Climate Action This Week: 
  • Removing Discriminatory Jaywalking Laws
  • Creating a Navigator Program for Access to Energy Efficiency
  • Activating the Trust Land Transfer
  • Requiring the Reporting of Climate-Related Financial Risk & Social Responsibility
  • Expanding the Budget on Forest Conservation and Ecological Management
  • Reducing Environmental Impacts Associated with Lighting Products
  • Ending the Drug War
  • Providing a Legal Remedy for People whose Rights Have Been Violated by Law Enforcement
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.

Thank you for taking action with the 350 WA Civic Action Team!
We think these first three actions will take about 10-15 minutes.
📜 1. Concerning Pedestrians Crossing and Moving Along Roadways - HB 1428

HB 1428 would make it legal for pedestrians to cross roadways at any point, as long as the pedestrian exercises care in doing so. This bill will help eliminate historically discriminatory policing of pedestrians, and free up valuable public resources. You can read more about this bill on the Free to Walk Washington website. 

Scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Transportation on Wednesday, February 8, 4:00 PM.

We are following the lead of Transportation Choices Coalition and Free to Walk Washington on this bill.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1428 TODAY before Wednesday, February 8, 3:00 PM and select “Pro” in the position button. This time is not a typo - the sign-in must be sent at least one hour BEFORE the hearing.

✏️ Miss the deadline? You can still sign in “Pro” here and provide a written comment in support of HB 1428 before Thursday, February 9, 4:00 PM.

📑 The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I strongly support HB 1428.” 
Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below, or feel free to write your own.
  • Jaywalking laws are not about safety. They don’t protect pedestrians from getting hit by cars. Better infrastructure, not punishment, will protect people walking and rolling.
  • Jaywalking laws are not equitably enforced. They are disproportionately used against low-income people, people of color, and unhoused individuals.
  • Racial bias (implicit or otherwise) can affect who gets stopped, what happens, and how steep the punishments are. For Black and Brown Americans, interactions with police can be potentially life-threatening.
  • Low-income and working-class Washingtonians are much more likely to be cited for jaywalking because they tend to live in areas with less infrastructure and fewer resources and are more likely to rely on walking and transit.
  • Virginia, Nevada, and California (and Kansas City) have repealed their jaywalking laws.

Question Title

* Did you sign in or leave a comment for HB 1428?

📜 2. Concerning energy in buildings (Navigator/web portal) - HB 1391

This bill would establish and oversee a statewide building energy upgrade “navigator program” (think website). The purpose of the navigator program is to provide a statewide resource to assist homeowners and building owners with accessing electrification services, energy efficiency services, funding, and any other assistance that will result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, job creation, business opportunities, and workforce development in the building sector. Many energy rebates, incentives, and tax credits are available for residents, but knowing which benefits you qualify for can be confusing and difficult to access. The goal of this bill is to serve as an “info hub” to help coordinate the many different programs available to community members. Check out this Shift Zero One-Pager for more info.

Scheduled for an Executive Session in the House Committee on Environment & Energy on Thursday, February 9, 8:00 AM.

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

Please call or email the following members of the Committee and ask them to SUPPORT HB 1391.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key committee members. If this link does not work on your device, please use the emails in the list below.

✏️ On your phone, and want to call? Just click on any phone number in the list!
Chair Rep. Beth Doglio (D-22) – (360) 786-7940 – beth.doglio@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-29) – (360) 786-7996 – sharlett.mena@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Liz Berry (D-36) – (360) 786-7860 – Liz.Berry@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Davina Duerr (D-01) – (360) 786-7928 – Davina.Duerr@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Jake Fey (D-27) – (360) 786-7974 – Jake.Fey@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-40) – (360) 786-7800 – Debra.Lekanoff@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Alex Ramel (D-40) – (360) 786-7970 – Alex.Ramel@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Vandana Slatter (D-48) – (360) 786-7936 – Vandana.Slatter@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Chipalo Street (D-37) – (360) 786-7838 – Chipalo.Street@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Mary Dye (R-09) – (360) 786-7942 – Mary.Dye@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly, clearly, and say the bill number (HB 1391). Also, definitely let them know if you are a constituent of their district!
📑 Script: I’m writing to ask the Committee to SUPPORT HB 1391.

