Climate Action This Week:
  • Improving Washington's Solid Waste Management Outcomes Through the WRAP ACT
  • Cash Assistance and Stability for People with a Work-Limiting Disability or Incapacity
  • Oppose Nuclear Reactor Technology
  • Fair Access to Community Solar
  • Banning Gill Netting for Nontribal Commercial Salmon Fisheries
  • Oppose Weakening the Protection of Forest Lands
  • Holding Police Officers Accountable for Misconduct
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 the "DONE" button 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. Improving Washington's solid waste management outcomes - HB 1131

The Washington Recycling and Packaging (WRAP) Act will modernize our recycling system by making producers of packaging and paper products responsible for their products' full lifecycle. It will incentivize producers to reduce unnecessary packaging and make packaging more sustainable, provide recycling access for residents across the state, and establish a redeemable deposit on beverage containers to improve the recycling of bottles and cans.

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

Scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday, February 15, 4:00 PM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1131 TODAY, Wednesday, February 15, by 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 1131 before Thursday, February 16, 4:00 PM.

📑 The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I strongly support HB 1131.” 

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • The state’s recycling system has not kept pace with the avalanche of packaging created by manufacturers. By shifting the cost of recycling from residents to the companies that make the packaging decisions, this bill will incentivize companies to reduce unnecessary single-use packaging and use greener, more recyclable materials.
  • Recycling should be convenient, affordable and accessible, but only 58% of municipalities currently have curbside recycling services in Washington. This bill will help expand equitable recycling access for residents across the state, including at apartments and in rural areas, and reduce confusion by developing a clear common list of what can be recycled statewide.
  • This bill will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by increasing our reuse and recycling rates. We save energy and decrease greenhouse gas emissions when items are made from recycled materials rather than new resources.
  • Decreasing the need to extract new resources helps frontline communities that often bear the brunt of environmental impacts from resource extraction.

Question Title

* Did you sign in or leave a comment for HB 1131?

📜 2. Accelerating stability for people with a work-limiting disability or incapacity - HB 1260

The Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) cash assistance program provides cash assistance, a referral to the Essential Needs and Housing (HEN) program, and help accessing federal disability benefits to eligible low-income adults who are age 65 or older, blind, or determined likely to meet federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI) criteria. Currently, the state requires that people who receive ABD assistance must pay back a portion of the assistance they receive while they are waiting for their full benefits to be approached. This bill would remove the payback requirement for recipients of ABD cash assistance.

We are following the lead of the Low Income Housing Alliance on this bill.

Scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday, February 15, 4:00 PM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1260 TODAY before Wednesday, February 15, 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 1260 before Thursday, February 16, 4:00 PM.

📑 The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I strongly support HB 1260.”

Then, choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • Current state law requires that people who receive assistance through the aged, blind, and disabled cash assistance program are required to pay back a portion of the assistance they receive while they are waiting for their full benefits to be approached. This is an unfair and unreasonable requirement that for decades has penalized those who are extremely low income and disabled. 
  • Often, recipients are not aware that they will have to pay back a portion of this assistance and have already used the money for rent, groceries, utilities, and medical bills. Receiving this notice of payback often forces them into a situation where they have to choose which bills to pay. 
  • The state currently collects $40 million each year in payback funds. This is a small amount for the state, but these paybacks have major consequences for the low-income people who are required to pay them.

Question Title

* Did you sign in or leave a comment for HB 1260?

📜 3. Planning for advanced nuclear reactor technology in Washington - HB 1584

This bill would amend a guiding principle for the development of the State Energy Strategy to include consideration of advanced nuclear reactor technology in Washington as a cleaner energy source. Although nuclear energy doesn’t produce greenhouse gas, it is NOT clean. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are untested for both safety and reliability. Further, nuclear energy increases the risk of nuclear proliferation and creates high-level radioactive waste which remains deadly to biological life for hundreds of thousands of years. There is still no place to safely store it. Nuclear energy is also expensive. By one estimate, it costs approximately $160/MWh rather than the $40/MWh that solar and wind cost. For further information see these false solutions from 350 Seattle.

350 WA CAT recommends this action.

Scheduled for an executive session in the House Committee on Environment & Energy on Thursday, February 16, 8:00 AM. 

