Lorraine Loomis Act 

Addresses habitat quality and water temperature in Washington’s watersheds. The bill would create a standard for tree height next to rivers and streams, establish a new Riparian Habitat Conservation Grant Program to help landowners meet this standard, and provide the accountability and oversight necessary for programmatic success.

This bill won't be moving forward this session, but proponents are exploring opportunities to advance elements of the bill through other policy and budget vehicles.

Solar Energy in Parking Lots

As we work to encourage better siting of solar energy projects, parking lots present a unique opportunity to produce clean electricity in the built environment while also reducing the urban heat island effect.

This bill has been scheduled for an executive session (vote) in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology on Friday, January 27th.

Click here to tell your senator to vote YES on the solar canopy bill.

Conservation Futures Levy Lid Lift

Fourteen counties rely on the Conservation Futures program to generate funds needed to permanently protect and maintain open space, farms, forests, parks, and trails. This bill removes a cap on the amount of money counties can raise to invest in local conservation projects. 

This legislation had its first public hearing in the House Committee on Finance on Tuesday, January 18th at 1:30 PM. No executive session has been scheduled.

Click here to tell your representative to vote YES on Conservation Futures.

Technical Support for Sustainable Farms and Fields

One of our priorities for 2022 is funding the Sustainable Farms and Fields program, which was created in 2020 but because of the pandemic, never funded. We’re asking legislators to not only fund the program, but to pass this bill which provides more technical assistance for landowners who want to adopt carbon-smart farming practices.

Protecting Washington’s Eelgrass and Kelp

Calls for a collaborative plan to conserve and restore 10,000 acres of kelp and eelgrass beds by 2040.

The Senate version of this bill is scheduled for an executive session in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks on Thursday, January 27th.

The House version passed unanimously out of the House Committee on Rural Development, Agriculture & Natural Resources on January 25th

Waste Reduction

This legislation, an Environmental Priorities Coalition priority, addresses plastic waste by funding improvements in waste infrastructure, uniform access for residents across the state, and a clear list of what people can recycle. This bill will have the added benefit of shifting recycling costs away from ratepayers and onto the manufacturers.

GMA Sprawl Loophole

This legislation, an Environmental Priorities Coalition priority, closes a sprawl loophole that undermines the intent of the Growth Management Act (GMA). The loophole allows counties to subvert the Growth Management Hearing Board (GMHB) appeals process to illegally build sprawling developments that devours farmlands, forests, and critical habitats.