45th District Democrats

LEGISLATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE 2023 Bills

  • 45th LD 2023 Legislative Action Accomplishments

    Gun Safety

    HB 1240: RESTRICT ACCESS TO ASSAULT WEAPONS

    Semi-automatic assault weapons have been used in the deadliest mass shootings in the last 10 years. This bill ensures that Washington became the 10th state to ban the sale of these military-grade firearms across all of our communities. This is a victory years in the making and one that will ensure that assault weapons are not sold in Washington state.

    HB 1143: IMPLEMENTING A 10-DAY WAITING PERIOD AND MANDATED SAFETY TRAINING FOR THE PURCHASE OF ALL FIREARMS

    This bill requires safety training and a 10-day waiting period to purchase any firearm in Washington. States with similar precautions have lower rates of firearm-related death, fewer guns diverted to criminals shortly after retail sale, and lower rates of guns exported to other states.

    SB 5078: ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR VICTIMS

    For too long, federal law has prevented gun violence victims and survivors from holding gun dealers and manufacturers accountable for dangerous and irresponsible practices. This means that the gun industry has been able to engage in reckless and dangerous practices without fear of consequences. SB 5078 ensures a pathway for victims and survivors of gun violence to hold industry leaders accountable for wrongful and dangerous business practices, and ensure that victims have a method to seek justice.

  • Legislative Action Updates – 2023 Session

      The 45th LD Democrats Legislative Action Committee is tracking the bills listed below. The first table contains the bills that are currently active, followed by the table of bills that did not pass the house of origin. For full, up-to-the-minute status, click on the bill ID.

    The Legislative Session Ends on April 23rd

    The House is voting on bills that the Senate has passed. Once they are passed by the house, they will become law.

    The status column will inform you when a bill has passed or failed. It will be updated daily until the end of the session. For a more immediate status, click on the bill’s link.

    Keep an eye out for 45thLD tweets for more updates as these bills pass of fail.

    the Following Bills Passed Their House of Origin

    Pass/FailCategoryIDTitle
    PassedAffordable HousingHB 1046Expanding housing supply by supporting the ability of public housing authorities to finance affordable housing developments by rebenchmarking area median income limits.
    PassedClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1176Developing opportunities for service and workforce programs to support climate-ready communities
    PassedClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1181Improving the state’s response to climate change by updating the state’s planning framework.
    PassedBehavioral HealthSB 5189Establishing behavioral health support specialists.
    PassedEconomic EquityHB 1477Making changes to the working families’ tax credit.
    Fiscal Responsibility and Revenue ReformSB 5303Creating the public works assistance revolving account.
    Climate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1012Addressing the response to extreme weather events.
    PassedClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1085Reducing plastic pollution.
    PassedClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1117Addressing the extent to which Washington residents are at risk of rolling blackouts and power supply inadequacy events.
    PassedClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1170Improving climate resilience through updates to the state’s integrated climate response strategy.
    PassedClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1216Concerning clean energy siting
    Climate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1391Concerning energy in buildings
    Climate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1433Concerning energy labeling of residential buildings
    Climate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1589Supporting Washington’s clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future.
    Climate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5094Adding a climate resilience element to water system plans.
    PassedClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5104Surveying Puget Sound marine shoreline habitat.
    Passed
    		Climate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5143Changing the name and membership of the commission on pesticide registration.
    PassedClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5144Providing for responsible environmental management of batteries.
    PassedBehavioral HealthHB 1069Adopting the mental health counselor compact.
    Behavioral HealthHB 1109Providing funding for school districts for special education.
    PassedBehavioral HealthHB 1134Implementing the 988 behavioral health crisis response and suicide prevention system.
    PassedBehavioral HealthSB 5120Establishing 23-hour crisis relief centers in Washington state.
    PassedBehavioral HealthSB 5228Providing occupational therapy services for persons with behavioral health disorders.
    PassedHealth Care & WellnessSB 5300Concerning continuity of coverage for prescription drugs prescribed for the treatment of behavioral health conditions.
    PassedAffordable HousingHB 1110Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing
    Affordable HousingSB 5466Promoting transit-oriented development.
    PassedAffordable HousingSB 5197Addressing landlord-tenant relations by providing technical changes to eviction notice forms and modifying certain eviction processes.
    Affordable HousingSB 5334Providing a local government option for the funding of essential affordable housing programs.
    PassedAdvisory VotesSB 5082Encouraging electoral participation and making ballots more meaningful by abolishing advisory votes.
    PassedFirearms SafetyHB 1240Establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety.
    PassedReproductive FreedomHB 1155Addressing the collection, sharing, and selling of consumer health data.
    PassedReproductive FreedomHB 1469Concerning access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment in Washington state.

