Latest news with #HouseBill1630
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Washington legislature's first deadline claims hundreds of bills — But are they really dead?
This story was originally published on The Washington State Legislature hit its first 'do-or-die' deadline for policy bills on Friday. That means bills that don't significantly impact the budget — those focused more on setting public policy — had to make it out of their committee of origin in either the House or Senate to stay alive. As of Friday, lawmakers had submitted 1,802 bills this session. Hundreds didn't make the cut. If you've been following my coverage of this legislative session, you know I've written about dozens of bills on a variety of issues. Here's a list of notable bills that effectively died on Friday. The bills that didn't make it House Bill 1536 – Would have increased early intervention for minors caught unlawfully possessing firearms. Previous coverage here. Senate Bill 5174 – A proposed ban on wood-burning stoves. It actually passed its committee, but on Friday, its sponsor said she won't move it forward this year. Previous coverage here. House Bill 1512 – Would have prevented law enforcement from pulling over motorists for non-moving violations, like a broken taillight or expired tabs. Previous coverage here. House Bill 1630 – Would have required dairy farmers and cattle feedlot operators to track methane emissions from their herds. Previous coverage here. It also included a potential study on methane emissions from humans. Previous coverage here. House Bill 1938 – Proposed the creation of a Washington State Flag Redesign Committee. Previous coverage here. House Bill 1426 – A groundbreaking proposal that would have introduced the Impaired Driving Protection Order (IDPO), a new legal tool to address impaired driving. Previous coverage here. House Bill 1739 – Sought to regulate the use of automated checkout systems to protect grocery store clerks from being overwhelmed or exposed to unsafe working conditions. Previous coverage here. House Bill 1596 – Would have created a special restricted driver's license for individuals with suspended licenses due to excessive speeding or reckless driving. Previous coverage here. Senate Bill 5482 – Aimed to end the use of dogs by local law enforcement to track problematic wildlife — such as bears, cougars, and wolves — unless explicitly approved by the state. Previous coverage here. House Bill 1825 – Would have repealed a 30-year-old law barring Washington from actively participating in grizzly bear recovery efforts, which are currently under federal control. Previous coverage here. Senate Bill 5091 – A Republican-backed bill that would have severed Washington's ties to California's strict vehicle emissions rules. Previous coverage here. Senate Bill 5578 – Would have put Washington's minimum wage on track to reach $25 per hour by 2032. Previous coverage here. Dead or just on life support? That said, nothing ever truly dies in the Washington State Legislature. At any moment, Democratic leadership in the House and Senate could pull a Lazarus move and resurrect a bill from the grave. But let's be real — most of these bills aren't coming back. For now, these proposals are casualties of the legislative process. But in politics, there's always the next session.
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
RIP: Bills that didn't survive the WA Legislature's first major deadline
The Washington state Capitol building in Olympia. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard) Bills dealing with cow burps, the state flag, and changes to police traffic stop standards are among the first to land in the legislative graveyard this year in Olympia. This session, lawmakers in the state House and Senate have introduced nearly 1,800 bills. To stay alive, much of that legislation needed to get voted out of policy committees by Friday. Next week, more bills will join the cemetery as a Feb. 28 deadline arrives for legislation to pass out of fiscal committees. From there, bills have to pass more checkpoints, including floor votes, to remain in play. The session is scheduled to end April 27. Bills deemed 'necessary to implement the budget,' like those that include new taxes, are immune from the deadlines. Here's a rundown of some of the measures that didn't make it past the first cutoff. This won't be the year for police accountability advocates seeking to restrict when officers can pull over drivers. House Bill 1512 would have barred police from stopping people solely for nonmoving violations like a broken headlight or expired tabs. Supporters argued this would free up time for police to focus on other enforcement, like drunk and speeding drivers, while also limiting stops that disproportionately impact people of color. But the Democrat-backed bill ran into opposition from police groups that argued it was coming at a bad time with traffic deaths rising over the past decade. Advocates plan to continue working on the bill and revive it next year. The runway was cut short for a bill focused on environmental fallout from so-called fast fashion — inexpensive clothing that tends to have a limited lifespan before getting discarded. Rep. Sharlett Mena, D-Tacoma, proposed that the Department of Ecology collect information about the fashion industry's environmental and labor practices, a step toward possible future