What’s Ahead: Key Issues

Infrastructure Funding: AWC, in collaboration with other associations, has worked to introduce HB 1790, which provides for the distribution of funds used for jobs, economic development, and local capital projects. A hearing will be scheduled within the next two weeks. See the Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development section for more information.

Last Week’s Highlights

The House version of the Streamlined Sales Tax bill, HB 1072, was heard by the House Finance Committee on January 23. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
HB 1669, to provide for a gross negligence liability standard for misdemeanant offender supervision, was introduced by Rep. Strow (R-Oak Harbor). The bill would grant cities the same level of protection from liability that currently applies to the state. See the Law & Justice section for more information.

How You Can Help – Now!

All cities are encouraged to contact their legislators to remind them of the importance of passing Streamlined Sales Tax legislation with full mitigation. We cannot assume the Legislature will pass the bill and we must remind them to act on it this year. Tell them that a broad coalition of 19 associations have joined together in support of this legislation. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
Transmission Siting Preemption (HB 1037 ): While it’s been a long-standing position that AWC opposes this preemption, some cities have expressed some support for this proposal or are neutral. AWC is working on alternative language for this proposal and needs your comments. See the Energy & Telecommunications section for more information.

Bills on AWC Priority Issues

Visit www.awcnet.org/prioritybills for a list of AWC’s 2007 Legislative Priorities and relevant bill numbers. This list includes all bills that address AWC priority issues. Please be aware that the bills listed under each priority are not necessarily proposals that AWC is promoting. Such bills will note that AWC has concerns or is opposed.

Also, within each issue of the Legislative Bulletin, we will identify bills as AWC Priority Issues. Please note that the bills reported on in the Bulletin may or may not be AWC’s preferred solution, and could be bills we oppose or have concerns with.

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