Then, choose 1-2 talking points from the options below, or feel free to write your own:
  • This bill will foster the creation of a reliable resource that homeowners can turn to in order to access factual information about transitioning their homes to use clean sources of energy, find related services, and understand available incentives.
  • This bill will provide a resource that will help our workforce and businesses transition to a clean energy job market in the building sector.
  • Many residents do not know how to access energy programs and incentives. This is especially true of low income and BIPOC households. This bill will be a good use of public funds to make this process easier for all residents.
  • Similar programs such as “Efficiency Maine” and “EnergizeCT” are providing residents with reliable and accurate information, saving money, and supporting the states’ energy efficiency goals.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for HB 1391?

  I called to support HB 1391 I emailed to support HB 1391
Chair Rep. Beth Doglio
Vice Chair Rep. Sharlett Mena
Rep. Liz Berry
Rep. Davina Duerr
Rep. Jake Fey
Rep. Debra Lekanoff
Rep. Alex Ramel
Rep. Vandana Slatter
Rep. Chipalo Street
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Mary Dye
📜 3. Concerning the department of natural resources land transactions, revenue distributions, and creation and management of a trust land transfer program - HB 1460

This bill would authorize the Department of Natural Resources to activate its Trust Lands Transfer, which would support DNR in transferring underperforming public lands back to local communities and acquiring new land for working forests. This bill also helps protect vulnerable flora and fauna by allowing counties to replace working land occupied by protected species with productive land outside their boundaries. HB 1460 will bolster rural communities, protect Washington wildlife, and help put public lands back into public hands.

Scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Capital Budget on Thursday, February 9, 1:30 PM.

We are following the lead of Trust Lands Transfer Revitalization Group, WA State Lands Working Group, and the Center for Responsible Forestry on this bill.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1460 before Thursday, February 9, 12:30 PM and select “Pro” in the position button. This time is not a typo - the sign-in must be sent at least one hour BEFORE the hearing.

✏️ Miss the deadline? You can still sign in “Pro” here and provide a written comment in support of HB 1460 before Friday, February 10th, at 1:30 PM.

📑 The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I strongly support HB 1460.” 
Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below, or feel free to write your own.
  • This bill will repurpose economically under-performing State lands for a greater public good while improving the asset base of the State Trusts.
  • This bill provides a transparent process for the creation of transfers and will streamline the transfer process between the Common Trust and State Forest land.
  • This bill provides a mechanism for the county receiving revenue when replacement land is not within its boundaries.
Finally, if you are in Legislative Districts 5,7,9,12,13, 23, 24, or 40; your district has a forest project that is eligible for funding! Please email your senator and both of your representatives here and let them know the name of your district’s project and urge them to support the inclusion of $25 million in the Capital Budget for these 10 projects in addition to passing HB 1460. Unsure of your district? Use this district finder.

Question Title

* Did you take action for HB 1460?

Question Title

* For HB 1460, if you contacted your lawmaker about a specific project in your district, can you tell us who and which?

Question Title

* Run into issues with HB 1460 or need to elaborate?

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. Concerning environmental, social, and governance reporting and self-directed investment options at the Washington state investment board - HB 1283

This bill would require the State’s Investment Board to report on the climate-related financial risk, social responsibility, and the establishment and use of proxy voting and corporate governance policies in its private and public portfolios by January 1st, 2024, and every three years after that. By 2024, it would have to provide at least three investment options consistent with its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policies, and consistent with the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities, for individuals participating in self-directed funds. The bill would support the state pension fund in addressing climate-related economic concerns.

We are following the lead of Stop the Money Pipeline on this bill.

HB 1283 has not yet been scheduled for a hearing.

Please call or email the House Appropriations Committee chair, Rep. Timm Ormsby, and ask that HB 1283 be given a hearing and a vote before the policy committee cutoff on Friday, February 17th.

