Northwest Progressive Institute

revolutionizing grassroots politics

Advocacy

Welcome to NPI’s Advocacy page. Here, you can find our advocacy campaigns, legislative priorities, and Statehouse Bill Tracker, a tool for keeping tabs on what is happening under the dome in the Washington State Capitol. Not familiar with our work? Learn more about NPI and what we do.

Legislative Priorities for 2023

The Northwest Progressive Institute’s 2023 Washington State legislative priorities were:

  • Strengthen our democracy by abolishing Tim Eyman’s push polls (“advisory votes”), empowering cities to move their elections to even years, providing public funding for campaigns, increasing transparency of expenditures intended to influence legislation, and updating our public disclosure laws;
  • Build a more progressive tax code by levying a wealth tax on billionaire fortunes, expanding the estate tax, improving the Working Families Tax Credit, and enacting a homestead exemption and renter’s credit to help low and middle income-families;
  • Increase funding for attainable and affordable housing, prioritize the density of new development near public transit to reduce car usage, and require trees near new housing to reduce air pollution and heat island impacts;
  • Improve sustainability by wisely investing Climate Commitment Act revenue, investing in salmon habitat to protect fish and our critically endangered orcas, passing the Washington Recycling and Packaging Act, adopting right to repair, and requiring all counties to include climate resiliency in their Growth Management Act planning;
  • Uphold the state’s paramount duty by dedicating additional resources to special education, school nurses, K-12 libraries, and music programs, along with more grant funding to empower districts to retrofit or replace seismically vulnerable structures;
  • Protect reproductive rights by empowering the attorney general to block hospital mergers if they jeopardize access to abortion care, indemnify companies based in Washington that help employees in other states get abortions, and advance a constitutional amendment to recognize Washingtonians’ family planning rights;
  • Create safer communities by banning military style assault weapons and equipping local governments with the tools needed to send unarmed first responders trained to address behavorial health crises to aid mentally ill individuals disturbing the peace;
  • Enhance equity and social justice by addressing the alarming rise of hate crimes, repealing the ban on affirmative action, abolishing the death penalty, and requiring proposed legislation to be reviewed through an equity lens.

Statehouse Bill Tracker

A tool for monitoring the Washington State Legislature

Introduction: The Statehouse Bill Tracker is an NPI project that makes tracking priority legislation simple and easy. The Tracker aggregates feeds for bills “with legs”, providing an up-to-date view of what’s moving in the statehouse at any given time during session. Bills are sorted by activity. The most recently active bills appear at the top and the least active bills appear at the bottom.

When something happens to a bill, we call that an action.

An action could be a bill’s introduction, public hearing in committee, vote on the floor, proposed amendment, or referral to another committee; all these are examples of steps in the legislative process. (See this page for a visual explanation of how a bill becomes a law). Actions affect the placement of bills in the tracker. Here’s a longer explanation:

  1. Bills are sorted in reverse chronological order. The most active bills will always appear at the top. Bills with little activity will sink to the bottom like a heavy stone settling at the bottom of a creek bed after being washed downstream by a flood.
  2. A green dot next to a bill number update indicates the bill reflects progressive values and enjoys our support. Conversely, red octagon (stop sign) indicates that we oppose the bill because it would implement policies that are contrary to progressive values. Finally, a yellow triangle means we have concerns about a bill, but are not working for its defeat.
  3. Assessments of bills are provided by NPI and organizations that we work with, such as the Washington State Labor Council or the Environmental Priorities Coalition. The person/entity that analyzed the bill and provided the wording is always listed to the left of the assessment.
  4. It is possible to view a bill’s full history without clicking away, as long as JavaScript is enabled. Simply click on the blue link that says “Click to view” and the bill history will slide out for easy viewing. (It can be hidden again using the same link, which will change to say “Click to hide”). If JavaScript is not enabled, the bill history may still be viewed, either by clicking the bill number to go to the Legislature’s website or by viewing the source of this page.

Now, let’s find out what’s moving in the statehouse!

