Your weekly news from the Hill

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General government
AWC is working to get the House version of its public records cost recovery bill out of committee before the February 21 cutoff. If you received an action alert from us this week, contact your Legislator on the committee and let them know how important this bill is to your city. AWC has concerns about a bill that would require cities with a population of 8,000 or more to have a website to post meeting agendas, the text of ordinances and rules to be considered, and meeting minutes.
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Land use & housing
The House version of the local government fiscal relief bills passed out of the Local Government Committee to the Rules Committee and awaits floor action. The Senate version is expected to move forward early next week with some changes. Let your legislators know that local fiscal relief is needed. Cities charging impact fees on new developments may have to delay collections if homebuilders get their way. Contact legislators to express your concerns about this bill.
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State budget
AWC is concerned with the transfer of $6 million from the Liquor Revolving Account to the Auto Theft Prevention Account in the Senate’s striking amendment. If you have a legislator on either the House or Senate Ways & Means Committee, please contact them. The committees will be taking action soon and need to hear how important this revenue is to cities!
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Personnel & labor relations
AWC’s priority interest arbitration bill would make much-needed updates to the binding interest arbitration statutes. Please contact the members of the House Labor & Workforce Development Committee and ask them to move this bill. AWC is still opposed to the bill creating new workers’ compensation coverage for occupational disease for law enforcement officers. There are attempts to make amendments so that it is more practicable.
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Law & justice
A Senate committee will consider a bill requiring the election of all municipal court judges. If you have an appointed judge, contact committee members and ask them NOT to support this bill. AWC is aware that the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) sent most cities with appointed judges an extensive public records request. We met with AOC regarding this request and we will be asking them to either withdraw or further clarify the purpose and extent of the request.
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Environment & water
Ecology’s water rights reform legislation was introduced and heard in House and Senate Committees. AWC is participating in workgroups established to sort through the bills, both of which may end up being more about weaning Ecology off state general funds than widespread reform. SEPA reform legislation is now in play in both the House and Senate, and discussions among proponents and opponents began in earnest.
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Infrastructure, economic development & transportation
The Senate is holding a public hearing on AWC's priority tax increment financing bill on Monday. HB 1598 the original REET bill has been replaced with HB 1953. The new bill was developed in conjunction with counties and the Realtors and will likely be heard and passed out of the House Local Government Committee next week. The voter-approved street maintenance utility proposal was introduced this week, and we are seeking to get it scheduled soon.
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Municipal finance
A bill to extend the supplanting clause for the mental health sales tax was heard in the Senate today. This bill concerns the use of moneys collected from the local option sales tax to support chemical dependency or mental health treatment programs and therapeutic courts.
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Federal
Two of AWC’s federal priorities are at risk of reduced funding: Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and transportation. Contact your Senators and your Representative to share the importance of CDBG and transportation funding to your community and its vital role in economic recovery and jobs.
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