A month into the 2021 state legislative session, it’s time to review the legislation introduced by our elected representatives and compiled as of Feb. 9 by WashingtonVotes.Org.
All bills, except those in fiscal and transportation committees must be passed out of committee by Feb. 15 to be considered in the session. Bills in fiscal and transportation committees must be moved to the floor by Feb. 22.
Bill titles introduced by each legislator are linked below to each bill’s summary and status, for following the bill’s progress.
We’ll do our best to continue to follow how our elected representatives do the work of the people in this 2021 session.
40th Legislative District
Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-Bow)
- Adding a new section to the Washington state Constitution regarding the conservation and protection of the state’s natural resources: House Joint Resolution 4205
- Replacing the Marcus Whitman statue in the national statuary hall collection with a statue of Billy Frank Jr: House Bill 1372
- Prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols, or images as public school mascots, logos, or team names: House Bill 1356
- Concerning coroners and medical examiners: House Bill 1326
- Recognizing judicially affirmed and treaty-reserved fishing rights and promoting state-tribal cooperative agreements in the management of salmon, trout, and steelhead resources: House Bill 1172
- Removing only one of the restrictions on the use of civil legal aid funds: House Bill 1072
- Promoting salmon recovery through revisions to the state’s comprehensive planning framework: House Bill 1117
- Adding a new section to the Washington state Constitution regarding the conservation and protection of the state’s natural resources: House Joint Resolution 4205
- Improving environmental health and mitigating the effects of climate change by levying a carbon pollution tax, authorizing a climate finance bond program, and investing in clean economic growth: House Bill 1513
Rep. Alex Ramel (D-Bellingham)
- Concerning greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the design of public facilities: House Bill 1280
- Concerning preparedness for a zero emissions transportation future: House Bill 1287
- Improving access to department of licensing issued documents by extending the issuance period of driver licenses and identicards: House Bill 1207
- Reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by achieving greater decarbonization of residential and commercial buildings: House Bill 1084
Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes)
- Creating the basic food categorical income eligibility program: Senate Bill 5433
- Concerning the energy facility site evaluation council: Senate Bill 5415
- Expanding the sales and use tax exemption for farmworker housing: Senate Bill 5396
- Concerning carbon pollution: Senate Bill 5373
- Concerning clubhouses for persons with mental illness: Senate Bill 5328
- Supporting access to electric vehicle supply equipment: Senate Bill 5192
- Providing a local government option for the funding of essential affordable housing programs: Senate Bill 5012
42nd Legislative District
Rep. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham)
- Concerning fish habitat enhancement projects authorized pursuant to RCW 77.55.181: House Bill 1478
- Delaying certain implementation dates for the photovoltaic module stewardship and takeback program: House Bill 1393
- Providing a retail sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of electric bicycles and related cycling equipment: House Bill 1330
- Clarifying the authority of local governments to administer national flood insurance program regulation requirements in the context of fish habitat enhancement: House Bill 1268
- Addressing voter-approved fuel tax rates in border area jurisdictions: House Bill 1284
- Incentivizing investment in energy conservation and efficiency measures and expanding opportunities for energy rate discounts to, among other objectives, reduce the energy burden of low-income customers and vulnerable populations: House Bill 1125
Rep. Alicia Rule (D-Blaine)
- Concerning minimum staffing levels for Washington main street programs: House Bill 1456
- Concerning the total compensation for telemedicine services: House Bill 1462
- Promoting access to outdoor education: House Bill 1466
- Providing trauma-informed counseling and supports to students who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: House Bill 1444
- Encouraging youth participation in fishing and shellfishing: House Bill 1431
- Modifying the Washington main street program tax incentive to respond to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: House Bill 1279
- Standardizing homelessness definitions: House Bill 1221
- Authorizing the placement of water rights banked pursuant to RCW 90.92.070 into the trust water rights program: House Bill 1143
Sen. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale)
- Creating the free and fair elections act of 2021: Senate Bill 5143
- Protecting the right of every Washington resident to decline an immunization or vaccination for COVID-19: Senate Bill 5144
- Prohibiting certain regulations of trucks operating on port district property: Senate Bill 5154
- Convening a special legislative session, beginning January 12, 2021, for a period of not more than 30 consecutive days: Senate Concurrent Resolution 8400
- Concerning organizations and agencies that produce secret surveillance scores based on individuals’ internet activity: Senate Bill 5108
- Limiting the attorney general’s ability to seek excessive sanctions under the fair campaign practices act against individuals who participate in elections: Senate Bill 5109
- Promoting greater access to the internet by modifying permitting, taxation, and other standards for telecommunications companies and facilities: Senate Bill 5110
- Concerning the independence of public employees on matters of public concern: Senate Bill 5111
- Requiring broadband internet access service providers to provide virtual private network service: Senate Bill 5112