    The remaining bills did not pass the house of origin, so are assumed to be finished for this session. But it’s possible that some can still move based upon type of bill or leadership control.

    StatusCategoryIDTitle
    Blocked by Rules committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5093Improving climate resilience through updates to the state’s integrated climate response strategy.
    Blocked by Rules committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5057Creating a work group to evaluate the costs of the state energy performance standard for covered commercial buildings.
    Blocked by Rules committeeReproductive FreedomSJR 8202Amending the Constitution to address reproductive freedom.
    Blocked by Rules committeeReproductive FreedomSB 5489Concerning access to reproductive health care services and gender-affirming treatment in Washington state.
    Under Rules reviewAffordable HousingHB 1351Prohibiting the imposition of minimum parking requirements except under certain circumstances.
    Under Rules reviewRent StabilizationHB 1124Protecting tenants from excessive rent and related fees by providing at least six months’ notice for rent increases over a certain amount, allowing tenants the right to terminate a tenancy without penalty, and limiting late fees.
    Under Rules reviewRent StabilizationHB 1389Concerning residential rent increases under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act

     

    		   
    Did not pass fiscal reviewClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5562Supporting Washington’s clean energy economy and transitioning to a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future.
    Did not pass fiscal reviewClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5651Concerning equity and environmental justice in the growth management act
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1076Encouraging salmon recovery through voluntary stewardship.
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1123Supporting local and tribal control of clean energy facility siting by altering the authority of the energy facility site evaluation council
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1190Concerning environmental leadership through outdoor recreation and climate adaptation investments.
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5431Requiring and funding the purchase of zero emission school buses
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1423Authorizing the department of natural resources to create and manage a trust land transfer program
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionHB 1723Concerning equity and environmental justice in the growth management act
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5037Ensuring that the Washington state energy code may not prohibit the use of natural gas in buildings.
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5146Removing regulatory restrictions on hydropower.
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5167Eliminating expedited processing of alternative energy resource facilities fueled by solar or wind energy on certain designated lands before the energy facility site evaluation council.
    In committeeClimate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5168Modernizing the energy independence act to avoid regulatory duplication and overlap with other laws.
    In committeeBehavioral HealthHB 1041Authorizing the prescriptive authority of psychologists.
    In committeeBehavioral HealthHB 1348Establishing behavioral health support specialists.
    In committeeAffordable HousingHB 1517Promoting transit-oriented development.
    In committeeRent StabilizationSB 5435Concerning residential rent increases under the residential landlord-tenant act and the manufactured/mobile home landlord-tenant act
    In committeeAdvisory VotesHB 1158Encouraging electoral participation and making ballots more meaningful by abolishing advisory votes.
    In committeeAdvisory VotesHJR 4202Proposing an amendment to the Constitution to provide for an automatic referendum on tax acts.
    In committeeFirearms SafetyHB 1180Establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety.
    In committeeFirearms SafetySB 5193Establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety.
    In committeeFirearms SafetySB 5265Establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety.
    In committeeReproductive FreedomSB 5351Addressing the collection, sharing, and selling of consumer health data.
     Climate and Environmental ProtectionSB 5057Creating a work group to evaluate the costs of the state energy performance standard for covered commercial buildings.
  • How To Write A Resolution

    A resolution addresses a current specific problem or opportunity. It should include a call for specific action aimed at identifiable public officials.