✏️ Please click here to send an email to committee members before Thursday, February 16, 8:00AM to OPPOSE HB 1584. If this link does not work on your device, you can right click on the link, select “copy email address” in the drop-down menu, then 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!
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
Assistant Ranking Minority Member Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-13) – (360) 786-7808 – alex.ybarra@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 the email should be: “I am writing to ask the Committee to OPPOSE HB 1584.”

Then, choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • Nuclear energy has no place in a safe, clean, sustainable future. Nuclear energy is not clean energy. Nuclear energy creates radioactive waste, and there is still no place to safely put it. High-level radioactive wastes can be deadly to biological life for hundreds of thousands of years.
  • Fusion is a long way from commercial use and small modular reactors (SMRs) are untested for both safety and reliability. We need clean energy solutions today.
  • Three Mile Island. Chernobyl. Fukushima. We need to use technologies that do not have catastrophic consequences when errors are made.
  • Nuclear energy is expensive. By one estimate, it costs approximately $160/MWh rather than the $40/MWh that solar and wind cost.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for HB 1584?

  I called to oppose HB 1584 I emailed to oppose HB 1584
Chair Rep. Beth Doglio (D-22)
Vice Chair Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-29)
Rep. Liz Berry (D-36)
Rep. Davina Duerr (D-01)
Rep. Jake Fey (D-27)
Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-40)
Rep. Alex Ramel (D-40)
Rep. Vandana Slatter (D-48)
Rep. Chipalo Street (D-37)
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Mary Dye (R-09)
Assistant Ranking Minority Member Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-13)
All done? Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and click the “DONE” button to submit your actions!
We think these next two actions will take about 10 minutes.
📜 4. Fair access to community solar - HB 1509

This bill will increase the community solar programs that are available in Washington and will enable low-income customers to receive the benefits of community solar. Community solar projects allow customers precluded from accessing the benefits of rooftop solar (such as renters, low-income, condos, homes with old roofs, etc.) to participate in the clean energy transition. Community solar customers can purchase or subscribe to solar panels that are not located on their buildings and realize the energy benefits on their utility electric bill.

This bill extends Washington’s community solar programs so that more customers will receive financial benefits from a community solar subscription on their utility electric bill.  It requires that 50% of all community solar subscriptions reduce the energy burdens of low-income customers and low-income service providers. The bill will update the Washington State University Energy Extension's low-income Community Solar Incentive Program’s definitions to match the new program and removes limitations on tribal-owned community solar projects.

For more information check out this Community Solar 1-pager.

We are following the lead of Spark Northwest on this bill.

Scheduled for an executive session in the House Committee on Environment & Energy on Thursday, February 16, 8:00 AM.

✏️ Please click here to send an email to committee members before Thursday, February 16, 8:00AM to SUPPORT HB 1509. If this link does not work on your device, you can right click on the link, select “copy email address” in the drop-down menu, then 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!
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
Assistant Ranking Minority Member Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-13) – (360) 786-7808 – alex.ybarra@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 the email should be: “I am writing to ask the Committee to SUPPORT HB 1509.”

Then, choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • HB 1509 would extend Washington’s community solar programs so that more customers can receive financial benefits from a community solar subscription on their utility electric bill and it would enable low-income customers to receive the benefits.
  • Community solar projects allow customers precluded from accessing the benefits of rooftop solar (such as those who are renters, people of low-income, people who own condominiums or homes where solar is not viable) to transition to clean energy by purchasing or subscribing to solar panels that are not located on their buildings and realizing the energy benefits on their utility electric bill.
  • HB 1509 would require that 50% of all community solar subscribers must be low-income customers and low-income service providers. The bill would also remove limitations on tribal-owned community solar projects.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for HB 1509?

  I called to support HB 1509 I emailed to support HB 1509
Chair Rep. Beth Doglio (D-22)
Vice Chair Rep. Sharlett Mena (D-29)
Rep. Liz Berry (D-36)
Rep. Davina Duerr (D-01)
Rep. Jake Fey (D-27)
Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-40)
Rep. Alex Ramel (D-40)
Rep. Vandana Slatter (D-48)
Rep. Chipalo Street (D-37)
Ranking Minority Member Rep. Mary Dye (R-09)
Assistant Ranking Minority Member Rep. Alex Ybarra (R-13)
📜 5. Nontribal commercial salmon fisheries in Washington waters of the Columbia river - SB 5297

The use of gill netting has demonstrated a negative impact on fish populations in the Columbia River. This bill bans gill nets for catching salmon in the mainstem of the Lower Columbia effective January 1, 2025. It also establishes a nontribal commercial buyback account for reducing the number of nontribal commercial gill net licenses on the Columbia River through a voluntary buyback program.

