Puget Sound Partnership Opportunities to Engage in Legislative action:
- The 60-day 2024 Legislative Session begins on January 8.
- Legislative updates will be posted on the Partnership’s website.
- Find up-to-date legislative information online.
- Watch or listen to hearings and work sessions online.
1. Puget Sound Legislative Priorities: On December 14, 2023, the Puget Sound Leadership Council adopted 2024 Puget Sound Legislative Priorities to guide the recovery community’s efforts during the upcoming legislative session. Key topics include land use, permit streamlining, supplemental capital funding, stormwater and 6PPD, and the Climate Commitment Act.
Al says: I highly recommend that if you have an interest in working on these, to look at the web page above. A long more detail.
2. *NEW* in 2024 Puget Sound Bill Tracker. The Partnership will host a new Puget Sound Bill Tracker on our website. The tool will include bills the Partnership has identified as relevant to Puget Sound recovery and will identify how each bill is progressing through the legislative process as we pass major procedural milestones. Users can filter the tool by Action Agenda topic area and other parameters.
Al says: Apparently the Partnership has taken on some of the role of Washington Environmental Council (WEC) with tracking bills. The WEC list will likely include these bills and others that are outside the scope of the Partnership. But all in all, this is a good thing.
3. 2024 Puget Sound Budget. The Partnership will maintain a Puget Sound Budget Viewer on our website. The budget viewer contains information and proposed amounts for budget items that affect Puget Sound recovery. The viewer currently includes agency requests and additional proposals from the Governor’s budget and will be updated with legislative committee proposals later in session.
4. Puget Sound Legislative Calendar. The Partnership will host a Puget Sound Legislative Calendar on our website. We will update the calendar webpage every Thursday afternoon (approximately) with information for the following week. The calendar will list upcoming committee meetings (including public hearings) involving legislation and information about issues that affect Puget Sound protection and recovery.
5. Puget Sound Legislative Update Call. Partnership staff will lead a call-in meeting on Fridays, from noon to no later than 1:00 p.m., to review the most important legislative issues we’re following and discuss partner perspectives. The first call will take place this Friday, January 5, 2024. If you are already signed up for the call, you will receive an agenda later this week in advance of the call.
Al says: I’m very happy with these long overdue changes to the Partnership. These are all better ways to communicate with activists around the State.