Small victories at Legislature
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2009 Legislative Results
The 2009 legislative session has ended although it's expected that we'll have the pleasure of returning for a Special Session in the near future. With a $9 billion budget deficit, this was certainly a session unlike any in recent memory. While our biggest ticket items, like creating Transit-Oriented Communities, didn't pass this year, we are able to celebrate a number of small victories.
Stop growing in floodplains (HB 1967)
This bill will help prevent damage to people & property, save taxpayer dollars, and protect the environment. It's a common sense bill that will prevent further urbanization of our floodplains.Climate change in the budget
The budget included a proviso clarifying that land use plans should be helping to achieve the state's climate change goals. And it directs the State to collect information demonstrating how cities and counties are meeting this requirement.
The state capital budget spends billions of dollars on infrastructure that if not spent properly could make it more difficult to achieve the greenhouse gas reductions required by state law. The capital budget includes $10 million in grants to urban communities to reduce their global warming pollution and SB 5560 helps ensure that state infrastructure funds are spent in ways that will help us meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Regional Transfer of Development Rights Program (HB 1172)
Two years ago we helped pass the TDR market place bill which created a
stakeholder group to recommend how to better link preserving rural and
resource lands with focusing growth inside our urban communities. This bill implements the group's recommendations. Helping prevent service cuts (SB 5433)
This bill helps our communities in two ways - first, it gives counties more flexibility in how they spend some of their revenues. And secondly, it gives all transit agencies in the state (except Sound Transit) an opportunity to go to the ballot for a one time $20 congestion relief tax to prevent drastic cuts to service.