We are following the lead of Save Our Wild Salmon on this bill.

Scheduled for an executive session in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks on Thursday, February 16, 1:30 PM.

✏️ Please click here to send an email to committee members before Thursday, February 16, 1:30PM to SUPPORT SB 5297. If this link does not work on your device, you can right click on the link, select “copy email address” in the drop-down menu, then 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!
Chair, Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24) – (360) 786-7646 – Kevin.VanDeWege@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-32) – (360) 786-7662 – Jesse.Salomon@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-23) – (360) 786-7644 – Christine.Rolfes@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-42) – (360-786-7682 – sharon.shewmake@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Derek Stanford (D-01) – (360) 786-7600 – Derek.Stanford@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Member, Sen. Ron Muzzel (R-10) – (360) 786-7618 – ron.muzzall@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 the email should be: “I am writing to ask the Committee to SUPPORT SB 5297.”

Then, choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • SB 5297 would protect and build upon the conservation benefits to endangered steelhead and salmon populations set aside by the 2022 gill net buyback program
  • Gill netting has a demonstrated negative impact on fish populations in the Columbia River; banning harmful gill netting practices and offering financial incentives via buyback programs will benefit stakeholders and fish.
  • Reducing gill netting on the Columbia will clear the way for migrating fish and help decrease bycatch, a crucial factor in the survival of Washington’s salmon population.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for SB 5297?

  I called to support SB 5297 I emailed to support SB 5297
Chair, Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24)
Vice Chair, Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-32)
Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-23)
Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-42)
Sen. Derek Stanford (D-01)
Ranking Member, Sen. Ron Muzzel (R-10)
All done? Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom and click the "DONE” button to submit your actions!
Got time for more? We think these last two actions will take about 10-15 minutes.
📜 6. Eligibility, enrollment, & compensation of small forestland owners volunteering for participation in the forestry riparian easement program - SB 5667, HB 1740

These companion bills unnecessarily shorten easements under the Forestry Riparian Easement Program (FREP) from 50 to 40 years. The bills also triple the maximum amount of compensation to small forest landowners under the FREP from $50,000 to $150,000. The bills authorize the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to temporarily allow all small forest landowners to be eligible for small parcel alternative management plans if FREP funding is insufficient to cover program reimbursement. 

These bills weaken the protection of forest lands in riparian areas (situated on the banks of a river or stream) by creating a new exemption to forest practice rules. If payment from the DNR for easements on 20 acres or less is not available within 2 years, landowners can develop alternative management plans including decreased buffers that will not be able to maintain a healthy riparian habitat or good water quality. Additionally, these bills increase the costs of the FREP program when some small forest landowners have been waiting 4-7 years for their FREP compensation.

We are following the lead of Washington Conservation Action on these bills.

The two companion bills are both scheduled for Executive Session:
  • Senate Committee: Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks
    Date: Thursday, February 16, 1:30 PM
  • House Committee: Agriculture and Natural Resources
    Date: Friday, February 17, 10:30 AM
✏️ Please click here to send an email to all members of the Senate Committee.
✏️ Please click here to send an email to all members of the House Committee. If these links do not work on your device, you can right click on the link, select “copy email address” in the drop-down menu, then 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!
SENATE (SB 5667):
Chair, Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24) – (360) 786-7646 – Kevin.VanDeWege@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-32) – (360) 786-7662 – Jesse.Salomon@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-23) – (360) 786-7644 – Christine.Rolfes@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-42) – (360-786-7682 – sharon.shewmake@leg.wa.gov
Sen. Derek Stanford (D-01) – (360) 786-7600 – Derek.Stanford@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Member, Sen. Ron Muzzel (R-10) – (360) 786-7618 – ron.muzzall@leg.wa.gov
HOUSE (HB 1740):
Chair, Rep. Mike Chapman (D-24) – (360) 786-7916 – Mike.Chapman@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Melanie Morgan (D-29) – (360) 786-7906 – Melanie.Morgan@leg.wa.gov
Vice Chair, Rep. Kristine Reeves (D-30) – (360) 786-7830 – Kristine.Reeves@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Shelley Kloba (D-01) – (360) 786-7900 – Shelley.Kloba@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-40) – (360) 786-7800 – Debra.Lekanoff@leg.wa.gov
Rep. Larry Springer (D-45) – (360) 786-7822 – Larry.Springer@leg.wa.gov
Ranking Minority Member, Rep. Tom Dent (R-13) – (360) 786-7932 – Tom.Dent@leg.wa.gov
Assistant Ranking Minority Member, Rep. Bruce Chandler (R-15) – (360) 786-7960 – Bruce.Chandler@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 each the email should be: “I am writing to ask the Committee to OPPOSE SB 5667 / HB 1740.” Be sure to edit the script to reflect the correct bill number for the committee you are emailing.

