Washington Business Fall 2015 | Legislative Review | Page 24

Printing Packaging Mailing Signage Corporate Identity Contact Jenilee Antone at 253.255.7529 or [email protected] statutory vesting right (Potala Village Kirkland LLC v. City of Kirkland). AWB filed an amicus brief seeking direct review, but justices on the state Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Facing uncertainty in the building industry, ESB 5921 would have added back into statute some land use activity originally recognized under common law. The bill passed the Senate 29-20 but failed to come up for a vote in the House. ESSB 5804 energy code process Failed/AWB Supported AWB supported Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5804, sponsored by Sen. Marko Liias, D-Lynnwood, which would modify the procedure for adoption and amendment of the Washington State Energy Code. Among other provisions, the bill would have adopted the Washington State Energy Code as published by the International Code Council. The bill would have also created new requirements for adopting amendments to the energy code. ESSB 5804 passed the Senate 48-1 but did not come up for a vote in the House. SB 5969 sepa reform Failed/AWB Supported Senate Bill 5969, sponsored by Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, sought to reform some provisions of the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). The bill would have allowed federal environmental reviews to count toward SEPA obligations, and require completion of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) within 30 days of publication of either a categorical exclusion determination, a finding of no significant impact, or a final EIS. The bill had a public hearing in the Senate Trade and Economic Development Committee, but did not come up for a vote. 22 association of washington business water resources SB 5628 water infrastructure funding Failed/AWB Neutral AWB remained neutral on Senate Bill 5628, sponsored by Sen. Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, which would have created a parcel fee to fund stormwater, flooding, and water supply projects across Washington state. The fee would be based on a sliding scale with about two-thirds of property owners paying $35 per year. The new revenue would have funded three grant programs to reduce stormwater pollution, reduce the risk of flooding, and improve water supplies. This legislation did not make it out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, but supporters will likely work on the bill during the interim and try again in 2016. EHB 1989 water storage Passed/AWB Supported AWB supported Engrossed House Bill 1989, sponsored by Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, which grants authority and creates procedures to manage water storage assets. This bill allows small cities to contract for ongoing maintenance on water storage tanks. The long term service contracts contain annual costs and create greater certainty in budgeting. EHB 1989 passed the Senate 48-0 and the House concurred with final passage by a vote of 96-0. SB 5556 irrigation district administration Passed/AWB Supported AWB supported Senate Bill 5556, sponsored by Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, which clarifies some procedures for the administration of irrigation districts. The bill removes the requirement for