FINAL WEEK

All bills except the budget must be voted on by Friday at 5:00 p.m. This is our last chance to get our priority bills passed, and the two chambers are already voting on a number of bills. If a bill is in Rules, call your Legislator and ask them to “pull” the bill for a floor vote. Representatives Tarra Simmons and Michelle Caldier are on the House Rules Committee which is a plus. If a bill is on the floor urge them to vote for it. You can check the Floor Activity Reports to see it your bill is listed for a vote. Here are some bills we want to see pass:

1099 – Climate change

1616 – Charity Care Act

1643 – Affordable Housing

5722 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Buildings

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS TO GO

Bills need to be voted on by March 4. Budget related bills have Monday to get out of the fiscal committees. The last day of the Session is March 10. Some important bills are still in play:
1630 is in Rules – this bill prohibits the possession of firearms near schools or local government buildings.
Several bills will be in Executive Session in Senate Ways and Means on Monday, Feb 28 – 1099, 1616 and 1643
House Appropriations will have Executive Session on two environmental bills Monday – 5619 and 5722.

February 24 is the Next Deadline

By next Thursday bills need to be out of the next chamber and headed for a floor vote before March 4. This week there will be hearings prior to those key votes. We are asking you to weigh in “pro” or submit comments on:

HB 1141 – Death with Dignity; hearing is Friday, 8:00 a.m. in Senate Health Care

HB 1866 – Supportive Housing; hearing is Feb 21, 1:30 p.m. in Senate Health

HB 1876 – Fiscal Impact of Ballot Measures; hearing Friday, 10:30 in Senate State Government

SB 5722 – Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings; hearing Thursday, 1:30 p.m. in House Environment and Energy

THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS HALF OVER

Any bills must be out of their house of origin by February 15! Make sure to let your legislator know to get our bills to the floor for a vote. Some of the bills we want to see progress include:

HB 1630 Prohibiting the open carry of fire arms in local government buildings

HB 1616 The Charity Care Act

HB 1141 Death With Dignity Act

In addition the Transportation package, SB5974 was just released. Tell your legislator to provide enough money for ferries.

February 3 is the cutoff for bills to get out of committee!

A bill must be voted on and progress out of their committee or they die. The only exception is if it is a bill with budget impacts, which in that case they get 4 extra days. But basically you need to lobby hard this week to get the bills we care about passed. Check the Legislative Newsletter for more details. For example the Keep Our Care Act needs to get out of committee this week.