Advocacy

Welcome to NPI’s Advocacy page. Here, you can find our advocacy campaigns, legislative priorities, and Statehouse Bill Tracker, a tool for keeping tabs on what is happening under the dome in the Washington State Capitol. Not familiar with our work? Learn more about NPI and what we do.

Current Ballot Measure Endorsements

Washington State

  • Initiative 2117: NO (Repeals the Climate Commitment Act, which is raising funds to fight climate damage)
  • Initiative 2109: NO (Repeals billions in education funding by eliminating the capital gains tax on the wealthy)
  • Initiative 2113: NO (Rolls back restrictions on police pursuits that are making our communities safer)
  • Initiative 2124: NO (Sabotages the WA Cares plan to help Washingtonians afford long-term care
  • Initiative 2111: NO (Bars the state and local governments from levying taxes based on ability to pay
  • Initiative 2081: NO (Forces public schools to give parents information that students may not want shared)

For more information, visit stopgreed.org.

Legislative Priorities for 2024

The Northwest Progressive Institute’s 2024 Washington State legislative priorities are:

Legislative Priorities

  • Give cities and towns the freedom to switch their elections to high-turnout even years
  • Prohibit child marriage by requiring both parties to be at least eighteen years old
  • Fully fund no-cost school meals for all Washington students in K-12 schools
  • Increase oversight of gas prices and require greater transparency from oil companies
  • Adopt new safeguards to protect election workers from harassment and intimidation
  • Reject the initiatives sponsored by Jim Walsh that would jeopardize the state’s future

Session Goals

  • Build a more progressive tax code by modernizing the real estate excise tax, enact a homestead exemption and renter’s credit to help low and middle income-families, champion a wealth tax on huge fortunes, and provide progressive revenue options to counties hamstrung by destructive policies like Initiative 747;
  • Increase funding for attainable and affordable housing, prioritize the density of new development near public transit to reduce car usage, and require trees near new housing to reduce air pollution and heat island impacts;
  • Improve sustainability by wisely investing Climate Commitment Act revenue, investing in salmon habitat to protect fish and our critically endangered orcas, adopting right to repair, and shifting away from car-centric policies;
  • Uphold Washington’s paramount duty by dedicating more resources to special education, school nurses, K-12 libraries, and music programs, along with grant funding to empower districts to retrofit or replace seismically vulnerable structures, and advance a constitutional amendment to require simple majorities for school bonds;
  • Enhance equity and social justice by addressing the alarming rise of hate crimes and requiring proposed legislation to be reviewed through an equity lens;
  • Protect democracy by barring foreign entities from influencing Washington State candidates and ballot measure campaigns, closing loopholes in the Fair Campaign Practices Act, and establishing a publicly funded small dollar donor program;
  • Protect reproductive rights by empowering the attorney general to block hospital mergers if they jeopardize access to abortion care, indemnify companies based in Washington that help employees in other states get abortions, and advance a constitutional amendment to recognize Washingtonians’ family planning rights.

Statehouse Bill Tracker

A tool for monitoring the Washington State Legislature

Introduction: The Statehouse Bill Tracker is an NPI project that makes tracking priority legislation simple and easy. The Tracker aggregates feeds for bills “with legs”, providing an up-to-date view of what’s moving in the statehouse at any given time during session. Bills are sorted by activity. The most recently active bills appear at the top and the least active bills appear at the bottom.

When something happens to a bill, we call that an action.

An action could be a bill’s introduction, public hearing in committee, vote on the floor, proposed amendment, or referral to another committee; all these are examples of steps in the legislative process. (See this page for a visual explanation of how a bill becomes a law). Actions affect the placement of bills in the tracker. Here’s a longer explanation:

  1. Bills are sorted in reverse chronological order. The most active bills will always appear at the top. Bills with little activity will sink to the bottom like a heavy stone settling at the bottom of a creek bed after being washed downstream by a flood.
  2. A green dot next to a bill number update indicates the bill reflects progressive values and enjoys our support. Conversely, red octagon (stop sign) indicates that we oppose the bill because it would implement policies that are contrary to progressive values. Finally, a yellow triangle means we have concerns about a bill, but are not working for its defeat.
  3. Assessments of bills are provided by NPI and organizations that we work with, such as the Washington State Labor Council or the Environmental Priorities Coalition. The person/entity that analyzed the bill and provided the wording is always listed to the left of the assessment.
  4. It is possible to view a bill’s full history without clicking away, as long as JavaScript is enabled. Simply click on the blue link that says “Click to view” and the bill history will slide out for easy viewing. (It can be hidden again using the same link, which will change to say “Click to hide”). If JavaScript is not enabled, the bill history may still be viewed, either by clicking the bill number to go to the Legislature’s website or by viewing the source of this page.

Now, let’s find out what’s moving in the statehouse!

