Other bills of interest
In addition to the four 2008 community Priorities, there were dozens of other bills of importance. At the end of session, we put together this list of bills and what happened to them:
Passed
- Children’s Safe Products: ESHB 2647 will eliminate three toxic chemicals, lead, cadmium, and phthalates, from toys and other children’s products. It will also require manufacturers to report whether their products contain other chemicals found to be of a concern for children’s health
- Tugs: The legislature budgeted $3.65 million to fund a rescue tug stationed at Neah Bay for the first time on a year-round contract.
- Orcas: HB 2514 establishes a 300-foot zone around orca whales to protect them from vessel harassment.
- Energy efficiency bills: SHB 2847 passed providing sales and use tax exemptions for low-income weatherization materials and services. SHB 3362 would help small businesses purchase highly energy-efficient equipment
- 520 Finance Bill: HB 3096 takes important steps in the direction of tolling the SR-520 corridor, including potential tolls on the existing bridge and potential tolling of I-90. This legislation also directs the new 520 bridge to be built with 6 lanes: 4 designated for general traffic and the other 2 for carpooling and transit.
- Broad Tolling Policy: HB1773 will help reduce traffic and pollution from the transportation sector by creating a framework for future tolling decisions which may also create revenue for transit alternatives.
Did not pass
- Maury Island protections: SB 6777 would have protected Maury Island from the largest strip mine of its kind in the country.
- Hanford Cleanup: the Legislature did not act on PSSB 5393 to protect our State from the impending designation of Hanford as a national radioactive mixed hazardous waste dump.
- Energy Efficiency: SHB 2758 would have set efficiency standards for several products sold or installed in Washington. HB 2426, HB 2703, HB 2901 and HB 2888, would have promoted energy-efficient lighting and retrofitting in public buildings.
