The first week of the 2020 legislative session is behind us, and we only have 51 days to go! The second week of session will continue to focus primarily on policy hearings. To date, legislators have introduced almost 1,070 bills, all of which must be reviewed to determine their impact to Washington’s counties and many of which have already been scheduled for hearings. In fact, WSAC staff are planning to testify at no fewer than 25 hearings this week.
Climate change and the Growth Management Act are hot topics in Olympia this week. WSAC members or staff will engage on several of them, addressing concerns and talking about potential avenues for compromise:
- SB 6335, addressing climate change through growth management, will be heard in the Senate Government Committee on Tuesday morning.
- Likewise, SB 6453, tackling climate change as a goal of the Growth Management Act, is scheduled in the same hearing.
- The companion to SB 6453, HB 2427, will be heard in the House Committee on Environment & Energy on Thursday morning.
- Integrating salmon recovery efforts with growth management, HB 2549, is also on the agenda for that hearing.
By and large, WSAC won’t weigh in on the myriad gun bills that will be heard this week, but there is no shortage of them:
- First thing Monday morning, the Senate Law and Justice Committee heard testimony on five bills ranging from stolen firearms to high capacity magazines.
- The House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee will also hear five bills, some the same, the next day. WSAC will sign in pro on one of the bills – HB 1374, relating to local government authority to regulate firearms – because WSAC has a long-standing policy in support of local control. WSAC’s Policy Statement states that “local control recognizes that individual counties should be free to adopt various operating and policy alternatives that may not be acceptable to other counties,” because each county is unique and diversity necessitates flexibility.
- These hearings are sure to draw large crowds. A gun rights rally was held last Friday, and another rally is planned in support of gun control on Monday, Jan. 20.
All of this legislation surely adds costs to the system, and counties are often on alert for bills that add costs without adding commensurate funding (unfunded mandates). So, other than what we tell them, how do legislators know what bills will cost?
- The Department of Commerce is required by law to prepare “fiscal notes” for cities, counties, and most special purpose districts. They are charged with addressing almost any issue that could impact local governments, such as taxes, criminal justice, economic development, land use, social services, natural resources, government operations, elections, and public works.
- Potential fiscal impacts of legislation are determined through surveys, data models, review of published reports and online databases, and direct consultation with state and local government officials. Fiscal note analysts also work closely with local government associations, including WSAC.
- Washington is one of 42 states that have similar programs.
Unfortunately, knowing about the cost doesn’t guarantee it will be funded. Unless the bill provides for a particular funding source, like raising an existing tax or creating a new fee, it is up to the legislators to fund the programs or services through the budget, which often does not happen.
To watch any of the hearings listed above or any other hearings, check out www.TVW.org or scroll down to the bottom of the bill’s page on www.leg.wa.gov, where links to the bill on TVW can be found under “Available Videos.” Information about all legislators can be found at the “Member Information/Rosters” tab under “Let Your Voice Be Heard” on the right side of the leg.wa.gov site.
