TagWashington State Legislature(117)

Washington State's ESHB 1791 replaces the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission with a new Commercial Aviation Work Group tasked with studying the long-range commercial aviation needs of the state, including evaluating potential sites for new or expanded airports. The Work Group must consider environmental impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, water quality, and compatibility with military installations, while excluding expansion of airports in counties with populations of 2 million or more residents — effectively ruling out major expansion at Sea-Tac. The group is required to submit annual progress reports to the Governor and the Legislature's Transportation Committees.

This is an application form from the Washington State Office of the Governor, inviting citizens to apply for appointment to one of over 200 state boards and commissions. Applicants are asked to submit personal and contact information, employment history, references, and a current résumé to be considered for advisory or policy-setting roles in state government. The form was issued under Governor Christine O. Gregoire and can be submitted by mail or fax to the Governor's Olympia office.

This document provides an overview of how Washington State's Legislature turns ideas into laws, walking through each step from a bill's introduction and committee review to floor votes, the Governor's signature, and final enactment. It explains the roles of the Senate and House of Representatives across Washington's 49 legislative districts, the structure of regular and special sessions, and how bills can carry over within a two-year legislative cycle. While focused on general legislative procedure, this resource may provide context for understanding how noise-related policies affecting areas like Sea-Tac Airport are formally proposed, debated, and passed into state law.

Washington State's Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5141, signed into law in May 2021, aims to reduce environmental and health disparities by implementing recommendations from the state's Environmental Justice Task Force. The law requires covered state agencies—including the departments of ecology, health, transportation, and others—to address the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by low-income communities and communities of color. It establishes an Environmental Justice Council and directs state programs to prioritize benefits for communities with the greatest environmental and health burdens.

Washington State Senate Bill 5141 requires several state agencies, including the departments of Ecology, Health, Transportation, and others, to incorporate environmental justice principles into their planning and decision-making processes. The bill mandates that these agencies complete environmental justice assessments for significant actions, create community engagement plans for overburdened communities, and consult with Indian tribes on decisions affecting tribal lands. An environmental justice council would be established to oversee implementation, and the Department of Health would maintain an environmental health disparities map tracking conditions across Washington communities.

HB 1099 is a Washington State bill focused on improving the state's climate response by updating the Growth Management Act to require counties and cities to include climate change and resiliency planning in their comprehensive land use plans. The bill mandates reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle miles traveled, and requires the Department of Commerce to publish guidelines for achieving statewide emissions targets. It also addresses coastal resilience by requiring Shoreline Master Programs to account for sea level rise and increased storm severity.

Washington State's E2SSB 5141, enacted in 2021, requires key state agencies including Transportation and Ecology to incorporate environmental justice principles into their planning and decision-making processes, with a focus on protecting overburdened communities from disproportionate environmental and health harms. Agencies must develop community engagement plans by 2022, environmental justice implementation plans by 2023, and conduct formal environmental justice assessments for significant actions such as new rules, grants, and capital investments. Note: this legislation addresses statewide environmental justice policy broadly and does not specifically address Sea-Tac Airport noise issues.

This document outlines Washington State campaign finance laws related to political contributions, coordination, and reporting requirements. It defines when an expenditure made by a third party counts as a campaign contribution — particularly when made in coordination with a candidate or political committee — and sets out registration and disclosure deadlines for political committees. These rules govern how campaigns and political organizations must track and report donations and spending.

Washington State's Substitute House Bill 1847, signed into law in March 2020, expands the aircraft noise abatement programs available to port districts by lowering the qualifying threshold from 900 to 20 scheduled jet flights per day and extending the geographic boundaries of 'impacted areas' around airport runways. The law allows port districts to pursue noise relief measures—including property acquisition, soundproofing, transaction assistance, and mortgage insurance—for communities affected by aircraft noise. It amends three existing state statutes (RCW 53.54.010, 53.54.020, and 53.54.030) and took effect on June 11, 2020.