✏️ Click here to send an email to both members of the committee. If this link does not work on your device, please use the emails in the list below.

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

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

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly, clearly, and say the bill number (HB 1283). Also, definitely let them know if you are a constituent of their district! 
📑 Script: I’m calling to ask that Representative Ormsby please bring HB 1283, a bill related to Environmental, Social, and Governance investing and the state pension fund, for a hearing before the February 17th cut-off date.

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • Climate change poses huge risks to the economy, including to the state pension fund, and it’s important that our state pension fund addresses those concerns.
  • It’s time for Washington’s $192 billion state pension fund to start treating the climate crisis like the emergency it is.
  • Since Jan 1st, nearly one hundred anti-ESG bills have been introduced in state legislatures across the country. Those bills are a part of a coordinated attack on climate action from the financial sector. In response, big banks and investors are walking back their climate commitments. Climate-aware states like Washington need to pass bills like HB 1283.
  • With other state legislatures attacking climate and sustainable investing principles, we don’t have another year to wait. Please schedule HB 1283 for a hearing and a vote before this year’s policy cutoff.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for HB 1283?

  I called to support HB 1283 I emailed to support HB 1283
Chair, Rep. Timm Ormsby
Vice Chair, Rep. Steve Bergquist
📜 5. Leveraging the potential of older forests on state lands - Budget item

Capital Budget Forest conservation and ecological management are one of the world’s most effective natural climate solutions, and the forests of western Washington are among the best in the world in terms of carbon storage and sequestration.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages over two million acres of forestland, including an estimated 77,000 acres of uniquely carbon-dense, structurally complex, remnant older forests that are not protected by law or policy from harvest. DNR is harvesting the best of these carbon “workhorses” at an alarming rate. 
Our state’s goals are best achieved by retaining these unique, older forests to meet our climate and resilience goals and acquiring replacement land for DNR to continue to generate revenue for counties and schools, and timber for local materials and jobs.

We are expecting that the deadline for budget requests will be Friday, February 17.

We are following the lead of the WA State Lands Working Group and the Center for Responsible Forestry on this Budget Item.

✏️ Please email your senator and both of your representatives here and ask them to tell their respective Capital Budget writers, Sen. Mark Mullet and Rep. Steve Tharinger that the Governor’s “Natural Sequestration on State Lands” budget item should be increased from $10M to $80M. Unsure of your district? Use this district finder.

📑 Script: I’m writing to ask that you urge Capital Budget writers Sen. Mark Mullet and Rep. Steve Tharinger to increase the Governor’s “Natural Sequestration on State Lands” budget item from $10M to $80M.

Then, choose 1-2 talking points from the options below, or feel free to write your own:
  • Meeting Washington’s greenhouse gas reduction targets requires biological sequestration to address 5% of the state’s emissions.
  • DNR is harvesting the best of these carbon “workhorses” at an alarming rate.
  • If all 77,000 acres of these carbon dense older forests are clear-cut as planned, an estimated 31 million metric tons of CO2 will be emitted and stay in the atmosphere for several human lifetimes.
  • Structurally complex, carbon-dense forests are necessary life rafts for biodiversity and provide additional ecosystem services that support community resilience, including clean water, erosion prevention, and cultural value.

Question Title

* Did you take action on this Budget Item?

📜 6. Reducing environmental impacts associated with lighting products - HB 1185

This bill extends the existing producer-provided recycling program for mercury-containing lights beyond its scheduled 2025 sunset date, expands the program to include all types of lights, and phases out the sale of most mercury-containing lights.

HB 1185 is not yet scheduled for an Executive Session in the House Environment and Energy Committee.

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

Please call or email the following members of the Committee and urge the Chair to bring it to an Executive Session and urge the Committee to vote yes to pass the bill out of committee.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key committee members. If this link does not work on your device, please use the emails in the list below.