Browse Active Legislation

Senate Bill 5536 (Flawed Response to Blake Decision)

Official Description: Concerning controlled substances, counterfeit substances, and legend drug possession and treatment.
Current Status: (May 16, 2023) Effective date 8/15/2023*.
Prime Sponsor: Robinson
Cosponsors: Lovick, Rolfes, Mullet, Dhingra, Billig, Hasegawa, Keiser, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Nobles, Randall, Stanford, Wellman, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI opposes this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Creating new criminal penalties for drug possession would repeat the mistakes of the past, pour money into revolving jail doors instead of programs that work, and continue the failed legacy and racist outcomes of the War on Drugs," the ACLU says. "Politicians' attempts to use arrests to deter drug use will end the way they always have: escalating overdose deaths, racially disparate law enforcement, and outcomes that depend on where you live and how much money you have. SSB 5536 will just do more of the same." The bill has undergone many changes since it was originally introduced, but the most progressive members of the Senate all opposed it on final passage. NPI likewise opposes E2SSB 5536.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5200 (Capital Budget (Senate Version))

Official Description: Concerning the capital budget.
Current Status: (May 16, 2023) Effective date 5/16/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Mullet
Cosponsors: Schoesler, Nguyen
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill is the Senate's version of the 2023 capital budget, a must-pass bill. Senate Democrats say the $7.9 billion budget makes historic investments in affordable housing, behavioral health, environmental protection, school construction, and public safety. "Highlights include a record-setting $400 million for the Housing Trust Fund, part of a total of $625 million for housing investments. The budget also includes $650 million for a new forensic hospital at Western State, a historic $120 million for the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program, regional training centers for law enforcement across Washington, $100 million for school construction in small rural and tribal districts, $1.2 billion for higher education projects, and much more." The final version of the capital budget will be decided after negotiations with the House. NPI is asking for more money for school seismic safety.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5187 (Operating Budget - Senate Version)

Official Description: Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.
Current Status: (May 16, 2023) Effective date 5/16/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Rolfes
Cosponsors: Robinson, Nguyen
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This is the Senate's version of the 2023-25 Biennial and 2023 Supplemental Operating Budget. The state must have a budget for the next biennium. The Senate's version totals $69 billion, compared to over $70.4 billion proposed by the Governor and $70.1 billion supported by the House.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1125 (Transportation Budget - House Version)

Official Description: Making transportation appropriations for the 2023-2025 fiscal biennium.
Current Status: (May 16, 2023) Effective date 5/16/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Fey
Cosponsors: Lekanoff, Timmons, Paul, Wylie, Donaghy
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This is the House's proposed transportation budget. The state must have a transportation budget for the next biennium, so NPI is supportive of this bill, but we have concerns about some of the provisions.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5112 (Upgrading Automatic Voter Registration)

Official Description: Updating processes related to voter registration.
Current Status: (May 15, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023*.
Prime Sponsor: Hunt
Cosponsors: Hasegawa, Kuderer, Valdez, Wilson, C., Wilson, J.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Increasing electoral participation is at the heart of environmental justice by ensuring all Washingtonians, regardless of race or income, are heard at the ballot box," the Environmental Priorities Coalition notes. "However, there are still almost one million eligible Washingtonians who are not registered to vote, and people of color and low-income people still face registration barriers. SB 5112 ensures more people are registered to vote by upgrading our automatic voter registration system to include people left out by traditional methods. Making these changes will increase voter registration, maintain public confidence in registering only eligible voters, and save time and money through automatic registration instead of through paper forms."
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5208 (Updating Online Voter Registration Procedures)

Official Description: Updating the process for online voter registration by allowing voter applicants to provide the last four digits of social security number for authentication.
Current Status: (May 9, 2023) Effective date 7/15/2024.
Prime Sponsor: Trudeau
Cosponsors: King, Hunt, Nobles, Randall, Keiser, Kuderer, Lovick, Saldaña, Hasegawa, Liias, Conway, Frame, Nguyen, Pedersen, Stanford, Valdez, Wellman, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This Washington Voting Justice Coalition legislation would update the process for online voter registration by allowing voter applicants to provide the last four digits of Social Security numbers for authentication. Although NPI is generally opposed to the current widespread practice of using Social Security numbers for authenticating a person's identity, we support this bill for equity reasons. People who don't have a driver's license ought to be able to register to vote online like other Washingtonians. (For security, the bill provides that online applicants must submit a signature image to the Secretary of State, or as part of the confirmation notice process.) The bill is scheduled to take effect in the summer of 2024.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1238 (Universal School Meals)

