Climate Action This Week: 
  • Independent Prosecutor
  • Local option to fund affordable housing programs
  • Establishing a Washington Climate Corps
  • Revenue generation from ecosystem services
  • A Navigator Program to help conserve energy in buildings
  • Optional energy labeling of residential buildings
  • Right to repair electronic equipment
If you're viewing this on a smartphone, make sure you're in your browser, and when calling or emailing, be sure to mention if you are in the representative or senator’s district. And, unfortunately, SurveyMonkey does not support copy and paste on mobile devices.

Question Title

* Your information

Pick as many or as few actions as you’d like. Remember to scroll down and click “Done” when you finish. And if you have time for just a few now, you can always come back later and do more.

Thank you for taking action with the 350 WA Civic Action Team!
These first three actions should take about 10 - 15 minutes.
📜 1. Independent Prosecutor - HB 1579

In November 2020, the Governor’s Task Force on Police Use of Deadly Force identified real or perceived conflicts of interest by the local prosecutor as an obstacle to the prosecution of alleged police criminal conduct. This bill would allow the independent prosecutions unit of the state attorney general’s office to prosecute a crime associated with use of deadly force by a police officer. It would prioritize the public’s interest in ensuring a fair and impartial prosecution and trial that is free from even the appearance of bias, prejudice, or conflict of interest. County prosecutors work closely with the local police to gather evidence and prepare cases and may use prosecutorial discretion not to file cases against their co-workers. See also this WCPA information sheet.

We are following the lead of the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability and the ACLU on this bill.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice, Monday, March 20, 10:30 AM.

In order to make independent prosecutors possible, the bill has to pass and there has to be funding. Therefore, we are asking you to take two actions for this bill.

✏️ First, please sign in here as “Pro” and leave a comment before Tuesday, March 21, 10:30 AM.

📑 The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I support HB 1579.” Then choose 1-2 of the following talking points, or write your own:
  • HB 1579 is crucial to valuing the lives of Black, Indigenous, and people of color who are disproportionately impacted by police violence.
  • County Prosecutors work closely with law enforcement and rely on law enforcement for gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and developing cases. Prosecutors, exercising prosecutorial discretion, often fail to file criminal charges even when unarmed citizens are killed at the hands of law enforcement. See for example this research: https://www.bu.edu/bulawreview/files/2020/05/05-TRIVEDI-VAN-CLEVE.pdf
  • In November 2020, the Governor’s Task Force on Police Use of Deadly Force identified real or perceived conflicts of interest by the local prosecutor as an obstacle to the prosecution of alleged police criminal conduct. HB 1579 would establish an independent prosecutor under the executive, free of the inherent conflict of interest of a county prosecutor.
  • I believe that no matter your race, gender, or income you deserve safety, including safety from police violence. Police officers, like all other citizens, need to be held accountable before the law. In 2021 Washington State became the first state in the country to establish an Office of Independent Investigation. Independent Investigation is the first step. Help Washington State continue to lead the way in police reform and take the next logical step by establishing an Independent Prosecutor.

Question Title

* Did you leave a comment for HB 1579?

Then, as a bonus action, please also call or email important members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and the House Appropriations Committee.

✏️ Click here to send an email before Tuesday, March 21, 10:30 AM.

If the above email link did not work on your device, you can also right click on the link and select “copy email address” in the drop down menu. This will allow you to paste the email addresses all at once into the recipient bar of your email.

📞 On your phone, and want to call? Just click on any phone number in the list!

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill numbers.

Senate Ways and Means Chair, Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-23) – (360) 786-7644 – christine.rolfes@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Operating & Revenue, Sen. June Robinson (D-38) – (360) 786-7674 – june.robinson@leg.wa.gov

House Appropriations Chair, Rep. Timm Ormsby (D-03) – (360) 786-7946 – Timm.Ormsby@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Steve Bergquist (D-11) – (360) 786-7862 – Steve.Bergquist@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Mia Gregerson (D-33) – (360) 786-7868 – Mia.Gregerson@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Nicole Macri (D-43) – (360) 786-7826 – Nicole.Macri@leg.wa.gov

When calling or emailing, be sure to mention if you are in the representative or senator’s district!

📑 Script: The first sentence of your email should state: “Please fund the Independent Prosecutor legislation - 2SHB 1579.” Then choose 1-2 of the talking points from the previous section.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for HB 1579?

