Participation crucial while legislature is in session - listing of several bills affecting water in WA State
Posted 1/21/2010
Olympia, WA - Participating in the legislative process, particularly during public hearings, gives every citizen the maximum opportunity to influence the legislation that becomes the statute that becomes the rule that runs our lives. Since we have one of the most accessible legislatures in the nation, so let’s make the most of the opportunities we are offered.
House Bill 2891 (Extending the time for implementing recommendations concerning critical area ordinances)
Introduced by Rep. Geoff Simpson, (D-Covington) (D) on January 18, 2010, extends from July 2010 to Juky 2011 the time for completion of recommendations conducted by the William D. Ruckelshaus Center concerning conflicts between agricultural activities and critical area ordinances adopted by local jurisdictions. (See also SB 6520).
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105524
House Bill 2910 (Changing remedies for actions under the public records act)
Introduced by Rep. Dennis Flannigan, (D-Tacoma) (D) on January 18, 2010, changes the remedies of court cases in which a person wins a case against a government agency on the premise of having the right to inspect public record. Instead of the court awarding between $5 and $100 dollars to the person who wins the case, they may instead fine the agency the same amount.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105543
House Bill 2916 (Adjusting timelines for the review of land use plans and shoreline master programs)
Introduced by Rep. Larry Springer, (D-Kirkland) (D) on January 18, 2010, adjusts the timelines for the review of county land use and shoreline use programs to apply to dates in the future.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105549
House Bill 2924 (Regulating government involvement in shoreline management)
Introduced by Rep. Jan Angel, (R - Port Orchard) (R) on January 18, 2010, separates overlapping obligations of the growth management act and the shoreline management act so that the state’s shorelines are governed only by the shoreline management act. The act also reduces the level of government involvement n the two programs by reducing certain bureaucratic measures.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105557
Senate Bill 6545 (Adopting the international wildland urban interface code.)
Introduced by Sen. Craig Pridemore, (D-Vancouver) (D) on January 18, 2010, adds the international wildland urban interface code published by the international code council the list of codes adopted by the state building code by reference.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105463
Senate Bill 6554 (Extending the Washington biodiversity council.)
Introduced by Sen. Ken Jacobsen, (D-Seattle) (D) on January 18, 2010, creates the Washington biodiversity council to extend the functions of the biodiversity council created by executive order in 2004. The council willprovide ongoing leadership, coordination, and accountability in the development and implementation of science-based strategies to guide effective conservation of the state's biodiversity .
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105472
Senate Bill 6581 (Authorizing water conservancy boards to do a final examination of a project)
Introduced by Sen. Dan Swecker, (R-Rochester) (R) on January 18, 2010, authorizes and requires the water conservancy board to do a final examination on a project to speed up the issuance of a water right certificate for water rights applications.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105499
House Bill 2976 (Including public-owned easement as open space land)
Introduced by Rep. Ed Orcutt, (R-Kalama) (R) on January 19, 2010, adds to the definition of open space land and timber land, for the purposes of requirements of the open space taxation act, to include areas of public-owned easement that are adjacent to areas already covered under the definition.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105652
Senate Bill 6602 (Creating a regional development rights transfer market.)
Introduced by Sen. Derek Kilmer, (D-Gig Harbor) (D) on January 19, 2010, creates and regulates a regional transfer of development rights marketplace in central Puget Sound to assist in conserving rural, agricultural, and forest land. (See also HB 2850) .
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105672
Senate Bill 6603 (Limiting land uses adjacent to general aviation airports.)
Introduced by Sen. Chris Marr, (D-Spokane) (D) on January 19, 2010, prohibits the siting of incompatible uses, including housing, K-12 education facilities, and hospitals, adjacent to general aviation airports.
http://www.washingtonvotes.org/Legislation.aspx?ID=105673
Senate Bill 6611 (Extending deadlines for the review and evaluation of comprehensive plans.)
Introduced by Sen. Craig Pridemore, (D-Vancouver) (D) on January 19, 2010, extends deadlines by three years for the review and evaluation of comprehensive land use plan and development regulations by local jurisdiction. The current deadlines vary among groups of counties from 2014 to 2017. (See also HB 2992).