Official Description: Providing free school meals for all.
Current Status: (May 9, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023*.
Prime Sponsor: Riccelli
Cosponsors: Harris, Alvarado, Thai, Simmons, Senn, Rude, Reeves, Reed, Walen, Peterson, Ortiz-Self, Ormsby, Taylor, Leavitt, Fitzgibbon, Duerr, Doglio, Berry, Bateman, Morgan, Fey, Ramel, Goodman, Fosse, Pollet, Lekanoff, Macri, Chopp, Stonier, Gregerson, Santos
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: As originally proposed by Representative Marcus Riccelli at the request of Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal, HB 1238 would have made no-cost school meals universal in Washington's public schools, which NPI's research shows Washingtonians support, even if it costs $100 million a year. The amended bill doesn't provide no-cost school meals to all, but we still support it because it's better than inaction. NPI continues to urge the Legislature to restore the bill to its original scope.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5182 (Updating Deadlines for Candidate Filing)

Official Description: Concerning procedures and deadlines for candidate filing.
Current Status: (May 9, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Nguyen
Cosponsors: Hunt, Boehnke, Keiser, MacEwen, Nobles, Shewmake, Trudeau, Wilson, C., Wilson, J.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill would make move candidate filing to the week beginning the first Monday in May (instead of mid-May). It also standardizes regular business hours during candidate filing week, including for the acceptance of electronically filed declarations of candidacy, at 8 AM - 5 PM Pacific Time. And it adjusts precinct boundary and voter's pamphlet submission deadlines.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1337 (Preempting Local Regulations for Backyard Cottages)

Official Description: Expanding housing options by easing barriers to the construction and use of accessory dwelling units.
Current Status: (May 8, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Gregerson
Cosponsors: Barkis, Berry, Christian, Duerr, Fitzgibbon, Taylor, Ramel, Reeves, Simmons, Walen, Graham, Bateman, Reed, Lekanoff, Doglio, Tharinger, Cortes, Macri, Stonier
Our Position: NPI has concerns about this bill.
Assessment by NPI: NPI supports the intent of this bill, but has concerns about some of the specific provisions, namely the language in Section 4 that declares: "A city or county may not impose setback requirements, yard coverage limits, tree retention mandates, restrictions on entry door locations, aesthetic requirements, or requirements for design review for accessory dwelling units that are more restrictive than those for principal units." This language could have the effect of weakening tree protection rules and other regulations created to require responsible development and promote livable communities.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1110 (Missing Middle Housing)

Official Description: Increasing middle housing in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing.
Current Status: (May 8, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Bateman
Cosponsors: Barkis, Reed, Taylor, Riccelli, Berry, Fitzgibbon, Peterson, Duerr, Lekanoff, Alvarado, Street, Ryu, Ramel, Cortes, Doglio, Macri, Mena, Gregerson, Thai, Bergquist, Farivar, Wylie, Stonier, Pollet, Santos, Fosse, Ormsby
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation seeks to make it easier to build what's known as "missing middle housing" (duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, and so on) in Washington by requiring most cities planning under the Growth Management Act to authorize minimum development densities in residential zones. The legislation has been amended since its introduction and more work may be needed to ensure local tree protection ordinances and other regulations are not weakened by the changes to state law to foster the construction of attainable housing.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5199 (Exempting Local Journalism from B&O Tax)

Official Description: Providing tax relief for newspaper publishers.
Current Status: (May 4, 2023) Effective date 1/1/2024.
Prime Sponsor: Mullet
Cosponsors: Conway, Dozier, Holy, Keiser, Lovelett, Nguyen, Shewmake, Valdez
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation, requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, would help media businesses remain going concerns during a challenging time for the news business. The office explains: "Newspapers currently pay a reduced B&O tax rate, but that preferential tax rate expires in July of 2024. Consistent with the Legislative Auditor’s recommendation, Senate Bill 5199/House Bill 1206 expands the preference to fully eliminate the B&O tax for newspaper publishers and printers. This legislation also extends the same rate to exclusively online news outlets that provide a similar public benefit as printed papers." At NPI, we are strong advocates for a fair and just tax code, and have lobbied for an end to an unnecessary, unjustified tax exemptions and tax preferences. This is an example of a preference that we believe is in the public interest -- because it has the potential to help businesses that perform an essential service that Washingtonians need.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5257 (School Recess for All WA Public Students)

