Bills
All of the legislation in the 2009-2010 Legislative Scorecard.
Modifying Energy Independence Act
This legislation would have made substantial changes to Initiative 937, the Clean Energy Initiative passed by voters in 2006. If passed in the Senate form, this bill would have allowed utilities to meet renewable energy standards with existing hydropower and increased conservation, reducing the incentive to produce new energy from wind or solar.
Passed the Senate and was amended in the House. The Senate refused to concur.
Modifying Energy Independence Act - Amendment 185
This amendment would have increased the amount of eligible hydroelectric power from 30MW per facility to 50MW per facility, gutting any incentive to produce new renewable power in Washington.
Amendment was not adopted by the Senate.
Concerning retrospective rating plans
Each year the Building Industry Association of Washington takes advantage of a loophole in the state-run workers compensation insurance program to fund their anti-environmental political agenda. This legislation would have restored the intent of this valuable program and prevented such abuse of public funds.
Passed the Senate, but did not come up for a vote in the House.
Concerning the Washington state ferries system - Amendment 334
This amendment reinstated the biodiesel fuel use requirement for Washington state ferries at a B20 level.
The amendment was adopted by the Senate, but the bill did not come up for a floor vote.
Efficiency First - Reducing climate pollution in the built environment
This bill provides incentives to maximize energy efficiency, requires energy use information on buildings offered for sale or lease, and makes our public buildings models more energy efficient. This policy also helps to ensure that low-income consumers can cope with rising energy costs.
Passed the Senate and House and was signed by the Governor.
Modifying provisions of local option taxes
This bill provided the only new funding option for local transit systems to avoid potential massive cuts in service. Transit systems around the state are seeing double-digit ridership increases while also suffering double-digit losses in sales tax revenue.
Passed the Senate and House and was partially vetoed by the Governor.
Limiting the use of certain substances in brake friction material
This bill calls for the eventual phase-out of auto brake-pads containing copper. Copper is a very significant pollutant in stormwater runoff that is highly toxic to salmon and other aquatic life.
Passed the Senate and House and was signed by the Governor.
Relating to revenue and taxation - Amendment 330
This amendment to the revenue package would have continued the sales tax exemption for coal.
Amendment was not adopted by the Senate.
Relating to revenue and taxation - Amendment 326
This amendment to the revenue package would have continued the sales and use tax exemptions for machinery and equipment used in renewable energy generation.
Amendment was not adopted by the Senate.
The Safe Baby Bottle Act - Concerning the use of bisphenol A
This bill protects children's health by banning the toxic chemical—bisphenol A (BPA)—in baby bottles, sippy cups, sports water bottles, and other food and beverage containers intended for children 3 and under.
Passed the Senate and House and was signed by the Governor.
Funding construction of energy cost saving improvements to public facilities
This bill is a referendum on the 2010 ballot to authorize the state to issue bonds for building upgrades and energy conservation retrofits in schools and public buildings. It will create nearly 40,000 green jobs for communities large and small across the state.
Passed the House and Senate and was signed by the Governor.
Efficiency First - Reducing climate pollution in the built environment
This bill provides incentives to maximize energy efficiency, requires energy use information on buildings offered for sale or lease, and makes our public buildings models more energy efficient. This policy also helps to ensure that low-income consumers can cope with rising energy costs.
Passed in the House. Companion bill SB 5854 passed the House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor.
Cap and Invest - Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
By putting a cap on greenhouse gas emissions, this Governor’s request legislation would have reduced fossil fuel dependence, spurred investment in new clean-tech innovation, and created new green jobs. The original version of this bill would have authorized Washington’s involvement in the pollution reduction program created by the Western Climate Initiative.
A weaker version passed the Senate and was amended in the House. The Senate never concurred.
Regarding state agency climate leadership - Amendment 623
This amendment requires all state agencies to consider when distributing capital funds whether the entity receiving the funds has adopted policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The bill requires state agencies to meet greenhouse gas emission limits and vehicle fuel economy standards.
Amendment was adopted by the House. The bill passed the Senate and House and was partially signed into law by the Governor.
Invest in Clean Water - Reducing the amount of petroleum pollution in storm water
Through a polluter-pay approach, this bill would have raised $100 million for clean water by imposing a fee on petroleum products that contribute to stormwater pollution. It also provided money for new jobs, relieved financial pressure on local governments, and promoted new economic stimulus.
Passed in the House and never came up for a vote in the Senate.
Funding construction of energy cost saving improvements to public facilities
This bill is a referendum on the 2010 ballot to authorize the state to issue bonds for building upgrades and energy conservation retrofits in schools and public buildings. It will create nearly 40,000 green jobs for communities large and small across the state.
Passed the House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor.
Clarifying the integration of shoreline management act policies with the growth of management act
Broadly supported by the environmental community, local governments, and ports, this bill eliminates the confusion caused by a Supreme Court decision and restores the original legislative intent that regulates critical area in shorelines through the Shoreline Management Act.
Passed the House and Senate and signed into law by the Governor.
Establishing energy efficiency standards for consumer products
This bill would have adopted efficiency standards for consumer products including televisions. By 2020, these standards would have saved Washington energy consumers approximately $24.8 million per year.
Passed the House and amended in the Senate. House refused to concur with the Senate’s amendments.
The Safe Baby Bottle Act - Concerning the use of bisphenol A
This bill protects children's health by banning the toxic chemical—bisphenol A (BPA)—in baby bottles, sippy cups, sports water bottles, and other food and beverage containers intended for children 3 and under.
Passed the Senate and House and signed into law by the Governor.
Concerning transportation benefit districts - Amendment 1347
Temporarily allows local transit agencies, like Community and Pierce Transit, to establish a transportation benefit district, which allows communities to pay for transit locally.
Amendment was adopted by the House. The bill passed the Senate and House and signed into law by the Governor.