policymaking. Companies that failed to provide this information could have faced penalties. Business groups opposed the legislation, saying compliance costs would be passed to consumers and that it could end up limiting what clothing products are available in the state. Supporters said the requirements are manageable and the information businesses would have to share is already covered in reports that companies like Nike produce. The Department of Ecology remained neutral on this bill. Immigrant advocates threw their weight behind House Bill 1482, which called for an expansion of Medicaid coverage for people without legal immigration status. The bill, sponsored by Rep. My-Linh Thai, D-Seattle, never received a hearing. Funding for the idea could re-emerge as a proviso in the budget, similar to previous years. Rep. Lisa Parshley, D-Olympia, introduced House Bill 1630, which proposed collecting data on methane emissions from cows. It drew a burst of adverse reactions from farmers and Republicans who argued it was a step toward taxing cow burps and farts and adding cumbersome clean air regulations for dairies and cattle operations. The bill, which received a hearing but no vote, will remain bottled up for this year. Rep. Strom Peterson's House Bill 1938 outlined a process to redesign Washington's state flag by 2028. But it won't be flying this year. Peterson, D-Edmonds, criticized the state's current flag as too plain and said the redesign could help foster state pride. Republicans slammed the idea, particularly the possibility of removing George Washington's image from the flag. House Bill 1031, sponsored by Rep. Kristine Reeves, D-Federal Way, was an attempt to deal with rising temperatures in public schools due to climate change. The bill, which didn't receive a hearing, would have directed the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop indoor temperature standards, including a maximum temperature recommendation, and rules related to school districts' cancellation of school days due to excessive heat. One of a suite of bills aiming to tackle the rise in traffic deaths, House Bill 1426 would have created a new type of civil protection order focused on impaired driving. The court orders could have required drivers to have ignition interlock devices in their cars or stop drinking entirely. The bill had sponsors from both sides of the aisle, and had broad support from interest groups. But the prime sponsor, Rep. Lauren Davis, D-Shoreline, said the House Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee 'felt there was more work to be done to hash out the implementation logistics.' She plans to bring back a revised version next year. A bill with Republican support to prohibit puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery for minors seeking gender-affirming care never had a chance in the Democrat-run Legislature. But earlier this month, House Bill 1038 drew an impassioned rebuke from Democratic leaders who said they'd fielded numerous calls from the parents of transgender youth worried about this legislation. 'People are petrified for their kids, and for themselves,' House Speaker Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, told reporters. 'I can certainly sit here and say those bills are not going to get a hearing, they're not going to move forward, and that's what I tell these parents, but it doesn't stop the concern that they feel for their children.' Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said his office had gotten over 500 emails and calls from constituents about the bill, which didn't get a committee hearing. A Democrat-backed bill would have established new requirements for grocery stores using self-checkout stands. While workers supported House Bill 1739, grocers argued the regulations were too restrictive. Under the legislation, grocery stores could only have self-checkout stations if an employee was dedicated to monitoring them and a traditional checkout lane was open. The lead sponsor, Rep. Mary Fosse, D-Everett, said she plans to fine-tune the policy in the interim and revive debate on it next session. And last, but certainly not least, Washingtonians will have to live another year without a state clam. Dueling measures seeking to shell out that honorable title both cracked under pressure. Lawmakers didn't bite on legislation to name either the Pacific razor clam or the Pacific geoduck as the Washington state clam. Despite the name, geoducks are the world's largest burrowing clam.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Legalizing marijuana would be a bipartisan win for Indiana
The Indiana General Assembly is hard at work, and our state leaders are debating several policy issues to continue to make Indiana one of the best places in the nation to live, work and raise a family. Some of the issues at the forefront include the overall budget, taxes, revenue and investments, education, health care and public safety. While each of these issues is significant on its own, our state leadership has a unique opportunity to work across party lines to impact them all by working together to safely regulate marijuana for those 21 and older just like we do with alcohol and tobacco. We can create new revenue streams, improve health care opportunities and streamline processes and outcomes for public safety professionals in our state. Hicks: Legalizing marijuana brings tax revenue, lower crime. Indiana