Official Description: Ensuring elementary school students receive sufficient daily recess.
Current Status: (May 4, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Nobles
Cosponsors: Wilson, C., Billig, Cleveland, Dozier, Frame, Hasegawa, Hunt, Liias, Lovelett, Lovick, Nguyen, Saldaña, Valdez, Wellman
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Senate Bill 5257 would ensure sufficient daily recess in Washington State and help end the outdated practice of withholding recess, which disproportionately affects students of color and those with disabilities," explains Linnea Westerlind. NPI agrees and strongly supports this bill to improve the health of students in Washington's K-12 public schools.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1181 (Considering Climate in Future Public Planning)

Official Description: Improving the state's response to climate change by updating the state's planning framework.
Current Status: (May 3, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Duerr
Cosponsors: Fitzgibbon, Berry, Peterson, Ryu, Alvarado, Taylor, Reed, Walen, Bateman, Ramel, Goodman, Doglio, Macri, Callan, Simmons, Lekanoff, Gregerson, Bergquist, Stonier, Pollet, Davis, Kloba, Riccelli, Mena, Tharinger
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Requested by Governor Jay Inslee, HB 1181 seeks to improve the state's response to climate damage by updating the state's planning framework. The bill adds a climate component to the Growth Management Act and requires most local jurisdictions to "address the adverse impacts of climate damage on people, property, and ecological systems, and identify actions the jurisdiction will take to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and vehicle miles traveled (VMT) under the climate change and resiliency element of their comprehensive plan." A recent amendment to the bill adds a requirement that local governments add an "evaluation of tree canopy coverage within the urban growth area" to the parks and recreation element of their comprehensive plans, which is a big win. NPI supports this bill.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5352 (Vehicular Pursuits)

Official Description: Concerning vehicular pursuits.
Current Status: (May 3, 2023) Effective date 5/3/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Lovick
Cosponsors: MacEwen, Cleveland, Conway, Gildon, Holy, Hunt, Mullet, Rolfes, Salomon, Short, Torres, Van De Wege, Warnick, Wilson, L.
Our Position: NPI has concerns about this bill.
Assessment by NPI: SB 5352, proposed by Senator John Lovick but significantly amended since its introduction, would change the law governing police pursuits, lowering the standard for police officers to instigate a chase from probable cause to reasonable suspicion while attaching a number of new conditions to police departments’ use of that pursuit authority. The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability says: "The law on vehicular pursuits has saved lives - fewer bystanders, officers, passengers, and drivers are losing their lives as a result of hot pursuits. We hope the legislature is very careful in their consideration of whether it should be changed. Because lives are at stake." NPI shares this concern.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5225 (Increasing Access to Working Connections Childcare)

Official Description: Increasing access to the working connections child care program.
Current Status: (May 1, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023*.
Prime Sponsor: Wilson
Cosponsors: C., Conway, Frame, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Lovelett, Nguyen, Salomon, Shewmake, Stanford, Valdez
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: "Childcare workers make poverty wages and often do not receive benefits like health care and retirement plans," the Economic Opportunity Institute says. "Childcare workers are leaving the industry for higher-paying jobs, which leaves providers struggling to retain and attract qualified teachers. We support increasing the reimbursement rate for working connections and paying licensed childcare programs based on enrollment rather than attendance. These changes can ensure a more predictable childcare industry, which significantly benefits parents and providers."
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1340 (Safe Haven for Abortion Access)

Official Description: Concerning actions by health professions disciplining authorities against license applicants and license holders.
Current Status: (April 27, 2023) Effective date 4/27/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Riccelli
Cosponsors: Thai, Berry, Ormsby, Chopp, Macri, Bergquist, Bateman, Simmons, Stonier, Berg, Duerr, Wylie, Senn, Taylor, Fitzgibbon, Cortes, Goodman, Reed, Lekanoff
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: As summarized by Democratic caucus staff, this legislation "ensures that health providers can’t be disciplined or have their license denied for 'unprofessional conduct' if that was the result of providing reproductive health services or gender affirming care in accordance with Washington state law, regardless of where the patient resides." This is the House version.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1155 (Washington My Health My Data Act)

Official Description: Addressing the collection, sharing, and selling of consumer health data.
Current Status: (April 27, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Slatter
Cosponsors: Street, Reed, Ryu, Berg, Alvarado, Taylor, Bateman, Ramel, Senn, Goodman, Fitzgibbon, Macri, Simmons, Reeves, Lekanoff, Orwall, Duerr, Thai, Gregerson, Wylie, Ortiz-Self, Stonier, Pollet, Riccelli, Donaghy, Fosse, Ormsby
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill, requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, seeks to close the gap on health data privacy protections and regulate entities not required to follow HIPAA. It prohibits the selling Washingtonians’ health data, blocking health tracking apps and advertisers from collecting and selling Washingtonians’ health data without their consent, barring location-specific targeting of people who visit reproductive and gender affirming healthcare facilities, and requiring companies to maintain and publish a privacy policy for people’s health data.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1240 (Assault Weapons Ban)