✏️ On your phone, and want to call? Just click on any phone number in the list!
Chair Rep. Beth Doglio (D-22) – (360) 786-7940 – beth.doglio@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-29) – (360) 786-7996 – sharlett.mena@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Liz Berry (D-36) – (360) 786-7860 – Liz.Berry@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Davina Duerr (D-01) – (360) 786-7928 – Davina.Duerr@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Jake Fey (D-27) – (360) 786-7974 – Jake.Fey@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-40) – (360) 786-7800 – Debra.Lekanoff@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Alex Ramel (D-40) – (360) 786-7970 – Alex.Ramel@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Vandana Slatter (D-48) – (360) 786-7936 – Vandana.Slatter@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Chipalo Street (D-37) – (360) 786-7838 – Chipalo.Street@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Mary Dye (R-09) – (360) 786-7942 – Mary.Dye@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly, clearly, and say the bill number (HB 1185). Also, definitely let them know if you are a constituent of their district! 
📑 Script: I am writing to ask Committee Chair Rep. Beth Doglio to schedule an Executive Session for HB 1185. I urge committee members to vote YES to pass the bill out of committee.

Then, choose 1-2 talking points from the options below, or feel free to write your own:

  • This bill will phase out the sale of most mercury-containing lights. New types of light bulbs available now are much more energy efficient and will also save money for consumers, businesses, and schools.
  • Fluorescent bulbs and tubes contain mercury, a potent neurotoxin that is a significant human health risk and environmental concern. By phasing out the sale of these lights, the bill will reduce exposure to mercury.
  • The recycling program provided by producers for mercury-containing lights will sunset in 2025 due to a provision in existing law. The mercury-containing lights, however, have not gone away. They are still being sold and will remain in use for years even after they are phased out. This bill will extend the producer-provided program so that mercury-containing lights can continue to be safely and conveniently collected and recycled.
  • This bill will expand the recycling program to include other types of lights. Lights other than mercury-containing lights contain valuable materials that can and should be recycled.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for HB 1185?

  I called to support HB 1185 I emailed to support HB 1185
Chair Rep. Beth Doglio
Vice Chair Rep. Sharlett Mena
Rep. Liz Berry
Rep. Davina Duerr
Rep. Jake Fey
Rep. Debra Lekanoff
Rep. Alex Ramel
Rep. Vandana Slatter
Rep. Chipalo Street
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Mary Dye
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. End the Drug War - SB 5624

This bill uses an evidence-based approach informed by health experts and impacted persons to treat substance use disorder as a matter of public health, supporting evidence that addiction should be treated, not penalized. This bill centers the voices and heeds the concerns of those directly impacted, especially BIPOC individuals who are disproportionately affected by the drug war. 
Incarceration should not be a treatment for substance use disorder. Incarceration leads to barriers to accessing housing, childcare, healthcare, and employment, and in turn destabilizes individuals, making recovery more out of reach.

Scheduled for an Executive Session in the Senate Committee on Law & Justice on Thursday, February 9, 8:00 AM.

We are following the lead of the ACLU and People Power WA on this bill.

Please call or email the following members of the Committee and ask them to SUPPORT SB 5624.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key committee members. If this link does not work on your device, please use the emails in the list below.

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

Chair Sen. Manka Dhingra (D-45) – (360) 786-7672 – Manka.Dhingra@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Sen. Yasmin Trudeau (D-27) – (360) 786-7652 – Yasmin.Trudeau@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Member Sen. Mike Padden (R-04) – (360) 786-7606 – Mike.Padden@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Patty Kuderer (D-48) – (360) 786-7694 – Patty.Kuderer@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Jamie Pedersen (D-43) – (360) 786-7628 – Jamie.Pedersen@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-32) – (360) 786-7662 – Jesse.Salomon@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Javier Valdez (D-46) – (360) 786-7690 – Javier.Valdez@leg.wa.gov
If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill number (SB 5624). Be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!

📑 Script: I’m writing to ask the Committee to SUPPORT HB 5624.

