How Kirkland legislators voted in the 2012 session | Jan. 27-Feb. 1

Published 12:31 pm Monday, February 6, 2012

The following is a recap of how Kirkland legislators from the 45th and 48th Districts recently voted on several bills and resolutions (according to washingtonvotes.org) during the 2012 session:

Senate Bill 6239

Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239, redefining marriage to allow same-gender civil marriages, passed 28-21 in the Senate on Feb. 1.

This bill redefines marriage as a union between two persons, and prohibits discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation. This bill requires the Secretary of State to notify certain same sex domestic partners that the state law on the rights and responsibilities of state registered domestic partners will change in relation to certain same-sex registered domestic partners.

Participation in such marriage ceremonies and related transactions is discretionary for public and private universities and religious-based organizations, and exempts individuals associated with same from civil liability. This bill was received in the House and referred to the Judiciary Committee on Feb. 2.

Yes: Sen. Andy Hill, Sen. Rodney Tom

House Bill 1144

Second Engrossed Substitute Bill 1144, concerning renewable Energy Investment Cost Recovery Program, passed 81-15 in the House on Jan. 30.

This bill expands the Renewable Energy Incentive Cost-Recovery Program to include hydrokinetic energy systems. This bill allows nonprofit housing organizations to host community solar projects. Specifies no new Cost-Recovery Incentive Program applications may be approved for a light and power business once the public utility tax credit capacity for the light and power business is reached.

Adjusts the amount of incentive payments company-owned projects and utility-owned community solar projects may receive as part of the total allowable PUT credit available to a light and power business. This bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Energy, Natural Resources, & Marine Waters Committee on Jan. 31.

Yes: Reps. Roger Goodman, Larry Springer, Deb Eddy and Ross Hunter

House Bill 1900

Engrossed House Bill 1900, establishing continuing education requirements for engineers, passed 66-29 in the House on Jan. 27.

This bill requires registered engineers to complete at least 15 hours of continuing professional development per year. The bill takes effect July 1, 2013. This bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Labor, Commerce & Consumer Protection Committee on Jan. 30.

Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter

House Bill 2210

House Bill 2210, extending contribution limits to school board candidates, passed 71-24 in the House on Jan. 27.

This bill adds school board offices to the list of public offices subject to campaign contribution limits. This bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections Committee on Jan. 30.

Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter

House Bill 1398

Engrossed House Bill 1398, creates an exemption from impact fees for low-income housing, passed 53-42 in the House on Jan. 27.

This bill removes the requirement that local governments pay impact fees from qualifying public funds upon exempting low-income housing from impact fee requirements. This bill specifies that impact fee exemptions for low-income housing require the developer to record a covenant prohibiting conversion of the property unless applicable impact fees are paid.

This bill prohibits local governments from collecting mitigation fees under the State Environmental Policy Act for low-income housing in place of exempted impact fees. Prohibits local governments granting impact fee exemptions for low-income housing from increasing the costs of impact fees unrelated to the exemptions. This bill was received in the Senate and referred to the Financial Institutions, Housing & Insurance Committee on Jan. 30.

Yes: Goodman, Springer, Eddy, Hunter

WashingtonVotes.org is a free, non-partisan website to find plain-English explanations of bills and a record of each legislator’s votes.