    The resolution’s message should be consistent with the organization’s platform, or at least not inconsistent with it. Implementing or applying the platform is fine, but remember that a resolution must amount to more than a statement of a platform provision.

    • Be selective, factual–and clear. Keep the one-page limit in mind, and include only on-point facts that will lead your audience to your desired conclusion.
    • Do not include purported factual assertions that seem exaggerated or are readily questionable; these will suggest that your conclusions may be unsoundly based and thereby give the decision-makers an excuse to ignore your call for action.
    • Fact-check all assertions in your “Whereas” clauses. Be clear throughout and avoid ambiguity; use correct punctuation and overt or implicit sub-paragraphing [e.g., (a), (b), etc.]

    Sample Resolution

    The accompanying sample resolution, “Constitutional Rights for People, not Corporations”, is presented here are an example of good form:

    • It has a short, directly pointed title.
    • It relies solely on undisputed facts.
    • It demonstrates its consistency with the operative platform (county Democratic organization)
    • It calls for specific action and accountability.
    • It is easy to propagate: By using “we” in its text and being set up to specify the adopting body (and date) separately, at the bottom, its content may more readily be picked up and used by other Democratic bodies (with appropriate adjustments for platform references, if needed).(Note: Do not be deterred by the unavailability of a specific platform reference.

    Style Notes:

    • Resolutions should be submitted in MS Word .doc (not .docx) format.
    • Do not use line numbers.
    • “Whereas” and “Therefore be it resolved” should be in caps/lower case (not all caps).
    • “Whereas” and “Therefore be it resolved”should be in boldface with no trailing comma.
    • In the case of multiple “Whereas” clauses, end all but the last with “; and”
    • Indent sub-paragraphs

    Sample Resolution

    Constitutional Rights for People, not Corporations

    WHEREAS the U.S. Constitution, as amended, prescribes rights and freedoms accorded to people but makes no mention of corporations; and
    WHEREAS corporations are neither born nor naturalized in the United States and therefore are not entitled to the privileges or immunities accorded to U.S. citizens, and in many cases are owned in whole or in part by foreign interests that are not entitled to influence U.S. elections; and
    WHEREAS a divided U. S. Supreme Court has, over the last three decades, misguidedly ruled that money is a form of speech, thus extending First Amendment protections to wealthy entities‟ efforts to evade and override election-campaign reforms; and
    WHEREAS the corporate usurpation of free speech rights culminated recently in the Supreme Court‟s Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission decision, overturning longstanding precedents prohibiting corporations from spending their general treasury funds in elections and unleashing a torrent of corporate money into our political process, presenting a grave threat to our democracy and potentially to our national security; and
    WHEREAS the current King County Democratic Platform, adopted April 10, 2010, declares that
    “[c]orporations, as artificial entities, are not entitled to the Constitutional rights of people;” and that the “Constitution must be amended to establish that corporations shall not be considered as persons‟ for purposes of political activity, and to reverse the pernicious notion that money equals speech;”


    THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that we call on all our representatives in the U.S. Congress to
    sponsor and secure passage of, and send to the states for ratification, a Constitutional
    amendment to establish (1) that a corporation shall not be considered a person eligible for
    rights accorded to human beings under the Constitution, as amended, and (2) that the use of
    money to influence elections or the acts of public officials shall not be considered a protected
    form of speech; and
    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that our Senators and Congressmembers be queried as to their actions
    and intended actions in furtherance of the above.
    Adopted ____ by ____________________
    Submitted by James Madison, (206) xxx-xxxx, [email protected]
    Passed by 53rd District Democrats, mm/dd/2011