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^{Action Alerts}

Click on the links below to learn more about bills currently being reviewed in the state legislature. You can “take action” on these most pressing bills by following the links below. Please sign in as individuals and not as representing the League of Women Voters. Thank you for taking action!

Priority Actions

Combat Falsified Petition Signatures

The current law requires that Initiative and Referendum petition signature gatherers swear that every petitioner signed their true name and correctly provided address and voluntarily signed without compensation. SB 5382, Petition Signature Gatherers Can be Charged With a Misdemeanor if They Falsify, makes it a misdemeanor to falsify signatures. These requirements align with similar requirements in many other states. An amendment passed that clarified the address verification process for people who recently moved. This bill passed the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs and Elections Committee and now has a hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 1:30 pm on Monday, February 24

⚠️ Sign in PRO on SB 5382 HERE before 12:30 pm on Monday, February 24.

Promote Transit-Oriented Housing Development

In order to maximize the return on investment in intermodal transportation, HB 1491, Promoting Transit-Oriented Housing Development, would support transit-oriented development that reflects the state’s commitment to affordable housing and vibrant, walkable, accessible urban environments that improve health, expand multimodal transportation options, and include varied community facilities, parks, and green spaces that are open to people of all income levels. It provides guidelines and for assistance to cities in achieving this type of development. This bill passed the House Housing Committee as a substitute and has been referred to the House Capital Budget Committee, where it is scheduled for public hearing at 9:00 am on February 25.

⚠️Sign in PRO on HB 1491 HERE before 8:00 am on Tuesday, February 25.

Establish Intercity Passenger Rail Improvements

SB 5667 addresses long-standing neglect of the intercity rail system, which should be integral to the State’s transportation system. It sets targets for Amtrak service that include more frequent and reliable services and more reliable on-time service. These improvements are needed to support the state’s goals for climate, public health, equity, and mobility. More people would use the train if these standards were met. SB 5667 is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, February 25.

⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5667 HERE before 12:30 pm on Tuesday, February 25.

See All Action Alerts

^{This Week in the Legislature}

On Friday, February 21, any bill that had not passed the policy committee in the house of origin effectively died for this legislative session. The next cutoff date is for bills to pass the fiscal committees—House Appropriations and Senate Ways & Means—and the transportation committees. That is next Friday, February 28. You will see fewer action alerts in this newsletter’s weekly updates because of this timing.

Given that nearly 2000 bills have been introduced in the House and Senate combined, this means that a large number of them will have died by next Friday. Bills with fiscal impact have often been held back in the policy committees because of the anticipated revenue shortfall.

After this coming week, the House and Senate will be processing bills that have been referred to their respective Rules Committees. The Rules Committees pick which bills will get to the floor for a vote by all of the members. If a bill has not been voted on by March 12 and moved to the opposite chamber, it will be considered dead for the session—except for bills that are deemed “necessary to implement the budget."

At about that time, the House and Senate will be finalizing their respective budget proposals and we will see those mid-March.

Please continue to support the League by signing in PRO or CON as indicated. We appreciate your help in this work!

^{The 2025 Legislative Issues}

LWVWA Legislative Issues From the 2025 Washington State Legislative Session

Click on an issue overview to learn more about the bills the League is following and "This Week's Updates" to read the issue chair's report on this past week. When a "⚠️" appears next to an overview, it indicates there are actions to take for this week. Click on the "⚠️" to be taken to the actions for that issue.

*Please note that additional issues will be available in next week's issue.

Democracy

Redistricting | Issue overview

Environment

Climate Crisis and Energy | Issue overview

Forests| Issue overview |Weekly Update

Waste Diversion | Issue overview |Weekly Update ⚠️

Transportation | Issue overview | Weekly Update ⚠️

Social and Economic Policy

Behavioral Health | Issue overview |Weekly Update ⚠️

Health Care | Issue overview | Weekly Update ⚠️

Affordable Housing and Homelessness | Issue overview | Weekly Update ⚠️

K-12 Education | Issue overview | Weekly Update ⚠️

Early Care and Education | Issue overview |Weekly Update

Children's Issues | Issue overview |Weekly Update

Criminal Justice | Issue overview |Weekly Update ⚠️

Revenue | Issue overview |Weekly Update

Support Our Advocacy Work

League of Women Voters of Washington
1511 3rd Avenue, Suite 801, Seattle, WA 98101
206-622-8961 | 1-800-419-2596 | www.lwvwa.org

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters of Washington
1511 Third Ave, Suite 900
Seattle, WA 98101
United States

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