Official Description: Establishing firearms-related safety measures to increase public safety.
Current Status: (April 25, 2023) Effective date 4/25/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Peterson
Cosponsors: Senn, Alvarado, Walen, Street, Springer, Simmons, Reeves, Reed, Ormsby, Kloba, Fitzgibbon, Duerr, Doglio, Berry, Bateman, Fey, Davis, Ramel, Bergquist, Fosse, Pollet, Lekanoff, Macri, Gregerson, Santos
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: House Bill 1240 would prohibit the manufacture, importation, distribution, sale, or offer for sale of any assault weapon, subject to various exceptions for licensed firearm manufacturers and dealers, and for individuals who inherit an assault weapon. This is the House version of legislation requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, which NPI's polling shows a majority of Washingtonians strongly support.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5078 (Firearm Industry Responsibility & Gun Violence Victims’ Access to Justice Act)

Official Description: Protecting public safety by establishing duties of firearm industry members.
Current Status: (April 25, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Pedersen
Cosponsors: Dhingra, Frame, Hasegawa, Hunt, Keiser, Kuderer, Liias, Nguyen, Nobles, Rolfes, Saldaña, Stanford, Trudeau, Valdez, Wellman
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation requires gun manufacturers and dealers to "take reasonable steps to prevent their products from getting into the hands of dangerous individuals." It subjects the gun industry to liability if it fails to "establish, implement and enforce reasonable controls in the manufacture, sale, distribution and marketing of firearms." The legislation is both practical and constitutional and will give victims of gun violence access to justice. Similar legislation has been adopted in Delaware, New York, New Jersey, and California. NPI strongly supports this bill.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1143 (Permit to Purchase for Guns)

Official Description: Concerning requirements for the purchase or transfer of firearms.
Current Status: (April 25, 2023) Effective date 1/1/2024.
Prime Sponsor: Berry
Cosponsors: Walen, Reed, Peterson, Street, Bateman, Ramel, Senn, Callan, Doglio, Macri, Lekanoff, Duerr, Pollet, Davis, Kloba, Fosse, Ormsby
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This gun safety legislation "provides that a dealer may not transfer any firearm to a purchaser or transferee until completion of a background check indicating the person is eligible to possess firearms and ten business days have elapsed since the dealer requested the background check." It also "prohibits a dealer from transferring a firearm to a purchaser or transferee unless the person provides the dealer with proof of completion of a recognized firearm safety training program." NPI's research has found that nearly seven out of ten likely voters support this bill, with 56% strongly supportive.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5284 (Washington Public Disclosure Law Updates)

Official Description: Concerning campaign finance disclosure.
Current Status: (April 23, 2023) Returned to Senate Rules 3.
Prime Sponsor: Nguyen
Cosponsors: Billig, Frame, Hunt, Keiser, Kuderer, Shewmake, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill, championed by NPI's friends at Fix Democracy First, would end foreign-influenced corporate spending in elections in Washington and protect the basic principle of democratic self-government. It would prohibit corporations and similar for-profit businesses from political spending if 1% of stock is owned by a foreign investor, or 5% of stock is owned, in the aggregate, by multiple foreign investors. Under the policy’s thresholds for defining foreign-influenced corporations, an estimated 98% of S&P 500 corporations would be covered based on their significant foreign ownership.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5082 (Repealing and Replacing "Advisory Votes")

Official Description: Encouraging electoral participation and making ballots more meaningful by abolishing advisory votes.
Current Status: (April 20, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Kuderer
Cosponsors: Hunt
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: SB 5082 would repeal part of an old Tim Eyman initiative that forces Washington's thirty-nine counties to waste precious resources on "advisory votes" -- fake ballot measures that falsely purport to give voters an opportunity to weigh in on revenue increases passed by the Legislature. Advisory votes -- which are really anti-tax messages written by Eyman and thus do not measure anything -- are costly, deceptive, and unconstitutional, and NPI strongly supports getting rid of them. The bill would also increase transparency of the Legislature by requiring more information about the Legislature's fiscal decisions to be published online, with access instructions offered in the voter's pamphlet. Adoption of this legislation is a top NPI legislative priority for 2023. This is the Senate version.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5217 (Protects Workers and Repeals the BIAW's I-841)