is behind. Last year, Safe and Regulated Indiana released a statewide survey that showed that 70% of Hoosiers think it's time to create a legalized market in Indiana. There are a few issues that people seem to agree on across the aisle, but this is one of them. Gov. Mike Braun has responsibly opened the door to this conversation by endorsing medical marijuana and asking for further discussion on recreational use. Given that all of our neighboring states have legalized marijuana in some capacity, it is time for Indiana to have this conversation openly and transparently. Indiana's decades of strong leadership have led it to become a strong fiscal example for the nation. Despite our strong fiscal position, we live in difficult times that have left us looking for ways to fund local units of government, public safety, health care, education, infrastructure and more. The good news is that if Indiana can set up a successful framework for a safe and regulated marijuana market, it will bring hundreds of millions of dollars in new revenue. According to the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency, if House Bill 1630 passes, Indiana will generate $200.6 million in new revenue. Legislators can use those dollars to invest in education, public safety, infrastructure and whatever investments the Indiana General Assembly deems most in need. Passage would mean a significant investment for Hoosiers while aiming to keep taxes low! While this new source of money is important, we should never pass a law just for revenue. More importantly, this is about helping people, protecting personal freedom and ensuring Hoosiers access to better health care options. For too long, people who have cancer, PTSD, anxiety and chronic pain have had to rely on expensive medicine or, even worse, break the law just to get relief. No one should have to choose between getting the treatment they need and becoming a criminal. Medical marijuana is a safe, effective option that helps patients feel better without the dangerous side effects of opioids and other strong drugs. This isn't a Republican or Democratic issue — it's a health care issue. Across the country, states of all political backgrounds have made medical marijuana legal because it helps people. It's time for Indiana to give patients, veterans and families the freedom to choose a treatment that works for them — without fear of punishment. In addition to the medical benefits, a safe and regulated marketplace would also improve public safety and create a better relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Law enforcement and public safety leaders must be part of this discussion. One of the biggest public safety impacts of legalization would be keeping people out of jail for low-level marijuana charges. Right now, too many Hoosiers — especially marginalized residents in Marion County — are arrested and jailed for simple possession. These arrests not only strain our legal system, but also disrupt lives, making it harder for people to find jobs, secure housing and contribute to their communities. Legalization would free up law enforcement to focus on serious crime, rather than filling jails with nonviolent offenders. At the same time, regulation helps create safer roads. In Ohio, fatal car crashes linked to marijuana fell by 30% after legalization, showing that education and responsible policies can improve driving safety. Additionally, states with legal marijuana have reported fewer opioid overdoses, an issue that has devastated communities across Indiana. If we take the right approach, legalization can make our communities safer and more prosperous. Indiana has a great opportunity in front of it. A safe and regulated marijuana market would bring in additional revenue, improve health outcomes and ultimately improve the lives of law enforcement and public safety professionals across the state. As a local leader, I encourage our state leadership to have the debate and act on this important topic. It will be another success in a long list of important accomplishments. Michael-Paul Hart is the Republican minority leader on the City-County Council. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: House Bill 1630 gives Indiana a regulated marijuana market | Opinion
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Why a WA lawmaker wants to collect data on cow farts and burps
(Photo by Dusty Pixel photography via Getty Images) The latest beef in Olympia? Cow burps, farts, and poops. Washington lawmakers are considering a bill that seeks to gather better data on the scale and scope of methane emissions released by dairies and feedlots in the state. House Bill 1630 is sponsored by Rep. Lisa Parshley, D-Olympia, who was previously a veterinarian and has a Ph.D. in biochemistry. The bill received a hearing in the House Environment & Energy Committee on Thursday. 'I think data is a very good way to do policy,' Parshley said. 'If you don't have data, you're making policy based on assumption.' Methane is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide and 37% of methane emissions from human activity come from livestock and agriculture practices, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. During a cow's digestive process, when food breaks down, it produces methane, which cows emit when they belch or fart. Methane can come from manure as well. Like other greenhouse gases, these emissions can contribute to global warming. 