SENATE COMMITTEE ACTION
SB 6851: The Clean Water Act of 2010 funding cleanup of water pollution and other programs necessary for the healthy and well-being of Washington citizens through an increase in the hazardous substance tax.
Ways & Means: Public hearing and Possible Executive Session
POSITION: SUPPORT
- This bill is now a central part of the Governor’s proposed revenue package because it provides a balanced solution for addressing the state’s near term budget woes and providing a clean water legacy for generations to come.
- Local governments lack the funds to meet federal clean water requirements, and this bill allows for tax relief for businesses and property owners by requiring that oil companies and other polluter pay their fair share; an approach that voters enthusiastically approach.
- Gas prices have fluctuated more than 3 cents in the two weeks since this bill was introduced and, according to DOR, any impact on gas prices from this bill would be so small as to be “indistinguishable”.
EHB 1653: Clarifying the integration of the shoreline management act policies with the growth management act.
Environment, Water & Energy: Possible Executive Session
POSITION: SUPPORT without amendments
- In 2003, interests representing business, agricultural, environmental, and local governments agreed on a law to clarify how and when existing protections apply on the state’s shorelands. In 2008 the Supreme Court issued a split decision causing confusion as to the status of that agreement.
- This striker restores the 2003 agreement and is supported by the associations of cities, counties, ports, & business, Farm Bureau, Realtors, environmental community.
SHB 3067: Establishing a process for the payment of impact fees through provisions stipulated in recorded covenants.
Government Operations & Elections: Possible public hearing and Executive Session
POSITION: OPPOSE
- Impact fees were created to ensure that in many ways, new growth pays its way. HB 3067 makes the impact fee process more expensive and less certain specifically in King and Snohomish Counties. It requires that developers be allowed to shift paying impact fees from when developers obtain their building permits to when the home buyers buy the home.
- This shift in payment gives counties and cities less time to use that impact fee to make the necessary improvements and means that the public facilities needed to reduce the environmental impacts of growth will be delayed until well after the impacts of development occur.
SB 6547/ EHB 2561: Funding construction of energy cost saving improvements to public facilities.
Ways & Means: Possible public hearing
POSITION: SUPPORT
- This bill is authorizes the state to issue bonds for building upgrades and energy conservation retrofits in schools and public buildings. It will create nearly 40,000 jobs in communities large and small across the state.
- A broad coalition of stakeholders seeks the opportunity to finally have this issue heard in committee, so the jobs case can be laid out to you in detail.
SB 6763: Restricting the sales and use tax exemptions for machinery and equipment used in the generation of renewable energy to local electric utilities or persons contracting with local electric utilities.
Ways and Means: Possible Executive Session
POSITION: OPPOSE
- In a compromise bill just last year, the Senate and Governor Gregoire resoundingly approved a two-year extension of the green sales tax exemption at full value, followed by two more years at a 75 percent exemption rate. The sales tax exemption meant the difference for ensuring economically viable renewable energy investments in Washington.
- This legislation backtracks on last year’s compromise legislation. In addition, the fiscal note prepared by the Washington Department of Commerce does not estimate costs associated with monitoring these complex energy transactions or revenue to rural counties from these investments.
