Rather than collecting new data on carbon emissions, Gov. Inslee’s office is arguing that it’s just fine to base its energy policies on four-year-old data. Todd Meyers wrote in his latest Washington Policy Center piece contrasting the free market with government’s modus operandi, “Whether the issue is conserving energy or any other environmental challenge, the ability to receive immediate data about the resources we use is key to making good decisions.” We agree – and we fully expect Inslee to remain blasé. He makes decisions based on ideology, not information. (Washington Policy Center)

A.G. Bob Ferguson says Comcast customers should look out for unwanted fees, explaining, “The evidence speaks for itself” that over half of those charged with a protection plan did not want to sign up for one. Comcast said that Ferguson’s “new assertions are largely based on a flawed methodology and assumptions” and that Ferguson “misrepresented the facts.” (KOMO)

Inslee’s rejection of a permit for an oil-by-rail terminal “sends a clear anti-development message,” according to the Vancouver Energy project and its partners (this wouldn’t be a first for Inslee). The company is evaluating options for what it will do next. (The Spokesman-Review)

Issaquah Councilmember Bill Ramos will run as a Democrat against state Rep. Jay Rodne (R-Snoqualmie). “We need to get out from under McCleary and work for good long-term solutions that are not under a court order,” he told the Issaquah Reporter. “Long-term” is a little ironic, seeing as he’s looking to move up to bigger things even though he’s hardly more than a year into his city council term. (Issaquah Reporter)

Cooke Aquaculture Pacific has been fined $332,000 for violating water quality laws after more than 110 tons of mussels, clams and more destroyed the functionality of its nets, allowing farmed Atlantic salmon to escape into Puget Sound. “Cooke’s disregard caused this disaster and recklessly put our state’s aquatic ecosystem at risk,” Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said. State Ecology Director Maria Bellon added, “Cooke knew they had a problem and they didn’t appropriately respond to deal with the problem.” (The Spokesman-Review)

Seattle City Light has opened two of the planned 20 electric charging stations it intends to build before the end of 2018, part of the $2.2 million “Drive Clean Seattle” campaign. “Seattle believes in science and will lead the nation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Leveraging the nation’s greenest utility, we can clean our air with more electric vehicles on our roads,” said Mayor Jenny Durkan. (The Seattle Times)  

Two people were burned when a tent caught on fire near SR 520 in Seattle yesterday. Both were transported to Harborview. (KOMO)

The Dept. of Energy is replacing project managers at Hanford with the Jacobs Engineering Group. More radioactive contamination has been found where it shouldn’t be – this time in the personal vehicle of an employee. “DOE expects that the new corporate leadership will work diligently to rebuild DOE’s, workers’ and stakeholders; confidence in their ability to manage the situation and protect employees and the public,” manager of the Richland Operations Office Doug Shoop wrote in an email to employees. (The Spokesman-Review)

Designating Sasquatch the official cryptid or crypto-animal of Washington | SB 5816 | in committee | Sen. Ann Rivers (R-La Center) said, “Sasquatch has a hidden talent as a fundraiser…I have no doubt that some [supporters of the bill] will like the idea of a Sasquatch license plate, and appreciate that buying one is good for the park system.” (MyNorthwest)

Concerning campaign finance law enforcement and reporting | HB 2938 | in committee | “On Friday, six Democratic legislators in Washington proposed a bill which would exempt them from legal liability for violating the state’s campaign finance laws. All six of them already violated the state’s campaign finance law They are angry.”  (We The Goverened)

Two competing bills “Concerning transportation network companies” and how the City of Seattle and King County will regulate and audit such companies:

Legislation supported by Uber and Lyft | SB 6043 & HB 2716 | “We floated a framework that tried to incorporate the ideas and address concerns that were raised during the last legislative session,” Uber General Manger Caleb Weaver said. This bill would largely pre-empt local regulations and set a statewide regulatory standard. (Washington State Wire)

Legislation promoted by Teamsters 117 | SB 6500 & HB 2945 | Supported by the cities of Seattle and Tacoma in addition to the Teamsters, this bill allows more stringent local regulations. Uber’s Weaver expressed concerns that under this bill, local officials can “pull over drivers and ask for their papers.” (Washington State Wire)

Granting binding interest arbitration rights to certain uniformed personnel | SHB 1559 | 82-13-0-3

Addressing plan membership default provisions in the public employees’ retirement system, the teachers’ retirement system, and the school employees’ retirement system | SHB 1560 | 66-29-0-3

Concerning the sale of software used in the unauthorized interference of ticket sales over the internet | HB 1584 | 95-0-0-3

Addressing the use of unmanned aircraft to deliver contraband | HB 2363 | 95-0-0-3