Browse Active Legislation

Senate Bill 5843 (Requiring Intrusion Detection to Improve Elections Security)

Official Description: Concerning security breaches of election systems and election-related systems.
Current Status: (March 13, 2024) Effective date 6/6/2024.
Prime Sponsor: Nguyen
Cosponsors:
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Senate Bill 5843 is agency request legislation from Secretary of State Steve Hobbs that would require county elections offices to have intrusion detection systems in place to improve elections security. Some small Washington counties, responding to right wing election deniers, have in the past year and a half disabled their intrusion detection systems. This bill would require those counties to put them back. The bill also requires makers and distributors of voting systems to disclose breaches to the Secretary of State. Passage of SB 5843 will strengthen elections security in Washington State and is strongly supported by NPI.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5913 (Supporting Student Athletes)

Official Description: Concerning communication between employees of state institutions of higher education and student athletes regarding name, image, and likeness use.
Current Status: (March 13, 2024) Effective date 6/6/2024.
Prime Sponsor: Valdez
Cosponsors: MacEwen, Hunt, Nobles
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation from Senator Javier Valdez "addresses concerns regarding the Ethics in Public Service Act, ensuring public resources, including personnel, can be utilized by state higher education employees to benefit student athletes. The bill specifically allows them to provide advice, facilitation, acknowledgment, or education on matters concerning the name, image, and likeness (NIL) of student athletes. These activities must be conducted under the control or direction of the higher education employee and may encompass broader aspects of student athlete NIL matters," as described by the Senate Democratic caucus. Valdez adds: “The bill would allow staff to go beyond high-level educational awareness, enabling them to provide specific counseling on NIL opportunities. This clarification will mean better service for students and put us on an equal playing field with other competing states and institutions.”
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5883 (Promoting Equity in Special Education)

Official Description: Concerning the burden of proof for special education due process hearings.
Current Status: (March 13, 2024) Effective date 6/6/2024.
Prime Sponsor: Trudeau
Cosponsors: Braun, Dhingra, Frame, Hasegawa, Kauffman, Nobles, Saldaña, Valdez, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill "promotes equity by placing the burden of proof on school districts in due process hearings. Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), parents and school districts have the right to request due process hearings on matters like identification, evaluation, and educational placement of students," according to Senate Democratic caucus staff.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5444 (Prohibiting Guns in Libraries, Parks, Zoos, Aquariums)

Official Description: Concerning firearm sensitive places.
Current Status: (March 8, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Valdez
Cosponsors: Hunt, Kuderer, Nguyen, Pedersen, Saldaña
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Washington State has previously passed legislation barring the carrying of guns in sensitive locations such as ballot counting sites or local government meetings. This legislation would add libraries, parks, zoos, and aquariums to that list, as well as mass transit facilities and public buildings owned by the state or its localities. Duly authorized law enforcement officers would be exempt.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5950 (Supplemental Operating Budget - Senate Version)

Official Description: Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.
Current Status: (March 8, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Robinson
Cosponsors:
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill is the Senate's supplemental operating budget vehicle. Its initial incarnation is gubernatorial request legislation - it is the governor's proposed supplemental operating budget. The budget will be modified by the Ways & Means Committee before being considered by the full Senate. NPI is asking that the Legislature significantly strengthen investments in K-12 education in the operating budget, including for no-cost universal schools, district budget stabilization, and increased services for disabled students.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5904 (Extending Terms of Eligibility for Student Financial Aid)

Official Description: Extending the terms of eligibility for financial aid programs.
Current Status: (March 8, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Nobles
Cosponsors: Hansen, Dhingra, Frame, Hasegawa, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Randall, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Senate Bill 5904 "extends eligibility for awards under the Washington College Grant, College Bound Scholarship, and Passport to Careers programs from five years or 125 percent of the published length of the student's program, to six years or 150 percent of the published length of the student's program," as assessed by nonpartisan staff. Helping more Washingtonians access higher education is a worthy objective and one NPI strongly supports.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 6015 (Easing Burdensome Parking Requirements)

Official Description: Concerning residential parking configurations.
Current Status: (March 8, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Shewmake
Cosponsors: Kuderer, Liias
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "[T]his bill follows the lead of cities like Spokane and Port Townsend, which allow new homes to count adjacent on-street parking towards off-street requirements," says Sightline researcher Catie Gould. "This gives builders the option to forgo new curb cuts that turn public parking spaces into private ones, and it minimizes hazards for people walking and biking. Most importantly, this flexibility allows more homes that wouldn’t be feasible to build otherwise."
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5790 (Providing Tourniquet-Equipped First Aid Kits)

Official Description: Concerning bleeding control equipment in schools. (REVISED FOR ENGROSSED: Concerning medical equipment in schools. )
Current Status: (March 8, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Dhingra
Cosponsors: Wellman, Kuderer, Nobles, Trudeau, Hunt, Fortunato, Hasegawa, Lovick, Saldaña, Stanford, Valdez, Van De Wege, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation "would provide bleeding control kits in schools and encourage bystanders to become trained, equipped, and empowered to help until professionals arrive," as summarized by the Senate Democratic caucus. “Bystanders can help save lives with simple techniques — having these kits available and having staff trained in using them can make all the difference,” said sponsor Manka Dhingra (D-45th District: Redmond), a Northwest Progressive Foundation boardmember and the bill’s sponsor. “Requiring these kits in all schools means that all students will get the same level of safety and protection.”
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 6058 (CCA Improvement - Pollution Market Linkage)

Official Description: Facilitating linkage of Washington's carbon market with the California-Quebec carbon market.
Current Status: (March 8, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Nguyen
Cosponsors: Hunt, Kuderer, Liias, Mullet, Pedersen, Saldaña, Shewmake, Stanford
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Senate Bill 6058, sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyễn (D-White Center), makes numerous technical changes to carbon markets to help align Washington’s market with those of California and Quebec, and is an important step forward for the cap-and-invest program created by 2021’s Climate Commitment Act," explains the Senate Democratic caucus. "Linking markets with California and Quebec is expected to have major benefits for Washington’s carbon market. With a larger and more stable market, it’s expected that allowance prices would be significantly lower than at the 2023 auctions, with lower impacts to the gas and energy prices for consumers. It also would provide predictability and stability for businesses emitting carbon pollution participating in the auctions to incentivize long-term strategies to reduce emissions."
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 6039 (Advancing Geothermal Energy and Geologic Research)

