WASHINGTON
We have passed the first cut off dates where bills need to be out of the original house policy and fiscal committees to be considered alive for the remainder of the session. There are always exceptions to these cut-off dates for bills that are necessary to implement the budget – and the major budget bills (operating, capital and transportation) are always exempt from these dates. Legislators are now trying to pass bills off the floor of the original House before the March 8th deadline. The legislative session is scheduled to end on April 23rd.
One bill we are working for NWHPBA is HB 1589, a bill proposed by Puget Sound Energy that would give them benefits in the clean energy transformation process in exchange for banning new natural gas lines to residential and commercial customers. My testimony has focused on the size of PSE’s service area and the fact that this would leave new residential and commercial residences without any means for supplemental back up in the case of power failures. NWHPA is part of a growing coalition to fight this bill.
Another bill moving is the ergonomics bill – SSB 5217. This bill is on the Senate floor. Although not as broad as last year’s bill (it would take years to actually apply standards to all industries) but it still repeals the prohibition against ergonomics standards leaving businesses vulnerable to an aggressive Department of Labor & Industries. At this point we are working with friendly Senators to pass additional amendments to water the bill down more.
It is going to be a wild ride from here until the end. There are other bills that would impact natural gas but we are watching to see if they make it through the fiscal cut off. The bills to change how the building code council does its work are not alive at this moment but we are working to see what we can do in the budget process.
On a positive note, I was able to gain amendments to HB 1323 that should ensure it does not impact the hearth products industry. And, I have amendment language in to several of the Capital budget writers to require all air agencies to include a wood to wood changeout option in their woodstove changeout programs.
See attached for a full bill list.
Other states in the NWHPBA territory are also running interesting bills – so far all good. These include:
IDAHO
HB 106 -- PROHIBITIONS ON UTILITY CONNECTIONS – Adds to existing law to prohibit any type of local government entity from restricting certain types of utility connections.
MONTANA
HB 241 -- Prohibits local governments from requiring that buildings be constructed to have solar panels or wiring, batteries, or other equipment for solar panels or electric vehicles.
SB 208 -- Prohibits local governments from banning or limiting energy choices including natural gas and propane. Prohibits the Department of Labor and Industry from including in the state building code a prohibition of or limitation on the use of electric, natural gas, propane, or other energy source.
ALASKA
SB 48/HB 49 -- Establishes a carbon offset program for state-owned lands, and allows the sale of carbon offset credits. Authorizes the Dept. of Natural Resources to lease state land for carbon management purposes.
