Highlights of other proposed legislation
Major priorities and issues are being considered by the Legislature this session.
Among the many proposed House bills (HB) that I’m co-sponsoring:
Police accountability and reform
- HB 1054 – Police tactics. Prime sponsored by Representative Jesse Johnson, I am co-sponsoring this legislation that would prohibit chokeholds and neck restraints, the use of unleashed dogs to arrest or apprehend, the concealment of badge numbers, and “no-knock” warrants.It would also ban the use of tear gas for any purpose. In addition to the egregious use seen on Capitol Hill this summer, this ban is particularly compelling to my family. In years past, my mom would tell me about her experience as a young woman being tear gassed by state troopers on the picket lines outside the coal mines in Roslyn, Washington, where my father was on strike against the coal company for better wages and working conditions in the Great Depression. Tear gas wasn’t acceptable then and it isn’t now.
- HB 1267 – Independent investigations of police use of force. Representative Entenman’s bill would create an independent oversight agency to investigate police misconduct. There has been a breakdown of trust between law enforcement officers and the general public. This bill would hold law enforcement accountable and ensure investigations were done independent of the involved police department.
- HB 1310 – Use of force by law enforcement. This bill would build on the improvements to the police use of force statute enacted by Initiative 940. A few years ago, as Speaker of the House, I helped enact I-940, which was then sustained by the voters across the state. This new proposal makes clear that de-escalation attempts must be made before force can be used.
Climate and environment
- HB 1091 – Clean fuel standards. Greenhouse gas emissions have caused devastating impacts to our environment. House Bill 1091 aims to mitigate the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the carbon intensity of transportation fuel through the establishment of a Clean Fuels Program. As House Speaker in 2019, I helped lead the House to approve the legislation. Hopefully this year, the Senate will join us in passing this critical climate policy.
- HB 1084 – Green buildings. To help mitigate the effects of climate change, House Bill 1084 would set specific requirements for the construction of residential and commercial buildings so that more eco-friendly buildings are developed throughout our state.
- House Bill 1204 – Electric vehicles. Prime sponsored by my 43rd District seatmate, Representative Nicole Macri, and co-sponsored by yours truly, this bill would require that new cars be electric-powered after the year 2030. People would still be able to drive and sell gasoline powered cars manufactured before 2030. This would encourage the transformation of our transportation system which currently accounts for nearly half of all carbon emissions, spewing out of tailpipes. This transition is already underway in the marketplace. The future is electric!
If you are interested on climate issues, you are cordially invited to join my “Climate Crew,” comprised of climate activists in the 43rd District, who are working on a weekly basis to carry out an action agenda to combat climate change. Please contact Daniel Lugo in my office to participate!
Housing
- House Bill 1070 – Funding for affordable housing. This bill will advance over $400 million in bonds in King County to create permanent supportive housing for those facing behavioral health challenges of mental illness or substance use disorders, with special attention focused on homeless youth. Many of our neighbors are homeless, suffering and dying on our streets. This is moral imperative that we must attack on many fronts.
- House Bill 1236 – Protecting tenants from eviction. This bill, prime sponsored by my seatmate Representative Macri, with my co-sponsorship, is known as Just Cause Eviction. It would protect residential tenants from the beginning to end of their tenancies by penalizing the inclusion of unlawful lease provisions and limiting the reasons for eviction, refusal to continue leases, and termination.
- House Bill 1277 – Funding for eviction prevention and housing stability. Through programs like the eviction prevention rental assistance program, we can prevent evictions and proactively provide resources to households most likely to become homeless or suffer severe health consequences. This will allow us to promote equity by prioritizing low-income households, especially in communities of color.
These House Bills that I am championing are only a few highlights. To see all my co-sponsored bills so far, please click here.
Thank you so much,
Rep. Frank Chopp
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