'Monitoring is not going to be looking at individual cows' farts [or burps], I'm going to call it out because that's what I've been hearing it called,' Parshley said. 'We're not going to ask farms to put things around the cows to measure how much they're emitting from methane.' Even so, it may prove challenging to pass this gas-related legislation. The bill has received explosive opposition from farmers and Republicans, who worry about the burden of data collection. Critics also question whether it's a step toward taxing cow toots and adding clean air regulations for dairies and cattle operations. 'As a farmer, I'm unsure on how to calculate emissions as farm practices vary greatly across our state, from feed to manure management,' said Leann Krainick, a farmer from Krainick Dairy Farms in Enumclaw. 'Putting a number on this effort would be inequitable,' Krainick added. However, Parshley said that new techniques developed by the EPA and others would mean dairy farms or feedlots would only have to report the number of cows they have once a year, and what kind of manure process they're using to estimate the methane levels. There are also concerns that if the methane reported exceeds certain amounts, farmers could become subject to the state's Climate Commitment Act, which requires companies to buy allowances for their air pollution. Committee staff couldn't provide a definitive answer as to whether that would be the case. The climate law currently excludes dairy farms and feedlots. Parshley said the data her bill seeks to gather could help to guide where the state goes from here on the issue of livestock methane emissions. 'If that data says this is not significant, we just monitor. If [the data] says it's significant, it will help us build accurate policy,' Parshley said. Looking ahead, she said she hopes to build a policy that works toward limiting and capturing the methane because it could financially benefit farmers.
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Could lawmakers legalize marijuana this year? These are the bills to watch.
The push for marijuana legalization in Indiana has new money and new faces behind it. It's more bipartisan than ever before. And there's a new governor who's more amenable to certain aspects of the debate than the previous one. Every year there have been many, sometimes dozens, of bills attempting to move the needle, but they always fail to make it into law. Indiana is now surrounded on all sides by states where some level of cannabis is legal. Could this finally be the year for one of these bills to go the distance? Indiana General Assembly: With a new governor and Republican-backed marijuana lobbying effort, will anything change? Leaders behind a new lobbying group, Safe and Regulated Indiana, are projecting optimism. Some lawmakers behind the bills are far more tempered in their expectations: This could take multiple election cycles, but it does seem like there's some momentum. Still, so far this year none of the bills legalizing marijuana have received a hearing, the first step toward becoming law. Here are the marijuana-related bills lawmakers have proposed this session: Four bills would allow people with a medical condition and their doctor's permission to use medical marijuana, and establish a regulatory framework to oversee a medical marijuana program: , by Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty Senate Bill 341, by Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis , by Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis House Bill 1178, by Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour. This bill also includes a host of other regulations about the packaging and labeling of medical marijuana. Four bills would legalize the production and sale of marijuana for adults, establish a tax and create a new state agency to oversee the regulations: House Bill 1630, by Rep. Heath VanNatter, R-Kokomo Senate Bill 113, by Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, and Sen. Kyle Walker, R-Fishers , by Rep. Blake Johnson, D-Indianapolis House Bill 1654, by Rep. Zach Payne, R-Charlestown. This bill would set the legal age at 18, whereas the others set it at 21. , by Rep. Heath VanNatter, R-Kokomo, would decriminalize the possession of two ounces or less of marijuana. This isn't the same as legalization, which would involve regulating a market. Senate Bill 166, by Sens. Spencer Deery, R-West Lafayette, and Tyler Johnson, R-Leo; as well as , by Rep. Timothy Wesco, R-Osceola, would prohibit the advertising of the product or a related business by any medium ― billboard, digital, etc. House Bill 1026, by Rep. Joanna King, R-Middlebury, narrowly focuses a prohibition on physical signs located within 1,000 feet of places where kids are, such as schools and public parks. House Bill 1119, by Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville would set the legal limit for the amount of THC that can be found in a person's saliva to be penalized with an OWI charge. Current law says you can get charged if you have any measurable amount in your blood; this bill would set the threshold at five nanograms per milliliter in your saliva, the common limit in states where marijuana is legal. Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@ or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Marijuana bills filed in the Indiana legislature in 2025