Official Description: Promoting the development of geothermal energy resources.
Current Status: (March 8, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Lovelett
Cosponsors: Shewmake, Dhingra, Frame, Hasegawa, Keiser, Liias, Nguyen, Nobles, Saldaña
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Senate Bill 6039, sponsored by Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes), directs the Washington Geological Survey (WGS) to update mapping and compile a public database of subsurface geologic information while also creating grant programs to support geothermal exploration and individual tribal consultation," as summarized by the Senate Democratic caucus. NPI testified in favor of this legislation in the Senate and continues to strongly support it.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 2118 (Code of Conduct for Gun Dealers)

Official Description: Protecting the public from gun violence by establishing additional requirements for the business operations of licensed firearms dealers.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Walen
Cosponsors: Berry
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation, as summarized by Everytown for Gun Safety, would create "a robust code of conduct for licensed gun dealers in Washington State, to ensure they take steps to keep guns off the illegal market and out of the hands of people who shouldn't have them. The bill requires gun dealers to secure their inventory against theft, have general liability insurance, and maintain sales records to aid investigations of gun crimes."
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1932 (Even Year Elections for Washington Localities)

Official Description: Shifting general elections for local governments to even-numbered years to increase voter participation.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
Prime Sponsor: Gregerson
Cosponsors: Farivar, Peterson, Alvarado, Berry, Ramel, Stearns, Mena, Bateman
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: As originally drafted, this legislation, based on NPI's SB 5723 / HB 1882, would give many local governments in Washington the freedom to switch their elections to even-numbered years, and also require a switch if turnout falls below forty percent for four consecutive election cycles. 5723 / 1882 do not have this mandatory trigger provision and only pertain to cities and towns. NPI supports this alternative approach as well as the legislation we've already introduced.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1455 (Ending Child Marriage)

Official Description: Eliminating child marriage.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) Effective date 6/6/2024.
Prime Sponsor: Stonier
Cosponsors: Berry, Farivar, Rude, Fey, Reed, Morgan, Thai, Fosse, Pollet, Macri, Bateman
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This Northwest Progressive Institute priority bill, prime sponsored by State Representative Monica Stonier, would end a human rights abuse by requiring both parties to be at least eighteen years of age in order to legally marry. This will stop the law from being used as a tool to trap young girls from being forced into marriages with older men by their parents - something that unfortunately still happens in Washington and other U.S. states. NPI's polling has found that 80% of likely 2024 voters support this legislation.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1368 (Electrifying School Buses)

Official Description: Requiring and funding the purchase of zero emission school buses.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Senn
Cosponsors: Fey, Berry, Doglio, Peterson, Chapman, Fosse, Slatter, Gregerson, Callan, Lekanoff, Ramel, Stonier, Street, Santos, Fitzgibbon, Berg, Reed, Simmons, Bergquist, Goodman, Pollet, Cortes, Macri, Leavitt
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "House Bill 1368 requires a gradual transition to zero-emission school buses, requiring that all buses purchased on or after September 1, 2027 by school districts, charter schools, or state-tribal education compact schools must be zero-emission," according to House Democratic caucus staff. The bill would also create "a comprehensive funding program to support schools with the transition to a cleaner transportation system, without incurring additional costs for school districts." It has NPI's enthusiastic support.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 2114 (Rent Stabilization for Washington Tenants - House Version)

Official Description: Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement.
Current Status: (February 22, 2024) Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 1:30 PM in anticipation of other legislative action.
Prime Sponsor: Alvarado
Cosponsors: Macri, Ramel, Peterson, Mena, Slatter, Farivar, Taylor, Doglio, Cortes, Fitzgibbon, Gregerson, Berry, Senn, Reed, Bateman, Ortiz-Self, Simmons, Ormsby, Street, Chopp, Orwall, Bergquist, Berg, Wylie, Stonier, Lekanoff, Fosse, Riccelli, Pollet, Kloba, Davis
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "HB 2114 and SB 5961 are companion bills that protect tenants and stabilize communities," says the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. "These bills protect manufactured homeowners and tenants by stabilizing annual rent increases to no more than 5% per year, require 6 months' notice for a rent increase of 3% or more, ensure that fees count as rent for the purposes of calculating an increase, limit move-in fees to the equivalent of one month’s rent or less, and limit late fees to $10."
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 2270 (Creating a State-Level Department of Housing)

Official Description: Creating a Washington state department of housing.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
Prime Sponsor: Morgan
Cosponsors: Macri, Peterson, Gregerson, Ryu, Reeves, Callan, Bateman, Ormsby, Street, Cortes, Ramel, Kloba, Wylie, Fey, Leavitt, Donaghy, Thai, Goodman, Mena, Taylor, Duerr, Riccelli, Berry, Reed, Santos, Entenman, Ortiz-Self, Simmons, Bergquist, Stonier, Fosse, Timmons, Chapman, Stearns, Nance, Chopp, Shavers, Slatter, Doglio, Pollet, Tharinger, Walen, Bronoske, Orwall, Fitzgibbon, Davis, Alvarado, Paul
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation would get Washington on the road to the creation of a state-level Department of Housing. Sponsor Melanie Morgan notes: “It has been reported that 1.1 million units of housing is needed to end homelessness and increase homeownership. The intent of the proposal is to create a holistic approach to housing to achieve this goal so that we can improve our coordinated efforts using our state, local, and federal resources, and have a single voice on how we direct those resources in the most efficient manner,” Morgan said. “With a new department focused solely on housing and homelessness programs and services, we will go from a broad patchwork to a one-stop-shop.”
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5856 (Ending Deceptive Voter Registration Challenges)

