
Last week marked highs and lows for SB 5770, which would have revised the outdated 1% property tax cap for local governments and instead tie the cap to inflation (CPI) up to 3%. The bill passed out of the Ways & Means Committee last Monday and appeared headed for a vote by the full Senate on Thursday. However, before it got there, the bill was brought down by strong anti-tax rhetoric and never received a vote. Thanks to the many city elected officials who made the effort to tell their legislators why SB 5770 was a modest, common-sense update to an outdated cap adopted more than 20 years ago. More

Sign on to pass the Affordable Homes Act
The Affordable Homes Act, HB 2276 and SB 6191, enacts a fair and thoughtful tax policy that provides predictable, sustainable funding for state housing programs. By adding a 1% real estate transfer tax on high value properties over $3,025,000 and reducing the share of taxes paid by lower- and middle-income families, Washington can provide a long-term funding source to address this essential need in our communities. Sign on in support to pass the Affordable Homes Act.

Tell the Legislature you want producers to pay for residential recycling
HB 2049—the ReWRAP Act—makes the companies that decide what packaging to send to our state responsible to pay for and solve the waste they create. The policy, known as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), is nothing new. Every legislatively-directed state study in recent history points to EPR for packaging as the solution to modernize our recycling system. Join your local elected colleagues (117 and counting…) by signing on in support! Contact your House members and ask them to vote “Yes” on HB 2049 and “No” on striking amendments.

Keep the Affordable Connectivity Program funded: Sign NLC’s letter of support
22 million American households risk losing access to broadband as early as May if Congress does not act soon. A bipartisan, bicameral extension bill has been introduced. Members of Congress need to hear from you to understand the issue is a priority. Sign NLC’s local leader letter of support to tell Congress to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program and keep low-income families online. NLC membership is not necessary to sign on. More

City Action Days—a full house of powerful city voices
AWC held an energizing City Actions Days conference last week, with a large group of newly elected officials in attendance. Despite a surprise shift in venue from Olympia to Lacey, AWC was proud to host 250 members for a variety of great panels, discussions, and a visit with Governor Inslee as he prepares to wrap up his final term in office. As always, members spoke highly of the opportunity to network, collaborate, and build new partnerships. Check out photos of your colleagues. If you couldn’t join us, don’t worry, the AWC Annual Conference in the City of Vancouver is just around the corner.

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.

Many city bills saw floor action and important updates this week:

• Affordable housing: Co-living, middle housing, workforce housing accelerator, and optional short-term rental tax for affordable housing (HB 1998, HB 2321, HB 1892, & SB 5334)
• Budget & finance: Levy lid lift flexibility (HB 2044), Tourism promotion fee flexibility (HB 2137/SB 6202), Notice for business license changes (SB 5897); State tourism funding (SB 6080)
• Broadband & telecommunications: CERB rural broadband codification (HB 1982)
• Energy: Clean buildings compliance incentives (HB 1976)
• General government: Prejudgment interest (SB 5059); Even-year elections (HB 1932); Adult entertainment workplace standards (SB 6105)
• HR & labor relations: Paid sick leave expansion (HB 1991/SB 5793)
• Human services: Liability protections for co-response teams (HB 2088)
• Pensions: PERS 1 COLA (HB 1985)
• Public safety & criminal justice: DACA eligibility for law enforcement careers (SB 6157); Training for public defenders and prosecutors in rural and underserved areas (SB 5780); Catalytic converter theft (HB 2153)
• Public works & infrastructure: Electrical inspector qualifications (SB 6089)
• Transportation: Automated traffic safety cameras (HB 2384); Jaywalking 2.0 (SB 5383)

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

AWC & AG briefing: J&J opioid settlement
Cities that are eligible to sign on to the new opioid settlement with Johnson & Johnson (as outlined in the One Washington MOU) are invited to join AWC and the Attorney General's Office for a webinar on February 28 to learn more about the settlement and how to sign on before the May 11 deadline. Register now.

Budget season begins with Valentine’s Day revenue forecast
After the forecast is updated, the House and Senate fiscal committees will release proposed supplemental budgets. City budget priorities are included in the budget letter AWC sent to the Legislature last month; we encourage cities to share this information with your legislators as well. 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.

AWC bill Hot Sheet
AWC’s bill Hot Sheet is updated weekly with the latest take on the key bills we’re tracking. This is a quick reference and handy tool for staying up to date on selected legislation impacting cities. Feel free to share it with your legislators.

wacities.org/Advocacy | Legislative issues
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