Quaker Voice Legislative Report 2019
Download this report in PDF format here to have it with the grid as shown in the image above. Highlights: In an historic series of successes for the environment, eight out of the eleven bills supporting Quaker Voice’s Environment & Peace priorities will be enacted into law by the end of the year. The New Hope Act, which reformed the process for obtaining a certificate of discharge for felony convictions and greatly expanded eligibility for vacating criminal convictions, garnered a broad coalition and passed both houses unanimously. The legislature passed a major reform to the real estate tax, making it graduated to be more progressive by lowering the rate for properties selling for $500,000 or less, while increasing the rate…
Environmental Stewardship Action during 2019
On May 7th. Gov. Jay Inslee signed an unprecedented suite of clean energy legislation into law, ushering in aggressive timelines for decarbonizing Washington’s economy and transforming the state’s energy. Together, these measures represent the greatest step Washington has ever taken toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Successful bills: SB 5116 Establishes the clean energy transformation act. Addresses the elimination of coal-fired electricity and the transition of the state’s electricity supply to one hundred percent carbon neutral by 2030. Prime sponsor, Sen. Carlyle, passed the Senate 28-19, House 56-42. HB 1112 Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from hydrofluorocarbons. Rep Fitzgibbon , prime sponsor. Passed the house 55-39, Senate 30-19. SB 5397 Reducing Plastic pollution by responsible management of plastic packaging . Rep. Wolfes…
Criminal Justice Outcomes in the 2019 Session
Groundwork has been laid in the 2019 session for several criminal juistice efforts, which we will pursue in the upcoming 2020 session. These includes voting rights for previously convicted persons now released and under community supervision, establishing a post-conviction review board, reform of penalties for driving with license suspended 3, and abolishing the death penalty. Quaker Voice understands that its work is long term; success on many bills requires several sessions. See the Criminal Justice page for information about specific bills.