July 10, 2023

July marks new state fiscal year and new laws taking effect
Happy July! We hope you had a safe and fun Independence Day. July is a milestone month because the state’s new budget year began on the 1st, meaning the biennial budgets adopted during the 2023 legislative session are now in effect. Additionally, the effective date for many bills that passed during the session is 90 days after the session ends, which is July 23. Some bills specify their effective date (or dates); others do not, in which case they automatically go into effect on the 23rd.

While tracking the 2023 bills taking effect this month, we are also continuing to develop AWC’s 2024 legislative agenda. AWC’s Legislative Priorities Committee will meet later this month to continue discussing and deliberating over the many issues under consideration. If you have suggestions for agenda items, please feel free to share them with members of the Committee or email them to me.

Finally, it was such fun seeing so many of our city members in Spokane for this year’s AWC Annual Conference. The Government Relations team enjoyed connecting and reconnecting with those in attendance. We always welcome your questions and comments. Feel free to reach out to us any time.

Candice Bock
Government Relations Director

New extreme heat law goes into effect July 23: Read these eight takeaways from a recent roundtable discussion
Last month, AWC co-hosted a roundtable discussion on the new extreme heat law taking effect July 23. Under the new law, water and electric utilities will be prohibited from making service shutoffs when the National Weather Service has issued a heat-related alert. Check out the top takeaways from the event and read the Attorney General’s Office responses to questions submitted by municipalities across the state. More

New funding available to help cities with costs of Blake refunds, public defense costs
For assistance with refunds from the 2021 Blake decision, the Blake Refund Bureau is due to be up and running by the end of this month. The Blake Refund Bureau will administer reimbursements to individuals for fines or costs ordered by the courts in connection with drug possession convictions that were found unconstitutional by the Washington Supreme Court. Funding will also be available soon to help with public defense costs created by SB 5536 this session, creating the new gross misdemeanor charge of drug possession and public use. More

Washington’s federal broadband allocation over $1 billion; WSBO to hold monthly stakeholder meetings as it prepares state action and digital equity plans
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced state allocations for the national Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Washington is eligible to receive $1.23 billion, approximately $300 million more than anticipated. The new federal funds pair with the state’s BEAD Five-Year Action Plan and Digital Equity Plan that will inform how Washington uses the infrastructure funds for broadband construction projects. Stay involved by attending one or more of the Washington State Broadband Office’s (WSBO) monthly Internet for All webinars, to be held the fourth Wednesday of every month through the end of the year. Learn more and read this guidance from the National League of Cities.

Register now! Public safety and retail crime webinar
July 18 | 9 am
Join AWC and Mark Johnson from the Washington Retail Association for a conversation about public safety, retail theft, and organized crime impacting Washington communities.

Don’t forget to report your 2022 public records data – JLARC has extended deadline to August 1
Agencies that spend over $100,000 in staff and legal costs associated with maintaining public records and responding to records requests are required to report and agencies below the threshold should consider voluntarily reporting their metrics. Accurate and up-to-date public records data gives legislators and advocates a clearer picture of the work that local governments do. More

Celebrating 90 years of strong city advocacy
This year, AWC celebrates its 90th anniversary. Founded on the principles of advocating for city needs and serving as a unified voice for cities, AWC has focused on advocacy from the very beginning. Check out this session from AWC’s Annual Conference where our AWC lobbyists highlight 90 years of strong city advocacy and talk about how to continue the tradition.

State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program now open. A new $3 million state grant program will provide federal funds to local government to address cybersecurity risks and threats. Deadline to apply is July 18. More

USDOT opens streamlined application process for over $5.5 billion in funding for major infrastructure projects. $675 million available for rural surface transportation projects. Prepare to apply by August 21. More

Commerce initiates Growth Management Act rulemaking. The rules will address recent legislation on housing and UGAs, and the process includes a five-month schedule to draft rules. More

Ecology announces 2024 Business Organics Management Areas. Each July 1, Ecology will designate areas of the state where businesses are required, the following January, to arrange for organics collection services under the recent Organics Management Law (2022). Local governments can request a change in the designation if the infrastructure is insufficient to provide collection or processing. More

Last week saw Earth’s hottest day on record. Check out this new report from the University of Washington on how to combat extreme heat events in your community. More

SAO’s Center for Government Innovation launches new cyber checkups. To help local governments prepare for and prevent cybersecurity attacks, the State Auditor’s Office now provides fast and free assessments of an agency’s vulnerability to common threats. More

SCOTUS raises the bar for “undue hardship” in religious accommodations. The U.S. Supreme Court has raised the bar for what employers can consider “undue hardship” when reviewing employee religious accommodation requests. The old “de minimis” standard has been replaced by a new “substantial costs” inquiry. More

State releases updated population numbers – Cities increase share of population by 1.3%. 86,750 new people moved to or were born in Washington in the last year. Read OFM’s April 1 population report to see where they are living and to see how your city’s population has changed. More

July: A great time for a city tour
One of our favorite advocacy tips is to take your legislators on tours of important projects in your community. This is a wonderful time of year to invite legislators for a visit while it is warm and sunny. Find more advocacy tips here.

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