Then, choose 1-2 talking points from the options below, or feel free to write your own:
  • 85% of Washingtonians believe that substance use disorder should be treated as a public health disorder, not a criminal justice disorder. This includes large majorities of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents.
  • The war on drugs has been an abysmal failure. Addressing substance use disorder as a crime has failed to improve public safety, while disproportionately impacting our Black, Brown, Indigenous, Asian and other marginalized communities.
  • There is overwhelming evidence that addiction should be treated, not penalized. We are seeing a record number of overdose deaths from fentanyl in Washington State. SB 5624 establishes life-saving and effective treatment.
  • A broad coalition of public health experts, advocates, and impacted individuals have worked together to make sure that this bill uses the evidenced-based models and centers the voices and heeds the concerns of those directly impacted, especially BIPOC individuals who are disproportionately affected by the drug war.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for SB 5624?

  I called to support SB 5624 I emailed to support SB 5624
Chair Sen. Manka Dhingra
Vice Chair Sen. Yasmin Trudeau
Ranking Member Sen. Mike Padden
Sen. Patty Kuderer
Sen. Jamie Pedersen
Sen. Jesse Salomon
Sen. Javier Valdez
📜 8. Creating a private right of action for harm from violations of the state Constitution or state law by peace officers (Access to Fairness) - HB 1025

This bill states that anyone injured by a law enforcement officer who engaged in unlawful conduct under the state law has a cause of action against that officer. Few families of police violence victims bring lawsuits to state court due to many obstacles including qualified immunity, which often shields officers from accountability. This bill follows in the footsteps of several other states to provide a legal remedy to people whose rights have been violated by law enforcement.

This bill was scheduled for executive session in the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary this week, but no action was taken.

We are following the lead of the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA) on this bill.

Please call or email the following committee members and urge them to schedule an executive session for HB 1025 and pass it out of committee.

✏️ Click here to send an email to key committee members. If this link does not work on your device, please use the emails in the list below.

✏️ On your phone, and want to call? Just click on any phone number in the list!
Chair Rep. Drew Hansen (D-23) – (360) 786-7842 – Drew.Hansen@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair Rep. Darya Farivar (D-46) – (360) 786-7818 – Darya.Farivar@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Debra Entenman (D-47) – (360) 786-7918 – Debra.Entenman@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Roger Goodman (D-45) – (360) 786-7878 – Roger.Goodman@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Strom Peterson (D-21) – (360) 786-7950 – Strom.Peterson@leg.wa.gov
Rep. My-Linh Thai (D-41) – (360) 786-7926 – My-Linh.Thai@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Amy Walen (D-48) – (360) 786-7848 – Amy.Walen@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Jim Walsh (R-19) – (360) 786-7806 – Jim.Walsh@leg.wa.gov

If you’re calling and you reach voicemail, be sure to speak slowly and clearly and say the bill number (HB 1025). Be sure to let them know if you are a constituent of their district!
📑 Script: I am writing to ask Committee Chair Rep. Drew Hansen to schedule an Executive Session for HB 1025. I urge committee members to vote YES to pass the bill out of committee.

Then, choose 1-2 talking points from the options below, or feel free to write your own:
  • HB 1025 encourages police departments to have sound and reasonable hiring, training, supervision, and discipline policies, while also protecting officers who follow the law and the direction of their employer, and who uphold the Washington Constitution.
  • The current fear-mongering that passing such a law will unleash a flood of litigation is unfounded. California passed a similar law 30 years ago, as have Colorado, New Mexico, and Connecticut. None of these states have seen a flood of litigation.
  • Excessive use of force is not a part of constitutional policing. The civil liberties of Washington residents must be protected, especially BIPOC civilians who are the most harmed by police violence.
  • Legal remedies are part of how we hold each other and institutions accountable and put responsibility where it belongs. Departments that don’t change their conduct so it is lawful expose themselves to liability and higher insurance premiums.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for HB 1025?

  I called to support HB 1025 I emailed to support HB 1025
Chair Rep. Drew Hansen
Vice Chair Rep. Darya Farivar
Rep. Debra Entenman
Rep. Roger Goodman
Rep. Strom Peterson
Rep. My-Linh Thai
Rep. Amy Walen
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Jim Walsh

Question Title

* Phew! That was a lot of work! Thank you so much for taking these actions!  Let us know if you had any issues.

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

P.S. Not on the CAT email list? Sign up here!

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