Official Description: Concerning voter registration challenges.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
Prime Sponsor: Hunt
Cosponsors: Kuderer, Nobles, Valdez, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation would combat voter suppression by ensuring there is a clearer process for challenging voter registrations - and protecting people from being wrongly removed from voter rolls or duped into thinking they are not entitled to vote. "The bill would require voter eligibility challenges based on residence to use a form provided by the Secretary of State, and specify that inactive voters are not subject to a voter eligibility challenge. It also establishes a 10-day timeline for a county auditor to determine if a voter eligibility challenge is in proper form and has a legal and factual basis, among other things," according to an assessment from Senate Democratic caucus staff.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1185 (Phaseout of Most Mercury-Containing Lights)

Official Description: Reducing environmental impacts associated with lighting products.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Hackney
Cosponsors: Duerr, Berry, Ramel, Fitzgibbon, Doglio, Pollet
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Championed by Representative David Hackney, this bill addresses a phase out of mercury light bulbs and an update of the existing light-cycle law," explains Zero Waste Washington.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 2301 (Bolstering Composting and Food Donation)

Official Description: Improving the outcomes associated with waste material management systems, including products affecting organic material management systems.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Doglio
Cosponsors: Fitzgibbon, Duerr, Berry, Ramel, Ormsby, Peterson, Pollet, Macri, Cortes, Shavers, Leavitt, Kloba
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Championed by Representative Beth Doglio and Senator John Lovick, this bill would address composting and other management of organic (yard and food waste) in order to divert the material from the landfill and avoid methane gas generation," explains Zero Waste Washington.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 2401 (Improving Refrigerant Recycling)

Official Description: Providing for the responsible management of refrigerant gases with a higher global warming potential than carbon dioxide that are used in appliances or other infrastructure.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
Prime Sponsor: Duerr
Cosponsors: Doglio, Berry, Fitzgibbon, Ramel, Pollet
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Championed by Representative Davina Duerr, this bill would create a producer responsibility program for refrigerants," explains Zero Waste Washington.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 6163 (Monitoring "Forever Chemicals" in Biosolids)

Official Description: Concerning biosolids.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
Prime Sponsor: Wilson
Cosponsors: J., Lovelett, Hasegawa, Nobles, Saldaña
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Led by Senator Jeff Wilson, this establishes a monitoring program for PFAS (i.e., the forever chemicals) in biosolids from wastewater treatment facilities. Biosolids are spread in forests and on farms... and we are concerned about the impacts of these bioaccumulating toxic chemcials," says Zero Waste Washington.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 2207 (Reducing Illlegal Dumping Impacts)

Official Description: Providing tools designed to reduce the impacts of unlawful solid waste dumping.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Ramos
Cosponsors: Low, Chapman, Couture, Reed
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Proposed by Alex Ramel, this legislation would address the use of fines from illegal dumping.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 6278 (Promoting Organic Agriculture)

Official Description: Promoting organic agriculture.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
Prime Sponsor: Liias
Cosponsors: Muzzall, Billig, Nobles, Saldaña, Valdez
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Championed by Senator Liias, this bill establishes an Organic and Regenerative Agriculture Task Force, and requires WSDA to develop an Organic Agriculture Action Plan and submit the plan to the Legislature by November 1, 2025. Critical to regenerative agriculture is compost!" says Zero Waste Washington.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5937 (Victim-Centered, Trauma-Informed Response to Sexual Assault)

Official Description: Supporting crime victims and witnesses by promoting victim-centered, trauma-informed responses in the legal system.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Dhingra
Cosponsors: Braun, Hasegawa, Keiser, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Lovick, Nguyen, Nobles, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, Wellman, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "SB 5937 streamlines eligibility for crime victim benefits, covers some of victims’ costs for forensic examinations, expands protections to more victims, improves state and local teams to respond to sexual assault, and ensures that children age 13 and up can consent to forensic sexual examinations and examinations for sexually transmitted infections," according to the Senate Democratic caucus.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5241 (Keep Our Care Act)

Official Description: Concerning material changes to the operations and governance structure of participants in the health care marketplace.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) By resolution, returned to Senate Rules Committee for third reading.
Prime Sponsor: Randall
Cosponsors: Rolfes, Kuderer, Trudeau, Pedersen, Shewmake, Hunt, Saldaña, Kauffman, Valdez, Lovick, Robinson, Lovelett, Liias, Frame, Nguyen, Stanford, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: The Keep Our Care Act "would ensure hospital mergers and acquisitions don’t restrict patients’ access to critical health care, such as end-of-life, reproductive and gender-affirming care," as summarized by the Senate Democratic caucus. "Research has shown hospital consolidations commonly result in price increases for patients of up to 20% or more. "The bill would require the Attorney General’s Office to determine through a public process if a hospital merger would detrimentally affect access to health care." NPI's polling has found strong support for the Keep Our Care Act among Washington voters.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 2023 (Improving Language Access for Voters)

