Hearth Insight
January 2024
Scott Ongley
President

Edward Hosack/Alaska Rep
Vice President

Ryann Blake
Secretary/ At Large

Pat Braddock
Treasurer/At Large

Jeff Davidson

Grant Falco

Daniel Hammer

Troy Olsen

Debbie Hannig

Jake Armstrong

Bill Given/Western WA Rep

Open/Eastern WA Rep

Chris Patterson/Idaho Regional Director/HPBA Region 9 Rep

Guy Hanson/Montana Regional Director

Carolyn Logue/Lobbyist

Amy Ohlinger/ Executive Director

This digital publication will teach you to grow your business through articles by the top experts in our industry.
Each issue will give you access to new products and innovation, as well as provide national market insights so you are never in the dark.

Click here to start reading!
Hood River is a really fun town just 45 minutes from Portland. The Best Western is right on the river with fantastic views. Nearby, watch windsurfers and kiteboarders. Hood River is the windsurfing capital of the world. Downtown, enjoy numerous coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants. 

Registration Rates:  
HPBA members: $150
Additional registrations/same member company: $125
Non-members: $190
Exhibit table and 2 registrations: $750
Meal/event sponsor: $500


Fun Stuff:
  • Golf Tournament - Indian Creek Golf Club, May 5
  • Welcome Reception - Best Western Hood River Inn, May 5, 5 - 7 pm

Agenda: Click HERE

Optional - NFI Gas Certification Training:

  • NFI CORE class (morning); Review course (afternoon)
  • Registration is required through NFI website (see instructions here)
  • Testing is done later, online. 

Exhibit Tables: Best Western has a nice room right next to the main room for exhibit tables. These are $750 and include two registrations and all meals.

Event Sponsorships: Support our members by sponsoring a meal or break! Your sponsorship includes your logo/link on the website, your logo on slides during the event, and a live sponsor interview (2 minutes) during the meeting. Your sponsorship helps pay our meal and speaker fees. Cost $500.

  • Welcome Social 
  • Breakfast Sponsor 
  • Morning Break Sponsor
  • Lunch Sponsor
  • Afternoon Break Sponsor 

Hotel: 
A total of 35 rooms were blocked. Call 1-800-828-7873 to book your room. 
NWHPBA 2024 LEGISLATIVE REPORT
January 28, 2024
The 2024 Washington State Legislation is rolling toward its first cut-off date and we are watching several bills to see if they are going to move.  We are also working in coalitions with other groups on business issues and energy issues.
 
Our top bill this year is;
  • HB 1589 – PSE Bill with Natural Gas Bans (OPPOSE):  This bill is the same bill that we were able to stop in the Senate last year introduced to help PSE move away from providing natural gas as they electrify. It has significant potential cost and service impacts for consumers.  The two major problems with the bill are that it bans new natural gas lines in Puget Sound Energy territory and it undermines the existing “obligation to serve” by prohibiting new natural connections in areas already served by natural gas.  This undermines the ability to provide efficient back up heating sources to homes and potentially destabilizes gas service in those areas to homes that already have gas appliances.  It also would increase the cost of providing gas in these areas. Although this is primarily for Puget Sound Energy’s service area, the subsequent UTC process could expand this across the state.  The House re-passed the bill 52-45 and the Senate plans to hold hearings this coming week. We already have done one “call to action” and will do others as we try to stop this bill once again.
 
NWHPBA also works with general business coalitions on bills that have an impact on your business.  Here are some key bills we are talking with legislators about and working to pass or stop:
 
  • HB 1893, SB 5777, Unemployment insurance for striking workers (OPPOSE)– This bill would have all employers subsidize unemployment benefits for striking workers, heavily reducing union obligations to fund strikes from their own war chests, and instead putting these costs on the backs of other business by socializing the costs. The bill also could elongate strikes and hurt the solvency of our UI trust fund.  The Senate bill is on the floor calendar and the House bill was just moved to the Rules Committee.  NWHPBA is working to defeat these bills.
 
  • HB 2035, Work hours for 16- and 17-year-olds enrolled in training programs (SUPPORT) – This legislation directs the state Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) to update its rules to allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work the same number of hours during the school week as they can during summer or school holidays, so long as the student is enrolled in college or a career or technical training program. Unfortunately, it appears the House Labor & Workplace Standards Committee Chair is unwilling to bring the bill up for a vote.
 
  • HB 2266, SB 6107, Concerning sanitary conditions for construction workers who menstruate or express milk (OPPOSE)– NWHPBA is working with construction industry groups to oppose HB 2266 which had a hearing last Friday. This bill requires every construction employer and sub (so NWHPBA members when they are working on construction projects) to provide a private, secure facility for menstruating or lactating workers. Employers would also be required to provide sanitary hygiene products for menstruating workers and refrigeration for breast milk pumped on site.  Both clean bathrooms and accommodation for breastfeeding workers are already covered under existing laws and there is no reason to call out construction as an industry specifically. Many aspects of the bill will be impossible for some jobs/job sites, leaving businesses — particularly small businesses --  vulnerable to fines and penalties simply because women on their workforce.  The bill is scheduled for a vote out of committee next week. NWHPBA will be working hard to stop this bill.
Stay up-to-date on legislation and regulations that impact
your business and the hearth and barbecue industries!
Whether you are a retailer, distributor, manufacturer, or consumer of these products, your voice is needed to protect this industry.

Scan the QR code below to sign up for alerts of legislative action in your state or local governments.
2024 Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Expo
See you in Nashville at the Music City Center!
Women of the Industry
We want to hear from you!!!
The NWHPBA Communications Committee publishes the Hearth Insight monthly. If you have a story or article you would like to have shared, submit below to be included in our upcoming editions!!!
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