Official Description: Concerning the state's ability to regulate certain industries and risk classes to prevent musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.
Current Status: (April 20, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Dhingra
Cosponsors: Kauffman, Keiser, Kuderer, Lovelett, Nguyen, Nobles, Pedersen, Valdez, Wilson, C.
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: SB 5217 would get rid of a twenty year old right wing initiative created by the Building Industry Association of Washington that overturned ergonomics regulations. Under the bill, the Department of Labor & Industries will regain the authority to adopt reasonable rules to protect Washington workers from musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. NPI strongly supports this legislation.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1329 (Extreme Heat Utility Shutoff Moratorium)

Official Description: Preventing utility shutoffs for nonpayment during extreme heat.
Current Status: (April 20, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Mena
Cosponsors: Alvarado, Berry, Duerr, Leavitt, Morgan, Ramel, Ryu, Senn, Simmons, Timmons, Kloba, Bateman, Slatter, Orwall, Reed, Lekanoff, Gregerson, Doglio, Tharinger, Cortes, Donaghy, Pollet, Callan, Fosse, Macri, Davis, Stonier
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill "prohibits utility providers from discontinuing electric service and drinking water to residential customers during days of extreme heat" and is request legislation from Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Its passage would be another step forward for equity and economic justice.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1355 (Wider Eligibility for Reduced Property Tax Obligations)

Official Description: Updating property tax exemptions for service-connected disabled veterans and senior citizens.
Current Status: (April 20, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Wylie
Cosponsors: Slatter, Orcutt, Harris, Leavitt, Orwall, Walen, Christian, Couture, Rule, Senn, Stokesbary, Graham, Kloba, Reed, Paul, Donaghy, Pollet, Callan
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: HB 1355 "expands the qualifying income thresholds for the property tax exemption and deferral programs for low-income senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and veterans, allowing the program to keep up with inflation, and making many more people eligible," King County Assessor John Arthur Wilson's office says. "The bill immediately raises the current threshold by 5%, and ties future increases to the most recent County Median Household Income level. In King County this will raise the income eligibility level from roughly $58,000 per year to just over $72,000 per year."
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

Senate Bill 5087 (Repealing Death Penalty + Other Unconstitutional Statutes)

Official Description: Removing language from the Revised Code of Washington that has been identified by the justices of the supreme court or judges of the superior courts as defects and omissions in the laws pursuant to Article IV, section 25 of the Washington state Constitution.
Current Status: (April 20, 2023) Effective date 7/23/2023.
Prime Sponsor: Pedersen
Cosponsors: Mullet, Billig, Dhingra, Frame, Hasegawa, Hunt, Kauffman, Kuderer, Liias, Lovelett, Nobles, Saldaña, Stanford, Wellman
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: Substitute Senate Bill 5087, prime sponsored by Senator Jamie Pedersen (D‑43rd District: Seattle) and requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, would formally scrub a list of statutes no longer in effect from the Revised Code of Washington. These statutes include the death penalty, deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court as applied, along with the unconstitutional two-thirds scheme to raise revenue that Tim Eyman turned into a series of initiatives. Adoption of this bill is an NPI 2023 legislative priority.
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House Bill 1628 (Progressive Real Estate Excise Tax for Housing)

Official Description: Increasing the supply of affordable housing by modifying the state and local real estate excise tax.
Current Status: (April 17, 2023) Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Prime Sponsor: Chopp
Cosponsors: Macri, Peterson, Alvarado, Taylor, Reed, Pollet, Lekanoff, Fitzgibbon, Berg, Riccelli, Davis, Street, Ramel, Duerr, Senn, Doglio, Cortes, Stonier, Gregerson, Mena, Berry, Fosse, Goodman, Bergquist, Slatter, Ormsby, Thai, Farivar, Simmons, Wylie
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: HB 1628 makes the existing real estate excise tax (REET) more progressive and adds the Washington Housing Trust Fund, the Apple Health and Homes Account, the Affordable Housing for All Account, and the new Developmental Disabilities Housing and Services Account to the Accounts that receive proceeds. It also allows a city or county to levy an additional 0.25 percent REET to benefit affordable housing beginning in 2024.
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House Bill 1147 (Capital Budget (House Version))