Official Description: Improving meaningful access to elections by increasing language assistance.
Current Status: (March 7, 2024) By resolution, returned to House Rules Committee for third reading.
Prime Sponsor: Shavers
Cosponsors: Ramel, Reed, Ormsby, Callan, Timmons, Berg, Lekanoff, Doglio, Reeves, Santos
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: House Bill 2023 seeks to improves meaningful access to elections by requiring voting materials to be translated in covered counties. According to House Democratic caucus staff: "The bill requires translated voting materials for counties with more than 2.5 percent of voting-age citizens (1) who do not speak or understand English and (2) have not completed the fifth grade at a rate higher than the national average. The list of covered counties is updated every five years by the Secretary of State. The legislation also establishes a grant program by the Secretary of State for counties that choose to provide assistance in a language other than English."
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1903 (Reporting Lost and Stolen Firearms)

Official Description: Reporting lost or stolen firearms.
Current Status: (March 6, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Berry
Cosponsors: Taylor, Stonier, Fitzgibbon, Reed, Street, Callan, Walen, Peterson, Fosse, Reeves, Simmons, Kloba, Mena, Senn, Hackney, Goodman, Thai, Ryu, Cortes, Tharinger, Alvarado, Ramel, Duerr, Ramos, Bateman
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation, as summarized by Everytown for Gun Safety, would require the reporting of lost and stolen firearms, which are often diverted to people prohibited from having guns and end up being used in violent crimes. Passage of this bill will make Washington's communities safer.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5884 (Bolstering Environmental Justice)

Official Description: Concerning court-ordered restitution in environmental criminal cases.
Current Status: (March 6, 2024) Delivered to Governor.
Prime Sponsor: Trudeau
Cosponsors: Pedersen, Dhingra, Hasegawa, Lovelett, Nobles, Saldaña, Salomon, Stanford, Valdez
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation "clarifies courts’ existing authority to order restitution for harms to the environment in environmental criminal cases in Washington state. The legislation allows courts to impose fines for criminal offenses related to water pollution, air pollution, and hazardous waste management," according to a summary prepared by the Senate Democratic caucus. "Past penalties have failed to cover the extensive costs endured incurred by local governments, tribes, and impacted businesses due to environmental offenses. Such violations inflict lasting environmental impacts damage on the ecosystem, affecting the fish and wildlife dependent on it. Often, this results in years, sometimes decades, of remediation at the expense of taxpayers."
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House Bill 2276 (Affordable Homes Act - House Version)

Official Description: Increasing the supply of affordable and workforce housing.
Current Status: (February 26, 2024) Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Prime Sponsor: Berg
Cosponsors: Macri, Chopp, Street, Slatter, Reed, Ramel, Farivar, Alvarado, Kloba, Mena, Ormsby, Riccelli, Senn, Davis, Tharinger, Cortes, Stonier, Ortiz-Self, Fitzgibbon, Thai, Peterson, Fosse, Gregerson, Simmons, Taylor, Doglio, Pollet, Bateman, Lekanoff, Goodman, Berry, Santos, Wylie, Bergquist, Fey, Duerr, Ryu, Morgan, Nance
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "This policy would make the state real estate excise tax (REET) more progressive and adds a new option for local REETs," says the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. "The revenue generated by this bill would create a permanent funding source for the Housing Trust Fund and more. The Affordable Homes Act directly addresses the lack of affordable housing in Washington, and will make a big difference when it comes to reducing and preventing homelessness in our state. Passing this policy would be an enormous victory for the health and wellbeing of all Washingtonians."
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House Bill 2104 (Supplemental Operating Budget - House Version)

Official Description: Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium supplemental operating appropriations.
Current Status: (February 24, 2024) Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Prime Sponsor: Ormsby
Cosponsors: Bergquist
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill is the House's supplemental operating budget vehicle. Its initial incarnation is gubernatorial request legislation - it is the governor's proposed supplemental operating budget. The budget will be modified by the House Appropriations Committee before being considered by the full House of Representatives. NPI is asking that the Legislature significantly strengthen investments in K-12 education in the operating budget, including for no-cost universal schools, district budget stabilization, and increased services for disabled students.
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House Bill 1445 (Authorizing AG Investigations for Legal Violations)

Official Description: Concerning law enforcement and local corrections agency misconduct through investigations and legal actions.
Current Status: (February 20, 2024) House Rules "X" file.
Prime Sponsor: Hansen
Cosponsors: Simmons, Reed, Thai, Pollet, Macri
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation would authorize the Attorney General to "investigate and bring an action against a law enforcement agency of any county, city, town, or political subdivision of the state, or against a local corrections agency for any county, city, or local agency, for a violation of the state Constitution or state law." Supporters say the powers being authorized would "run parallel to the federal Attorney General's authority to investigate patterns and practices that violate constitutional rights." This legislation is needed to ensure there is accountability for police misconduct.
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House Bill 1078 (Improving Urban Forest Management)

Official Description: Concerning urban forest management ordinances.
Current Status: (February 20, 2024) House Rules "X" file.
Prime Sponsor: Duerr
Cosponsors: Doglio, Simmons, Reed, Ryu, Walen, Ramel, Macri, Reeves, Kloba
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "2SHB 1078 requires the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to establish optional model ordinances and recommendations for the use of tree banks, including criteria for siting tree banks and providing best practices for maintaining newly planted trees," according to our friends at TreePAC. We agree with TreePAC that the legislation would benefit from a terminology change. The legislation uses the term "tree banks," which TreePAC says is "confusing and has different meanings, including trees in nursery situations and tree stock development." An amendment replacing "tree bank" with "tree replanting areas" would address this concern.
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House Bill 2049 (ReWRAP Act)

