Liz’s Loveletter | The 2024 legislative session is underway

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF SENATOR LIZ LOVELETT |||

We are already a few weeks into the 2024 legislative session, and I am thrilled to be back at the capitol tackling the challenges that face our state and people in the 40th Legislative District. From housing and homelessness to environmental protections and ferry improvements, we’ll be busy during this year’s 60-day session. I am honored to continue representing you in that work.

How to participate

We are delighted to continue welcoming public testimony from all around the state this session. I look forward to hearing and meeting many of you in person and virtually this year.

• Testify remotely before legislative committees.

• Learn how a bill becomes a law.

• Find legislation on the issues important to you.

• Watch broadcasts and archived videos of your democracy in action.

My team

We’re glad to be back in the Olympia office, and ready to team up with all of you to discuss the issues you care about. The staff you see here will be answering your calls, helping resolve casework, tracking my bills, and much more. Ivy Ndambuki is my superstar legislative assistant, Amber Crabb is joining our team as this year’s amazing session aide, Andy Lopez Membrilla (quien habla español) is our incredible intern for the session, and Chris West assists our office with communications.

Protecting the environment

I continue to chair the Local Government, Land Use & Tribal Affairs Committee and serve as vice chair of the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee. Here are a few of the bills I have introduced this year to keep our planet and communities healthy.

• Improving recycling (SB 6005): The WRAP Act, or the Washington Recycling And Packaging Act, would modernize the state’s recycling system by establishing a program to increase recycling rates and incentivize companies to reduce packaging and switch remaining packaging to reusable, compostable, or recyclable alternatives. Addressing the scourge of plastic pollution has been one of my top priorities for several years in the Legislature, and I’m hopeful that we have the momentum to make progress this year.
• Geothermal electricity production (SB 6039): Our state has made great strides in our efforts to reduce carbon emissions and address the climate crisis, but we must continue find alternative clean energy sources. Geothermal electricity, done the right way, could provide hundreds of megawatts, even gigawatts of clean, baseload electricity to support our communities. This bill would promote geothermal exploration and gather data that could lead to future projects around the state. The bill has already passed out of committee with unanimous support!
• Reducing toxic pollution (SB 5990): We know some communities in our state have been disproportionately harmed by pollution. The CURB Act, or the Cumulative Risk Burden Pollution Act, would identify those communities and “curb” the ability of industry to emit more toxins in these areas.
• Weatherization assistance (SB 5570): We know that adding insulation, sealing cracks, and making other upgrades to reduce heat loss help people save money on heating bills and make homes or apartments healthier. This bill would help more customers afford those upgrades with grants and financing from participating utilities.

I look forward to hearing from you. It is a vital part of the democratic process. Contact us here, and follow along on my Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages.

I look forward to working with you this year!