Priority Actions
Reduce the Use of Long-Term Solitary Confinement
HB 1137, Establishing Uniform Policies and Procedures within Department of Correction Facilities Relating to Disciplinary Proceedings and Administrative Segregation, would increase the burden of proof for infractions to a preponderance of the evidence (more likely than not) and reduces the types of infractions that will result in solitary confinement. These changes will result in a reduction in the use of long-term solitary confinement, which will improve the mental and physical health of incarcerated people and increase the likelihood that they will safely return to our communities upon release. This bill passed as a substitute from the House Community Safety Committee and is scheduled for public hearing in the House Appropriations Committee at 4:00 pm, on Monday, February 17, 2025.
People in prison can receive a serious infraction for over 100 reasons, including many non-violent ones. They can be placed in solitary confinement for months pending a hearing. And once they get a hearing, the standard of proof is “some evidence” of misconduct—a vague standard that allows a finding of guilt based on one statement by a staff member or incarcerated person, even when contradictory evidence is presented.
⚠️ Sign in PRO on HB 1137 HERE before 3:00 pm on Monday, February 17.
Keep Industrial Stormwater Polluters Accountable
These bills, HB 1937 and SB 5712, Establishing a Presumption of Compliance for Entities Covered Under the State’s Industrial Stormwater General Permit Under Certain Circumstances, would allow industrial stormwater polluters to shield themselves from certain enforcement and exempt all transportation facilities across the state from having to take stormwater samples. This will cause chaos for permittees working to follow their permits in good faith. These bills were just introduced on February 11 and have public hearings this week: HB 1937 has a hearing at 1:30 pm on Monday, February 17, in the House Environment & Energy Committee. SB 5712 has a public hearing at 1:30 pm on February 18 in the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee.
LWVWA supports strict enforcement of laws affecting water quality and quantity management in Washington State. Enforcement requires emphasis upon cooperation and coordination among the many agencies as well as funding levels adequate to accomplish effective controls. Water claims under the jurisdiction of the State of Washington should be quantified. Water quality and water quantity programs should be integrated.
⚠️Sign in CON on HB 1937 HERE before 12:30 pm on Monday, February 17.
⚠️Sign in CON on SB 5712 HERE before 12:30 pm on Tuesday, February 18.
Support Affordable and Moderate-Income Housing Development
These bills, HB 1235 and SB 5148, Ensuring compliance with the housing element requirements of the growth management act, would require cities and counties that plan under the Growth Management Act to submit their housing elements and housing development regulations to the Department of Commerce for review within certain timelines, in order for their housing elements and housing development regulations to take effect. It prohibits these cities and counties from denying an affordable or moderate-income housing development unless they have received a final determination of compliance from Commerce, or certain other conditions are met. HB 1235 had a public hearing on January 21 but is not yet scheduled for executive session. SB 5148 passed the Senate Housing Committee as a substitute on February 7 and is now scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Ways & Means Committee at 4:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18.
⚠️ Sign in PRO for SB 5148 HERE before 3:00 pm on Tuesday, February 18.
Support Local News
SB 5400, Supporting local news journalism; creating the Washington Local News Sustainability Program, would generate about $20 million annually for local news with funding from a surcharge of 1.22 percent on the gross income of for-profit social media platforms and search engines. This bill passed the Senate Labor & Commerce Committee as a substitute and is now in the Senate ways & Means Committee awaiting a public hearing.
Extensive research has linked the local news decline in Washington and across the country to a number of serious negative impacts, including reduced voter turnout, fewer candidates seeking local elected office, higher government costs, challenges for public health, increased political polarization and reduced civic engagement. Washington has lost two-thirds of its reporting staffs since the start of the decline in 2008. The United States, meanwhile, has lost one-third of its newspapers, leaving scores of news deserts.
Social media platforms routinely take and publish content without compensating the news outlets that originally produce the reporting. A November 2023 study by professors at Columbia University and the University of Houston estimated that Google and Facebook owe U.S. news outlets at least $12 billion a year for the value that news content adds to their platforms.
⚠️ Contact your local Senator HERE and ask them to SUPPORT the substitute bill request by scheduling it for public hearing before Friday, February 28.
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