Then, choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • This bill weakens the protection of forest lands in riparian areas by creating a new exemption to forest practice rules.
  • This bill unnecessarily reduces the duration of an easement under the program.
  • If the alternative management plans are overapplied they could lead to the deterioration of riparian buffers and have a significant impact on water quality.
  • The streamside buffers are too small, especially for small streams, and will not be able to maintain a healthy riparian habitat or good water quality.
  • This bill increases the costs of the FREP program when some small forest landowners have been waiting 4-7 years for their FREP compensation.

Question Title

* Did you call or email for SB 5667?

  I called to support SB 5667 I emailed to support SB 5667
Chair, Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-24)
Vice Chair, Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-32)
Sen. Christine Rolfes (D-23)
Sen. Sharon Shewmake (D-42)
Sen. Derek Stanford (D-01)
Ranking Member, Sen. Ron Muzzel (R-10)

Question Title

* Did you call or email for HB 1740?

  I called to oppose HB 1740 I emailed to oppose HB 1740
Chair, Rep. Mike Chapman (D-24)
Vice Chair, Rep. Melanie Morgan (D-29)
Vice Chair, Rep. Kristine Reeves (D-30)
Rep. Shelley Kloba (D-01)
Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-40)
Rep. Larry Springer (D-45)
Ranking Minority Member, Rep. Tom Dent (R-13)
Assistant Ranking Minority Member, Rep. Bruce Chandler (R-15)
📜 7. Concerning law enforcement and local corrections agency misconduct through investigations and legal actions - HB 1445

This bill allows the Attorney General’s office to investigate police agencies for systemic practices that violate citizen rights as protected by the Washington State Constitution.

The focus of this approach is on widespread or systemic misconduct, as opposed to isolated or sporadic instances of wrongdoing. The bill aims for the creation of minimum standards and systems to keep police departments accountable and to bring their policies, practices, training, discipline, and outcomes into compliance with the Washington constitution and state law. See this WCPA 1-Pager for more info.

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

Scheduled for a public hearing in the House Committee on Appropriations on Thursday, February 16, 4:00 PM.

✏️ Please sign in here to support HB 1445 before Thursday, February 16, 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 1445 before Friday, February 17, 4:00 PM.

📑 The first sentence of the written comment should be: “I strongly support HB 1445.”

Then choose 1-2 additional sentences from the options below or feel free to write your own.
  • There are approximately 18,000 police agencies within the US and the only way to hold police departments accountable for practices of discriminatory policing is for the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to bring a lawsuit or consent decree to affect change.  The DOJ does not have capacity to oversee all of them adequately.
  • This bill would give the Attorney General’s office the ability to investigate and sue departments for systemic discriminatory practices that deprive individuals of their rights under the Washington Constitution and to make systemic changes to police departments.
  • HB 1445 establishes minimum accountability standards and accountability systems. Police and policing institutions are not above the law. This legislation keeps police departments accountable for upholding the constitutional rights of Washingtonians.
  • Discriminatory practices and excessive use of force disproportionately affect Black, Indigenous, and people of color. This bill would serve as a stop gap to protect the public and provide greater police accountability.

Question Title

* Did you sign in or leave a comment for HB 1445?

Question Title

* You made it! Thank you so much for carrying this work with us and for making your voice heard! Please let us know if you had any issues.

Please click “Done” so your actions are recorded.

-- The 350 WA Civic Action Team

PS Not on the CAT email list? Sign up here!

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