What’s Ahead

SB 6003, which threatens local franchise authority, will be heard by the Senate Water, Energy and Telecommunications Committee on February 20. See the Energy & Telecommunications section for more information.
SB 5854, which limits the ability to collect delinquent utility debt from property owners, will be heard by the Senate Consumer Protection & Housing Committee on February 20. See the General Local Government section for more information.
SB 5498, eliminating non-supplanting language, is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee on Monday, February 19 at 3:30 pm. Please encourage your senators to pass this bill. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
HB 2091, requiring new performance measurement and reporting requirements in GMA cities and counties, will be heard at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, February 20 in the House Local Government Committee. See the Land Use & Housing section for more information.

Last Week’s Highlights

The streamlined sales tax bill, SSB 5089, was heard on February 14. Thanks to Rep. Hunter, chair of the House Finance Committee, for scheduling the hearing to coincide with AWC’s legislative conference, allowing a number of city officials to attend the hearing. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
HB 2022, which would provide smaller cities and counties an additional $10 million a year, was heard by the House Appropriations Committee on February 13. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.

All cities are encouraged to contact their House members to remind them of city support for passage this year of SSB 5089, streamlined sales tax legislation with full mitigation. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
Please contact your senators and encourage them to vote for SB 5498, which provides cities additional flexibility to raise revenues with voter approval. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
Cities are encouraged to contact their legislators today to ask them to support HB 1342 and SB 5647, which provide additional flexibility for use of the lodging tax. See the Municipal Finance section for more information.
Please contact your legislators on either the House or Senate Transportation Committee and ask them to support both HB 1858 and SB 5767 regarding Transportation Benefit Districts. The Senate version of this bill will be heard on February 22, at 1:30 pm. See the Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development section for more information.
If your city appoints its judge, please contact your senator in opposition to the sections of SB 5353 that expand subject matter jurisdiction and require all municipal court judges to be elected, and provide comments to Sheila Gall or Tammy Fellin on the proposed new steps that may be required before appointing judges. See the Law & Justice section for more information.