Dear Friends,
Welcome to the third week of the legislative session! The pace is beginning to pick up this week. Lobbyists are still walking bills around with sheets to get signatures from legislators. If you look at committee schedules, you will see hearings scheduled in lieu of work sessions.
Are you planning to come down to testify on bill or budget issue this session? Get tips about how to sign in to testify before a committee, learn about what happens during a hearing, and how to provide effective testimony here.
There was no opinion on the constitutionality of the rule change adopted by the Republican controlled Senate last week from Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib. Habib has said his goal is for the Senate to be functional but has not indicated if he will block the rule change. For now it remains in place. As you will recall from last week, the rule change would make it harder for the Senate to take action on new taxes. The new rule, similar but broader than the one adopted by the chamber in 2015, would require a two-thirds vote of the Senate before any tax bill can advance to the chamber floor for a final vote. The rule would make it harder for the chamber to take action on new taxes and it makes solving the McCleary budget issue more challenging.
This week, I had three Health Policy News quiz players. Congratulations to our winners! You will find the names of the winners, the answer to last week’s question and the new question for this week in the Health Policy News “quiz box” in the right hand column.
We will be continuing to keep you updated with future status updates. If you have bill or policy questions, please feel free to direct them to Julie Peterson at juliep@healthygen.org or my Twitter handle, @HealthyGenJulie.
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Ever forward,
Julie Peterson
Senior Director of Policy
JulieP@healthygen.org
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Prevention:
“Concerning the age of individuals at which sale or distribution of tobacco and vapor products may be made.”
HB 1054 & SB 5025
Sponsor: Harris
Sponsor: Miloscia
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Senate Commerce, Labor, & Sports
*Hearing in House Health Care - Jan. 24 at 8:00 a.m.
Physical Environments:
“Addressing the siting of schools and school facilities.”
HB 1017
Sponsor: McCaslin
Healthy Gen’s position: Oppose
Status: Environment
“Assessing physical education practices in public schools.”
HB 1235
Sponsor: Riccelli
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Education
“Concerning pesticide exposure and notification of certain pesticide applications.”
HB 1564
Sponsor: Self-Ortiz
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Introduction sheet
Clinical & Community Linkages
“Concerning persons and entities to whom the department of health may provide prescription monitoring program data.”
HB 1426 & SB 5248
Sponsor: Robinson
Sponsor: Rivers
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care & Senate Health Care
Social & Economic Conditions
“Concerning access to homeless housing and assistance.”
HB 1570
Sponsor: Macri
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: Introduction Sheet
“Concerning foundational public health services.”
HB 1432
Sponsor: Robinson
Healthy Gen’s position: Support
Status: House Health Care
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Advocates from Washington State Department of Health, American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network, American Indian Health Commission, El Centro de la Raza, Gay City, Asian Pacific Islanders against Tobacco, The Center for Multicultural Health and Public Health-Seattle & King County, prepare to testify before the House Health Care Committee on Tobacco Prevention and Control programs.
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Health advocates from El Centro de La Raza, APICAT, and the Center for Multicultural Health pause after the House Health Care work session for a photo.
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Shortcuts For Tracking Bills & Finding Out What You Want To Know
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- To check on a bill, go to the main bill information site to set up a log-in account. You can then find legislation by bill number, prime sponsor, or by topic.
- Legislative Committees schedules, agendas and calendars.
- To see video, or hear audio, of any legislative meeting or floor debate, go to www.tvw.org.
- General Information Website for Legislation, here.
- Session Committee Meeting Schedules, here.
- Summary of Introduced House Legislative Bills, here; Senate Legislative Bills, here.
- House Floor Activity Reports, here (shows live status of House floor).
- Senate Floor Activity Reports, here (shows live status of Senate floor).
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We are thrilled to announce that registration is open for our 2017 Science of HOPE conference! Special Early Bird registration rate for $450.00 offered until Feb 28th. Use code EARLYBIRD at check out to get the discount.
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Be A Friend. Share Health Policy News
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Washington State has nine elected executives who serve a four-year term. Name the official who has “firefighter” as one of their responsibilities.
The first three people who e-mail the correct answer to juliep@healthygen.org will win a prize!
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The answers to our quiz from last week were:
Olympia and 1854. The first Territorial Legislature met In Olympia during 1854 on the second floor of the Parker-Coulter Dry Goods. The store was originally located on Main St. (now Capitol Way) near Third Ave.
Congratulations to our winners!
Ron Oldham
Kaela Moontree
Ann Riley
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Advocacy Days
Conversations After the Election – Public discussions led by UW philosophers on various topics related to the election. Healthy Gen’s Dustyn Addington will be co-leading the discussion on Friday, February 3rd, on the effect of fake news and conspiracy theories on politics.
For more resources visit our website healthygen.org/what-we-do/public-policy
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What We're Reading This Week
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Income tax is the real issue, not schools
The Spokesman Review - Sen. Mark Schoesler, January 8, 2017
Lawmakers debate whether to spare school districts from ‘levy cliff’ — and possible budget cuts
News Tribune - Melissa Santos, January 14, 2017
Thousands of students, teachers rally in Olympia to demand action on school funding
Seattle Times - Bernard Ellouk, January 16, 2017
The real fight for control of the state lies ahead
Crosscut - Tom James, January, 19, 2017
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What We're Watching This Week
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Monday, January 23rd 1:30 p.m.
Commerce and Gaming
House Full Committee
Public Hearing
HB 1212 - Concerning the possession and transfer of marijuana, marijuana plants, useable marijuana, marijuana-infused products, and marijuana concentrates.
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Tuesday, January 24th 8:00 a.m.
Health Care & Wellness
House Full Committee
Public Hearing
HB 1047 - Protecting the public's health by creating a system for safe and secure collection and disposal of unwanted medications.
HB 1054 - Concerning the age of individuals at which sale or distribution of tobacco and vapor products may be made
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Wednesday, January 25th 1:30 p.m.
SHR 4, JACB
Commerce, Labor & Sports
Senate Full Committee
Public Hearing:
SB 5282 - Authorizing local governments to prohibit the operation of licensed marijuana retail businesses within alcohol impact areas.
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