Official Description: Improving Washington's solid waste management outcomes.
Current Status: (February 20, 2024) House Rules "X" file.
Prime Sponsor: Berry
Cosponsors: Doglio, Fitzgibbon, Ramel, Duerr, Mena, Ryu, Bateman, Slatter, Gregerson, Simmons, Peterson, Macri, Street, Alvarado, Fosse, Pollet, Kloba
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Championed by Representative Liz Berry and Senator Liz Lovelett, and includes product stewardship for packaging and printed paper, including recycling and reuse targets, accurate labeling provisions and requirements for post-consumer recycled content in plastic tubs, thermoform containers (e.g., clamshells), and single-use cups," explains Zero Waste Washington. "This bill implement top recommendations in Ecology’s Plastics Study, which was required by Senator Rolfes’ SB5397 in 2019 to address our recycling crisis and the increasing amount of plastic pollution."
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House Bill 2144 (Bottle Bill - Deposit Return Program)

Official Description: Providing for a deposit return program for qualifying beverage containers to be implemented by a distributor responsibility organization.
Current Status: (February 20, 2024) House Rules "X" file.
Prime Sponsor: Stonier
Cosponsors: Berry, Taylor, Reed, Ramel, Peterson, Callan, Macri, Street, Gregerson, Berg, Fosse, Doglio, Pollet, Kloba, Davis
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Championed by Representative Stonier, this bill would establish a system that facilitates the return of beverage containers, with a 10 cent refund. Bottle bills are known to help reduce litter and also increase recycling. In addition, reuse (i.e., sanitizing the containers and refilling with beverage) can work well in these systems. We are concerned, however, that convenience for residents to return their containers be improved in the current proposed policy.," explains Zero Waste Washington.
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Senate Bill 5723 (Even Year Elections for Cities and Towns)

Official Description: Giving cities and towns the freedom to switch their general elections to even-numbered years.
Current Status: (February 15, 2024) Senate Rules "X" file.
Prime Sponsor: Valdez
Cosponsors: Kuderer, Dhingra, Frame, Hasegawa, Keiser, Liias, Lovelett, Nguyen, Nobles, Pedersen, Randall, Shewmake, Stanford
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Senate Bill 5723 is NPI's groundbreaking legislation to allow cities and towns to switch the regular elections for their executive and legislative positions to even years if they wish, to raise and diversify their voter turnout. Currently, state law requires cities and towns to hold their elections in odd years, precluding them from having a choice. This bill, developed by NPI with Senator Javier Valdez, would give them back the freedom to decide their own timing, a freedom they used to have until the 1960s. This is the Senate version of the legislation.
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Senate Bill 5770 (Meaningful Property Tax Reform to Help Localities)

Official Description: Providing state and local property tax reform.
Current Status: (February 15, 2024) Senate Rules "X" file.
Prime Sponsor: Pedersen
Cosponsors: Van De Wege, Robinson, Dhingra, Nguyen, Wellman, Keiser, Valdez, Saldaña, Hunt, Salomon, Randall, Cleveland, Wilson, C., Stanford, Lovick, Nobles, Hasegawa, Trudeau, Liias
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Senate Bill 5770 is a proposal from State Senator Jamie Pedersen that would replace Tim Eyman's destructive Initiative 747 with a more reasonably property tax limit factor that accounts for population increases and growth in demand for the essential services that Washington's local governments provide.
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Senate Bill 6304 (Improving Tire Efficiency)

Official Description: Implementing certain recommendations of the transportation electrification strategy.
Current Status: (February 15, 2024) Senate Rules "X" file.
Prime Sponsor: Liias
Cosponsors: Nguyen, Kuderer
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill would advance Washington's journey towards electrifying automobile travel. Among other things, it would allow the establishment and enforcement of energy efficiency standards for replacement tires on certain vehicles, thus reducing waste.
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Senate Bill 5809 (Increasing Funding for Privately-Run Charter Schools)

Official Description: Concerning enrichment funding for charter public schools.
Current Status: (February 5, 2024) Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 10:00 AM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Mullet
Cosponsors: Lovick, Cleveland, Salomon, Shewmake, Wilson, L., Braun, Wilson, C., Lovelett, Dozier, Gildon, Kuderer, Padden, Torres
Our Position: NPI opposes this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation is an effort to allow charter schools (which are not under the oversight of local school districts) to access more tax dollars. It would provide LEA (local effort assistance) enrichment grants "in the amount of $1,550 per pupil to charter schools located in school districts where voters have approved a local enrichment levy," in the words of nonpartisan legislative staff. It would also permit charter schools "to apply for state grants on the same basis as school districts." This is the Senate version - it's part of an extensive right wing effort to undermine and privatize public education. NPI strongly opposes this bill.
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House Bill 1897 (Increasing Funding for Privately-Run Charter Schools)

Official Description: Concerning enrichment funding for charter public schools.
Current Status: (February 1, 2024) Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 10:30 AM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Springer
Cosponsors: Hackney, Rule, Doglio, Walen, Timmons, Reeves, Chapman, Entenman, Senn, Slatter, Fey, Bateman, Duerr, Berg, Riccelli, Simmons, Stearns, Leavitt, Rude, Connors, Ybarra, Corry, Steele, Low, Barnard, Taylor, Schmidt, Barkis, Jacobsen, Sandlin, Harris, Wylie, Griffey
Our Position: NPI opposes this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation is an effort to allow charter schools (which are not under the oversight of local school districts) to access more tax dollars. It would provide LEA (local effort assistance) enrichment grants "in the amount of $1,550 per pupil to charter schools located in school districts where voters have approved a local enrichment levy," in the words of nonpartisan legislative staff. It would also permit charter schools "to apply for state grants on the same basis as school districts." This is the Senate version - it's part of an extensive right wing effort to undermine and privatize public education. NPI strongly opposes this bill.
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House Bill 2492 (Study to Identify Ferry Funding Solutions)