  I called to support HB 1579 I emailed to support HB 1579
Senate Ways and Means Chair, Sen. Christine Rolfes
Vice Chair, Operating & Revenue, Sen. June Robinson
House Appropriations Chair, Rep. Timm Ormsby
Vice Chair, Rep. Steve Bergquist
Vice Chair, Rep. Mia Gregerson
Vice Chair, Rep. Nicole Macri
📜 2. Providing a local government option for the funding of essential affordable housing programs - SB 5334

This bill would allow cities and counties to pass a special excise tax on short-term rentals that must be used exclusively to fund the costs of affordable housing programs including, but not limited to, homeless housing assistance, temporary shelters, and other related services. Most short-term rentals could be utilized as long-term rental properties which would help to increase the housing stock and would likely help to stabilize or possibly reduce rental prices. This bill would allow counties and cities to mitigate some of the harm that is caused to their communities by short-term rentals by obtaining funds from the people who are most profiting. The bill allows for an exemption for one short-term rental based on the owner’s age and/or income.

350 WA CAT recommends this action.

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Local Government on Tuesday, March 21, 10:30 AM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support SB 5334 before Tuesday, March 21, 9:30 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

Question Title

* Did you sign in for SB 5334?

📜 3. Developing opportunities for service and workforce programs to support climate-ready communities (Establishing Washington Climate Corps) - HB 1176

This bill would establish a Washington Climate Corps to provide climate-related service opportunities for young adults and veterans, with the objective of building low-carbon and climate-resilient communities and ecosystems and providing education, workforce development, and career pathways with a focus on overburdened communities. A clean energy technology advisory committee would evaluate clean energy technology workforce needs. Grants may be made to provide equitable access to the Corps, reduce the cost of programs and support new programs.

350 WA CAT recommends this action.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means on Tuesday, March 21, 4:00 PM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1176 before Tuesday, March 21, 3:00 PM and select “Pro” in the position button.

Question Title

* Did you sign in for HB 1176?

All done? Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and click the orange “DONE” button to submit your actions!
We think these next three actions will take about 10 - 15 minutes.
📜 4. Expanding revenue generation and economic opportunities from natural climate solutions and ecosystem services - HB 1789

HB 1789 would authorize the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to enter into contracts (to be approved by the Board of Natural Resources) to provide ecosystem services that directly or indirectly benefit humans or enhance social welfare in order to generate revenue. DNR would also be allowed to enter into contracts of up to 125 years for the sale of carbon offset projects, including on aquatic lands. Unfortunately, as currently written the bill requires that DNR’s revenue from the harvesting of forestland increase! We oppose this bill.

350 WA CAT recommends this action.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology, Wednesday, March 22, 8:00 AM.

For this bill, because the threat to our forests is so great, we ask that you take two actions if you have time.

✏️ First, please sign in here to oppose HB 1789 before Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 AM and select “Con” in the position button.
✏️ Please also sign in here as “Con” and leave a comment before Thursday, March 23, 8:00 AM.

📑 The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I oppose HB 1789.” Then choose 2-3 additional sentences from the bulleted options below, or feel free to write your own:
  • As currently written, HB 1789 requires harvest revenue to increase. That directly contradicts the bill’s stated goal of encouraging alternative revenue sources and seeks to reverse the Washington Supreme Court ruling that the Dept of Natural Resources (DNR) has “myriad ways” to generate revenue other than harvesting state forestlands. This is unacceptable.
  • Natural climate solutions are needed to meet our state’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. Washington’s forests are among the best on the planet for sequestering carbon, and they draw down more carbon as they age (80+ years). We need to let our state forests get older!
  • Future generations of Washingtonians will receive far greater value from the carbon sequestration provided by our state forestlands than they would from the current or future market value of harvested timber.
  • Current state policy shockingly supports the harvesting of our carbon-dense, structurally complex, state forests at the rate of 4,000 acres per year. DNR is failing in its duty to conserve our natural resources in a way that would genuinely benefit future generations. Instead, it is causing long-term harm.
  • The Board of Natural Resources (BNR) should develop a plan and policies for using ecosystem services to obtain new and different sources of revenue, without continuing to harvest trees. The plan should fulfill its legal obligations to the named beneficiaries and to the general public. The plan should also go through a public State Environmental Policies Act (SEPA) review process that allows time for all stakeholders to adequately engage.
  • As written, the bill lacks appropriate governance and flexibility measures. The BNR should have the ability to expand the list of allowed projects in the future. Allowed projects could include: conservation of existing forests (proforestation), avoided conversion of forestlands, extended harvest rotations, ecological forest practices, and urban forestry.
  • Offsets allow pollution. State investments should accomplish or incentivize genuinely additional carbon sequestration and ecosystem services.
  • The Climate Commitment Act adopted California’s Forestry Offset Protocol, which has been shown to be both flawed and easily exploited for private profit. When state agencies make climate change mitigation investments they should set a higher standard.

Question Title

* Did you sign in or leave a comment for HB 1789?
 

📜 5. Concerning energy in buildings (Navigator Program) - HB 1391

This bill would establish and oversee a statewide building energy upgrade “Navigator Program”. Its purpose is to provide a statewide resource to assist homeowners and renters including owners and occupants of multi family buildings and of commercial buildings under 20,000 sq. ft. with accessing electrification and energy efficiency services, funding, and other assistance that will result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and workforce development in this sector. Many energy rebates, incentives, and tax credits are available, but knowing which benefits you qualify for can be confusing and difficult to access. The goal of this bill is to provide an information hub to help coordinate the many different programs available to community members. See here for more information from Shift Zero.