Regarding beer, wine, cider, and mead at farmers markets | SHB 2419 | 78-17-0-3

Requiring the department of children, youth, and families to provide a written explanation for a determination of unsuitability for unsupervised access to children in care | HB 2642 | 95-0-0-3

Concerning issuance of search warrants by district and municipal court judges | SHB 2752 | 95-0-0-3

Judiciary (House)

Allowing prospective jurors who are elderly to choose to be excused from jury service or to remain a prospective juror | HB 1945

Concerning solemnization of marriage by elected officials | HB 2385

Limiting liability for registered apiarists | HB 2640

Concerning service animals | HB 2822

Concerning construction defect actions | HB 2831

Addressing motorcycle profiling | HB 2873

 

Agriculture & Natural Resources (House)

Managing wolves using translocation | HB 2771

Protecting Washington waters from negative impacts of nonnative finfish by requiring nonnative finfish cultivated in Washington to be single-sex | HB 2956

Reducing escape of nonnative finfish from marine finfish aquaculture facilities | HB 2957

 

Community Development, Housing & Tribal Affairs (House)

Concerning zoning regulations relating to accessory dwelling units | HB 2503

Concerning the creation of housing opportunity zones by cities | HB 2711

Concerning federal recognition of the Steilacoom tribe | HJM 4020

  

Early Learning & Human Services (House)

Concerning private case management of child welfare services | HB 2795

Providing the list of foster parent rights and responsibilities to prospective and current foster parents | HB 2785

Concerning creation of the select committee on supported employment services for individuals with developmental disabilities | HB 2787

 

Health Care & Wellness (House)

Protecting consumers from excess charges for prescription medications | HB 2296

Preserving access to individual market health care coverage throughout Washington state | HB 2408

Concerning opioid use disorder treatment, prevention, and related services | HB 2489

Updating health benefit exchange statutes | HB 2516

 

State Government, Elections & Information Technology (House)

Requiring disclosure by entities that compensate for petition signatures | HB 1537

Concerning candidacy qualification restrictions based on consanguinity and affinity | HB 2668

Concerning campaign finance law enforcement and reporting | HB 2938

 

Business & Financial Services (House)

Concerning ticket sales over the internet | HB 2921

Concerning security freeze fees charged by consumer reporting agencies | ESB 6018

 

Appropriations (House)

Expanding the current and future educator workforce supply through evidence-based strategies to improve and incentivize the recruitment and retention of highly effective educators, especially in high-need subject, grade-level, and geographic areas, and to establish a cohesive continuum of high quality professional learning from preparation programs to job embedded induction, mentoring, collaboration, and other professional development opportunities | 3SHB 1827

Concerning the January 1, 2020, implementation of the school employees’ benefits board program | HB 2438

Eliminating lunch copays for students who qualify for reduced-price lunches | HB 2712

 

Transportation (House)

Concerning reimbursement of the financing of the Alaskan Way viaduct replacement project |  HB 2741

Concerning electric-assisted bicycles | HB 2782

Establishing a community aviation revitalization loan program | EHB 1656

Concerning population-based representation on the governing body of public transportation benefit areas | SHB 1860

Allowing semiannual or quarterly payment plans for regional transit authority motor vehicle excise taxes | HB 2357

Concerning the minimum monthly salary paid to Washington state patrol troopers and sergeants | HB 2692

 

Energy, Environment & Technology (Senate)

Strengthening oil transportation safety | SB 6269

Concerning publicly owned industrial wastewater treatment facilities | SB 6367

 

State Government, Tribal Relations & Elections (Senate)

Enacting recommendations of the sunshine committee (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute) | SB 5418

Concerning public access to the records of the legislature and judiciary | SB 6139

Modifying presidential primary provisions | SB 5333

Providing for the election of members of the house of representatives from house districts within each legislative district | SB 6244

Concerning election security practices around auditing and equipment | SB 6202

Concerning disclosure of contributors to online political advertising (Hearing is on the Proposed Substitute) | SB 6075

Modifying the start date of regular legislative sessions | SB 5994

Strengthening the initiative process by providing for more comprehensive review before initiatives receive ballot titles | SB 5386

 

Labor & Commerce (Senate)

Concerning loot boxes in online games and apps | SB 6266

Concerning gambling addiction | SB 6331

Protecting agricultural workers and community members from pesticides | SB 6529

 

Transportation (Senate)

Concerning population-based representation on the governing body of public transportation benefit areas |  SB 6414

Changing the baseball stadium based special license plate | SB 6489

 

Ways & Means (Senate)

Concerning actions for wrongful injury or death | SSB 6015

Enhancing oversight and transparency of lobbying activity | SSB 5120

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