Official Description: Creating the Washington state ferries 75 commission.
Current Status: (February 1, 2024) First reading, referred to Transportation.
Prime Sponsor: Nance
Cosponsors: Ramel, Berry, Couture, Shavers, Eslick, Pollet, Street, Alvarado, McEntire
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation from Greg Nance "would establish the Washington State Ferries 75 commission to evaluate dedicated funding sources for sustained financial strength and reliable service. Preliminary findings would be due to the legislature by January 2025 with final recommendations submitted by June 1, 2026 (WSF’s 75th birthday). The WSF 75 commission would be composed of four legislators, four ferry riders, and representatives from labor, WSF, and the Governor’s office," according to a House Democratic caucus news release.
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House Bill 2070 (Requiring Environmental Justice Analyses)

Official Description: Integrating environmental justice considerations into certain project decisions.
Current Status: (January 31, 2024) Referred to Appropriations.
Prime Sponsor: Mena
Cosponsors: Pollet, Fitzgibbon
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation seeks to address "disparities in cumulative environmental and health impacts in Washington and improve the health of all Washington residents." It would require public agencies to include an environmental justice analysis that looks at cumulative impacts of pollution in a community as part of their required environmental reviews. Providing such an equity lens in public planning is long overdue. This is the House version.
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Senate Bill 5963 (Mandatory Insurance for Homes with Firearms)

Official Description: Concerning insurance requirements relating to the ownership of certain deadly weapons.
Current Status: (January 30, 2024) Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice at 10:30 AM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Kuderer
Cosponsors: Valdez
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Senate Bill 5963 would add insurance requirements relating to the ownership of "certain deadly weapons" (meaning firearms). Gun owners would be required to have coverage protecting against "losses or damages resulting from the accidental or unintentional discharge of the firearm including, but not limited to, death or injury to persons who are not an insured person under the policy and property damage."
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Senate Bill 5990 (Requiring Environmental Justice Analyses)

Official Description: Integrating environmental justice considerations into certain project decisions.
Current Status: (January 30, 2024) Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 1:30 PM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Lovelett
Cosponsors: Saldaña
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation seeks to address "disparities in cumulative environmental and health impacts in Washington and improve the health of all Washington residents." It would require public agencies to include an environmental justice analysis that looks at cumulative impacts of pollution in a community as part of their required environmental reviews. Providing such an equity lens in public planning is long overdue. This is the Senate version.
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Senate Bill 5961 (Rent Stabilization for Washington Tenants - Senate Version)

Official Description: Improving housing stability for tenants subject to the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act by limiting rent and fee increases, requiring notice of rent and fee increases, limiting fees and deposits, establishing a landlord resource center and associated services, authorizing tenant lease termination, creating parity between lease types, and providing for attorney general enforcement.
Current Status: (January 26, 2024) Scheduled for executive session in the Senate Committee on Housing at 10:30 AM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Trudeau
Cosponsors: Nobles, Frame, Hasegawa, Keiser, Kuderer, Lovelett, Nguyen, Randall, Robinson, Saldaña, Stanford, Van De Wege, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "HB 2114 and SB 5961 are companion bills that protect tenants and stabilize communities," says the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. "These bills protect manufactured homeowners and tenants by stabilizing annual rent increases to no more than 5% per year, require 6 months' notice for a rent increase of 3% or more, ensure that fees count as rent for the purposes of calculating an increase, limit move-in fees to the equivalent of one month’s rent or less, and limit late fees to $10."
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House Bill 1075 (Working Families Tax Credit Expansion)

Official Description: Expanding eligibility for the working families' tax credit to everyone age 18 and older.
Current Status: (January 25, 2024) Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations at 4:00 PM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Thai
Cosponsors: Walen, Simmons, Berry, Ramel, Peterson, Pollet, Callan, Macri, Gregerson, Bergquist, Wylie, Kloba, Santos, Riccelli, Fosse, Ormsby
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "The Working Families Tax Credit has already put cash into the hands of thousands of Washington families, helping people put food on the table and pay rent," says Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. "Now, let's make sure low-income young adults and seniors can get their cash boost! This bill would remove the credit’s arbitrary age restrictions for people without kids, allowing everyone over the age of 18 to apply for this life-changing yearly cash."
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Senate Bill 6191 (Affordable Homes Act - Senate Version)

Official Description: Increasing the supply of affordable and workforce housing.
Current Status: (January 25, 2024) Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Frame
Cosponsors: Nguyen, Saldaña, Dhingra, Keiser, Wellman, Hunt, Hasegawa, Trudeau, Lovelett, Wilson, C., Stanford, Kuderer, Conway, Cleveland, Pedersen, Valdez, Nobles
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "This policy would make the state real estate excise tax (REET) more progressive and adds a new option for local REETs," says the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. "The revenue generated by this bill would create a permanent funding source for the Housing Trust Fund and more. The Affordable Homes Act directly addresses the lack of affordable housing in Washington, and will make a big difference when it comes to reducing and preventing homelessness in our state. Passing this policy would be an enormous victory for the health and wellbeing of all Washingtonians."
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Senate Bill 6249 (Homestead Exemption for Washingtonians)