We are following the lead of Shift Zero on this bill.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Wednesday, March 22, 8:00 AM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1391 before Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

Question Title

* Did you sign in for HB 1391?

📜 6. Concerning energy labeling of residential buildings - HB 1433

This bill would create an optional state-wide system that homeowners could use to obtain a “Home Energy Score''. This bill’s proposed labeling procedure would use a well-tested standard analytical tool, the Home Energy Score (HES), developed by the federal Department of Energy. Much like the estimated miles per gallon labels on new cars and the Energy Star labels on appliances, home energy labels help buyers evaluate the energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions of an existing home. The bill also creates a framework for licensing Home Assessors who prepare the HES. Oregon and other states already have specially trained professionals that use HES in analyzing a home’s physical characteristics to create the home’s energy score label. This uniform framework is likely to increase interest in energy efficiency and help reduce emissions. See also this HB 1433 (Home Energy Score) 1-page information sheet.

We are following the lead of People For Climate Action on this bill.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Wednesday, March 22, 8:00 AM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1433 before Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

Question Title

* Did you sign in for HB 1433?

All done? Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and click the orange “DONE” button to submit your actions!
Got time for more? We think these last two actions will take about 10 minutes.
📜 7. Promoting the fair servicing and repair of digital electronic equipment - HB 1392

The Right to Repair bill requires manufacturers to make parts, tools and repair information available to independent repair providers and owners so that computers, tablets and cell phones can be more easily repaired. This bill would support the local workforce, save consumers money, and reduce toxic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions!  E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream in the world. This bill would create a more robust reuse and repair economy and lower costs for consumers so we can keep using our computers, tablets and cellphones instead of tossing them.

We are following the lead of Zero Waste Washington on this bill.

Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Wednesday, March 22, 8:00 AM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1392 before Wednesday, March 22, 7:00 AM and select “Pro” in the position button.

Question Title

* Did you sign in for HB 1392?

📜 8. Budget advocacy - Empowering Washington youth voices and building state-wide capacity for deliberative democracy

The 2021 WA Climate Assembly was a ground-breaking effort that demonstrated the political will of Washington residents for equitable and meaningful climate solutions in Washington State. It was an independently run, non-partisan deliberative democracy initiative that brought together a representative group of people from all walks of life across Washington State to learn about, deliberate, and vote on recommendations for state-wide climate action.

This year, the legislature can help strengthen democracy in Washington State by funding programs for deliberative climate engagement in two ways: training state agencies in community engagement and student climate assemblies.

We are following the lead of People’s Voice on Climate for this action. There is more information here: https://www.peoplesvoiceonclimate.org/wapol

✏️ Please click here to contact both of your Representatives using the “Comment on this bill” form for HB 1140, Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium operating appropriations, and ask them to support the budget provisions from Rep. Mia Gregerson. 

✏️ Please click here to contact both of your Representatives using the “Comment on this bill” form for SB 5187, Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium operating appropriations, to ask your Senator to support the budget provision from Sen. Sharon Shewmake.

Choose “Support” as your position. For HB 1140, the first sentence of the written comment should be, “Please support deliberative climate engagement this legislative session by supporting the related budget provisions from Rep. Mia Gregerson.”

For SB 5187, the first sentence of the written comment should be, “Please support deliberative climate engagement this legislative session by supporting the related budget provisions from Senator Sharon Shewmake.”
📑 Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the bulleted options below, or feel free to write your own:
  • Please support the proposed $100,000 in the Operating Budget for training state agencies to utilize citizens’ assemblies and other deliberative democracy methods in their public engagement work. By giving citizens a significant role in decision-making, these methods can help public officials make hard choices while also enhancing trust in democratic institutions.
  • Climate change is also already impacting the health of Washington’s youth, yet they have little power to limit its harm. Young people are increasingly suffering from eco-anxiety; research shows that taking meaningful action to combat climate change helps relieve these fears while preparing them to be engaged civic participants.
  • Please support the proposed $124,000 in the Operating Budget to expand the Student Climate Assembly program state-wide. It was first piloted in Bellingham, WA (climetime.org/student-climate-assembly-project/). The proposed funding will support the development of a state-wide curriculum and provide teachers with resources to start student climate assemblies in their classrooms.

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* Did you contact both of your Representatives about Budget Advocacy: Funding Deliberative Climate Engagement?

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* Did you contact your Senator about Budget Advocacy: Funding Deliberative Climate Engagement?

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* That’s it!  Thank you so much for doing this advocacy work with us!   

Please click “Done” to record your actions. And please let us know if you have any issues or comments.

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

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