The Washington state 2021 legislative session ended after 120 days on April 25, with funding for Nooksack watershed rights adjudication, health aid for unhoused people through a cooperative Bellingham-area program and analysis of San Juan County water supplies included in the biennial budget.

Along with funding for adjudication, the budget includes additional money for Whatcom County to support a complementary collaborative process among water users and water rights holders. Specifically, the funding is for facilitation and mediation, development of planning and technical information, and assessment of local solutions. The bill stipulates that the process must provide opportunities for discussion on increasing salmon populations and preserving farmland.

Among the bills introduced by 40th and 42nd district representatives and senators that passed were those establishing planning for a transition to zero-emissions transportation; honoring Billy Frank, Jr., in the National Statuary Hall; and expanding tax exemptions for farmworker housing.

Here’s the full list of legislation introduced by our 40th and 42nd District legislators as posted by Salish Current at the beginning of the session, with updates as to how their bills fared as of April 27, as tracked by WashingtonVotes.org.

40^th 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: HJR 4205 — Died in committee
• Replacing the Marcus Whitman statue in the national statuary hall collection with a statue of Billy Frank Jr: HB 1372 — Passed, signed into law
• Prohibiting the inappropriate use of Native American names, symbols, or images as public school mascots, logos, or team names: HB1356 — Passed, signed into law
• Concerning coroners and medical examiners: Version ESB 1326 — Passed, signed into law
• Recognizing judicially affirmed and treaty-reserved fishing rights and promoting state-tribal cooperative agreements in the management of salmon, trout, and steelhead resources: HB 1172 — Died in committee
• Removing only one of the restrictions on the use of civil legal aid funds: HB 1072 — Passed, signed into law
• Promoting salmon recovery through revisions to the state’s comprehensive planning framework: HB 1117 — Died in committee
• Adding a new section to the Washington state Constitution regarding the conservation and protection of the state’s natural resources: HJR 4205 — Died in committee
• 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: HB 1513 — Died in committee

Rep. Alex Ramel (D-Bellingham)

• Concerning greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the design of public facilities: HB 1280 — Died in committee
• Concerning preparedness for a zero emissions transportation future: Version E2SHB 1287 — Passed, sent to governor
• Improving access to department of licensing issued documents by extending the issuance period of driver licenses and identicards: Version SHB 1207 — Passed, sent to governor
• Reducing statewide greenhouse gas emissions by achieving greater decarbonization of residential and commercial buildings: HB 1084 — Died in committee

Sen. Liz Lovelett (D-Anacortes)

• Creating the basic food categorical income eligibility program: SB 5433 — Died in committee
• Concerning the energy facility site evaluation council: SB 5415 — Died in committee
• Expanding the sales and use tax exemption for farmworker housing: Version 2SSB 5396 — Passed, sent to governor
• Concerning carbon pollution: SB 5373 — Died in committee
• Concerning clubhouses for persons with mental illness: SB 5328 — Died in committee
• Supporting access to electric vehicle supply equipment: Version 2SSB 5192 — Passed, sent to governor
• Providing a local government option for the funding of essential affordable housing programs: SB 5012 — Died in committee

42nd Legislative District

Rep. Sharon Shewmake (D-Bellingham)

• Concerning fish habitat enhancement projects authorized pursuant to RCW 77.55.181: HB 1478 — Died in committee
• Delaying certain implementation dates for the photovoltaic module stewardship and takeback program: HB 1393 — Passed, signed into law
• Providing a retail sales and use tax exemption for the purchase of electric bicycles and related cycling equipment: HB1330 — Died in committee
• Clarifying the authority of local governments to administer national flood insurance program regulation requirements in the context of fish habitat enhancement: HB 1268 — Died in committee
• Addressing voter-approved fuel tax rates in border area jurisdictions: HB 1284 — Died in committee
• 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: HB 1125 — Died in committee

Rep. Alicia Rule (D-Blaine) 

• Concerning minimum staffing levels for Washington main street programs: HB 1456 — Died in committee
• Concerning the total compensation for telemedicine services: HB 1462 — Died in committee
• Promoting access to outdoor education: HB1466 — Died in committee
• Providing trauma-informed counseling and supports to students who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic: HB 1444 — Died in committee
• Encouraging youth participation in fishing and shellfishing: HB 1431 — Died in committee
• Modifying the Washington main street program tax incentive to respond to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic: Version SHB 1279 — Passed, signed into law
• Standardizing homelessness definitions: Version SHB 1221 — Passed, signed into law

Sen. Doug Ericksen (R-Ferndale)

• Creating the free and fair elections act of 2021: SB 5143 — Died in committee
• Protecting the right of every Washington resident to decline an immunization or vaccination for COVID-19: SB5144 — Died in committee
• Prohibiting certain regulations of trucks operating on port district property: SB 5154 — Died in committee
• Convening a special legislative session, beginning January 12, 2021, for a period of not more than 30 consecutive days: SCR 8400 — Died in committee
• Concerning organizations and agencies that produce secret surveillance scores based on individuals’ internet activity: SB 5108 — Died in committee
• Limiting the attorney general’s ability to seek excessive sanctions under the fair campaign practices act against individuals who participate in elections: SB 5109 — Died in committee
• Promoting greater access to the internet by modifying permitting, taxation, and other standards for telecommunications companies and facilities: SB 5110 — Died in committee
• Concerning the independence of public employees on matters of public concern: SB 5111 — Died in committee
• Requiring broadband internet access service providers to provide virtual private network service: SB 5112 — Died in committee

— Reported by Salish Current editors

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