Official Description: Providing housing safety, security, and protection by creating the homeowner relief property tax exemption.
Current Status: (January 25, 2024) Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Robinson
Cosponsors: Conway, Frame, Keiser, Kuderer, Lovelett, Lovick, Nguyen, Nobles, Pedersen, Randall, Saldaña, Salomon, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, Wellman, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: SB 6249 and HB 2419 would, in the words of King County Assessor John Arthur Wilson, "provide a property-tax exemption from the state levy for the greater of $100,000, or up to 60% of the median value by county, for a primary residence, whether a home, condo, manufactured home or a multiunit dwelling with fewer than five units. It would accomplish this without gutting K-12 education or local services by rebalancing the share of property taxes paid by the residential and commercial sectors." NPI's research has found strong support for a homestead exemption among likely Washington voters and we wholeheartedly favor this legislation.
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House Bill 1902 (Firearms Permit to Purchase)

Official Description: Enhancing requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms.
Current Status: (January 19, 2024) Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Berry
Cosponsors: Walen, Reed, Nance, Farivar, Doglio, Alvarado, Peterson, Pollet, Duerr, Davis, Hackney, Senn, Stonier, Fitzgibbon, Street, Callan, Reeves, Simmons, Taylor, Mena, Goodman, Thai, Ryu, Tharinger, Ramel, Ramos, Slatter, Cortes, Bateman
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation supported by the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Everytown for Gun Safety, and NPI would "create a permit to purchase system to strengthen vetting procedures before a person is able to buy a firearm, strengthen firearm safety training requirements, and help implement Washington’s mandate to annually confirm that firearm owners are still legally able to possess guns" (Everytown summary).
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House Bill 2054 (Restricting Quantity of Firearms Purchases)

Official Description: Concerning bulk purchases and transfers of firearms.
Current Status: (January 19, 2024) Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary at 10:30 AM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Farivar
Cosponsors: Ormsby, Fitzgibbon, Ryu, Senn, Ramel, Berry, Duerr
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill addresses weapons hoarding by limiting the number of guns that can be purchased or transferred within Washington State to one every thirty days.
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House Bill 2419 (Homestead Exemption for Washingtonians)

Official Description: Providing housing safety, security, and protection by creating the homeowner relief property tax exemption.
Current Status: (January 18, 2024) First reading, referred to Finance.
Prime Sponsor: Berg
Cosponsors: Ramel, Shavers, Pollet
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: SB 6249 and HB 2419 would, in the words of King County Assessor John Arthur Wilson, "provide a property-tax exemption from the state levy for the greater of $100,000, or up to 60% of the median value by county, for a primary residence, whether a home, condo, manufactured home or a multiunit dwelling with fewer than five units. It would accomplish this without gutting K-12 education or local services by rebalancing the share of property taxes paid by the residential and commercial sectors." NPI's research has found strong support for a homestead exemption among likely Washington voters and we wholeheartedly favor this legislation.
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House Bill 1933 (Right to Repair)

Official Description: Supporting the servicing and right to repair of certain products with digital electronics in a secure and reliable manner.
Current Status: (January 17, 2024) Scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Consumer Protection & Business at 1:30 PM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Gregerson
Cosponsors: Kretz, Fitzgibbon, Morgan, Paul, Berry, Duerr, Ramel, Klicker
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: House Bill 1933 is the newest iteration of the right to repair legislation championed for several years by State Representative Mia Gregerson and supported by the Northwest Progressive Institute. "Right to repair" is the notion that people should be able to access the parts and information necessary to fix the gadgets they've bought, whether that be computers, mobile phones, or other electronic devices. NPI's research has found that most Washingtonians want to see right to repair legislation adopted in the Evergreen State.
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House Bill 2205 (Giving Petitioners Special Privileges No One Else Would Have)

Official Description: Establishing protections for citizens participating in the initiative and referendum process.
Current Status: (January 17, 2024) Public hearing in the House Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations at 1:30 PM.
Prime Sponsor: Cheney
Cosponsors: Couture, Hutchins, Graham
Our Position: NPI opposes this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation from Republican Greg Cheney seeks to interfere with First Amendment rights of free assembly and freedom of speech by giving petitioners for ballot measures special privileges that other Washingtonians wouldn't have. The bill attempts to create a twenty-five foot "buffer zone" around signature gathering activities - an idea Washingtonians rejected resoundingly when they defeated Initiative 517 in 2013. NPI strongly opposes this unworkable, possibly unconstitutional legislation.
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Senate Joint Resolution 8207 (Simple Majority for School Bonds)

Official Description: Amending the Constitution to allow a majority of voters voting to authorize school district bonds.
Current Status: (January 15, 2024) Referred to Ways & Means.
Prime Sponsor: Hunt
Cosponsors: Wellman
Our Position: NPI supports this joint resolution.
Assessment by NPI: This proposed amendment to the Washington State Constitution would lower the threshold for passage of school bonds to a simple majority from a three-fifths vote, in keeping with the bedrock democratic principle of majority rule with minority rights. Under the current system, the fate of bonds (which finance new school buildings) is determined by a few, rather than the many. This amendment would fix that, and NPI strongly supports it. It will need both Democratic and Republican votes if it is to be submitted to the people.
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Senate Bill 6004 (Firearms Permit to Purchase)

Official Description: Enhancing requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms.
Current Status: (January 8, 2024) First reading, referred to Law & Justice.
Prime Sponsor: Liias
Cosponsors: Trudeau
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation supported by the Alliance for Gun Responsibility, Everytown for Gun Safety, and NPI would "create a permit to purchase system to strengthen vetting procedures before a person is able to buy a firearm, strengthen firearm safety training requirements, and help implement Washington’s mandate to annually confirm that firearm owners are still legally able to possess guns" (Everytown summary). This is the House version.
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