Official Description: Concerning the capital budget.
Current Status: (April 3, 2023) Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Prime Sponsor: Tharinger
Cosponsors: Leavitt, Callan, Wylie
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This bill is the House version of the capital budget. It "authorizes new appropriations totaling $8.9 billion, of which $4.8 billion is financed through new general obligation bond proceeds. The 2023 Supplemental Capital Budget increases total funding in the 2021-23 fiscal biennium by $18.9 million, but reduces appropriations funded with bonds by $103 million." The final version will be determined in negotiations with the Senate.
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House Bill 1140 (Operating Budget - House Version)

Official Description: Making 2023-2025 fiscal biennium operating appropriations.
Current Status: (April 3, 2023) Referred to Rules 2 Review.
Prime Sponsor: Ormsby
Cosponsors: Gregerson, Macri, Lekanoff, Bergquist
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This is the House's version of the 2023-25 Biennial and 2023 Supplemental Operating Budget. The state must have a budget for the next biennium. The House's version totals $70.1 billion, compared to over $70.4 billion proposed by the Governor and $69.3 billion supported by the Senate.
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Senate Bill 5486 (Levying a Wealth Tax on Large Fortunes)

Official Description: Investing in Washington families and creating a more fair tax system by enacting a narrowly tailored property tax on extreme wealth derived from the ownership of stocks, bonds, and other financial intangible property.
Current Status: (March 9, 2023) Scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Committee on Ways & Means at 4:00 PM (Subject to change).
Prime Sponsor: Frame
Cosponsors: Nguyen, Robinson, Wellman, Hunt, Dhingra, Saldaña, Van De Wege, Wilson, C., Kuderer, Trudeau, Keiser, Stanford, Conway, Lovelett, Lovick, Hasegawa, Valdez, Cleveland
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation (Senate version) would establish a one percent tax on intangible personal property in excess of $250 million, meaning that only Washingtonians with $250 million or more in wealth would pay it. "Taxing extreme wealth, specifically that of ultra-millionaires and billionaires, through a state wealth tax is a pragmatic step for Washington state to take," the Economic Opportunity Institute's Carolyn Brotherton explained in a policy brief published last year. NPI agrees. The ultra-rich's private fortunes were created with the help of public infrastructure that taxpayers paid for, and they have an obligation to pay it forward by investing in Washington's future. It is patriotic to be a taxpayer and pay your dues, and this wealth tax legislation will ensure that Washington's wealthiest individuals are doing their part to help the Evergreen State thrive.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

House Bill 1473 (Levying a Wealth Tax on Large Fortunes)

Official Description: Investing in Washington families and creating a more fair tax system by enacting a narrowly tailored property tax on extreme wealth derived from the ownership of stocks, bonds, and other financial intangible property.
Current Status: (February 14, 2023) Public hearing in the House Committee on Finance at 8:00 AM.
Prime Sponsor: Thai
Cosponsors: Berg, Ryu, Peterson, Farivar, Street, Chopp, Hackney, Taylor, Reed, Berry, Ramel, Ortiz-Self, Reeves, Entenman, Goodman, Walen, Wylie, Ormsby, Duerr, Alvarado, Pollet, Riccelli, Gregerson, Macri, Fosse, Mena, Bateman, Santos, Stearns, Senn, Callan, Kloba, Simmons, Tharinger, Chapman, Fey, Cortes, Davis, Doglio, Slatter, Morgan, Bergquist
Our Position: NPI supports this bill.
Assessment by NPI: This legislation (House version) would establish a one percent tax on intangible personal property in excess of $250 million, meaning that only Washingtonians with $250 million or more in wealth would pay it. "Taxing extreme wealth, specifically that of ultra-millionaires and billionaires, through a state wealth tax is a pragmatic step for Washington state to take," the Economic Opportunity Institute's Carolyn Brotherton explained in a policy brief published last year. NPI agrees. The ultra-rich's private fortunes were created with the help of public infrastructure that taxpayers paid for, and they have an obligation to pay it forward by investing in Washington's future. It is patriotic to be a taxpayer and pay your dues, and this wealth tax legislation will ensure that Washington's wealthiest individuals are doing their part to help the Evergreen State thrive.
Weigh in: Comment on this bill using the Legislature’s new bill commenting tool.

View full bill history for 2023 Regular Session (Click to view)

2023 Northwest Progressive Institute
PO Box 264, Redmond, WA 98073-0264