The Legislature adopted a bill that establishes limits on climate pollution and a workforce training program to prepare Washington’s workers for new opportunities in the booming clean energy. It also directs state agencies to reduce their dependence on cars – our biggest source of climate pollution. (HB2815)

Champions: Governor Gregoire requested the legislation and provided critical leadership and support. Senator Phil Rockefeller and Representatives Hans Dunshee and Dave Upthegrove provided heavy lifting in the House.

Hurdles: Senators Jim Kastama and Steve Hobbs and Representatives Grant and Kessler.

The Legislature started the ball rolling on developing tools to help local governments make land use decisions that reduce global warming pollution and meet the growing demand for green, walkable communities. Despite broad public support they dropped provisions that established clear goals and requirements. (SB6580)

Champions: Senator Chris Marr and Representative Geoff Simpson did yeoman’s work to move this bill through the Legislature.

Hurdles: Representative Deb Eddy worked hard to water the bill down in committee.

Responding to huge increases in the cost of health insurance plans for individuals, the Legislature restored the Insurance Commissioner’s authority to review insurance rates in the individual market. (SB 5261)

Champions: Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Senator Karen Keiser led the way in the Senate, and Speaker Frank Chopp and and Representative Eileen Cody delivered in the House.

Hurdles: Senator Cheryl Pflug and Representatives Bill Hinkle and Gary Alexander provided vociferous opposition on behalf of a generally powerless Republican caucus.

The Legislature launched a study of different health care reform proposals, and chartered a stakeholder workgroup to make recommendations. Although not a substitute for real action, this effort should lay the groundwork for comprehensive reforms. (SB 6333)

Champions: Majority Leader Lisa Brown, and Senators Karen Keiser and Chris Marr led the way in the Senate, and Speaker Frank Chopp and Representative Eileen Cody again delivered in the House.

Hurdles: Senators Cheryl Pflug, Mike Carrell, and Linda Evans Parlette and Representatives Bill Hinkle, Cary Condotta, Gary Alexander and Glenn Anderson were vocally opposed.

SSB 6241 prohibited the sale of prescription data to drug companies for marketing purposes (the pharmaceutical industry buys such data to target individual physicians using their personal prescribing patterns). After intense lobbying by the pharmaceutical industry, the House failed to pass a bill that prohibits the sharing of prescription records with pharmaceutical companies. Their unwillingness to stand up to the pharmaceutical industry is an ominous omen for serious reforms.

Champions: Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Senators Karen Keiser and Darlene Fairley led a successful effort in the Senate. Representatives Eileen Cody, Jamie Pederson, Tami Green and Dawn Morrell worked hard in the House.

Hurdles: Representative Brendan Williams organized actively against in the House, with support from Representatives Sharon Tomiko Santos and Larry Springer.

With the passage of this bill, Washington State is the national leader on eliminating toxins in products designed for kids. After passing the House unanimously, the chemical and toy industries sent in high-priced lobbyists to put pressure on Senators to kill the bill. But the Senate stood strong, with just a handful of “No” votes.

Champions: Representative Mary Lou Dickerson was a huge champion on this bill, going above and beyond to ensure it passed. In the Senate, prime sponsor Debbie Regala and Phil Rockefeller also took leadership rolls.

Hurdles: Senator Brian Hatfield was the only Democrat to vote against the final bill. Worse, he introduced an amendment on the floor that would have essentially gutted it, greatly increasing the amount of lead that would have been acceptable.

This bill gives protection to homeowners who are the victims of negligent construction, putting the responsibility on the builder to fix the problems. The Building Industry Association of Washington, a right wing trade association, lobbied hard to defeat it. Despite the untiring work of Senator Brian Weinstein and the heavy engagement of the blogosphere and local media, the Homeowner’s Bill of Rights died in the House for the second year in a row.

Champions: Brian Weinstein must have cloned himself, because it seems he was everywhere at once on this bill, organizing allies, lobbying fellow lawmakers, and talking to the media. In the House, Brendan Williams was the prime sponsor.

Hurdles: Speaker Frank Chopp, who refused to call this bill to the floor for a vote despite intense grassroots pressure.

This bill requires mortgage brokers to look out for the financial interests of their clients - just like real estate agents, financial planners, accountants, lawyers, and most financial professionals. The passage of this bill will protect future borrowers, restore trust in the industry and give consumers the assurance that someone is looking out for their best interest as they make the biggest purchase of their life. (SB 6381)

Champions: Senators Brian Weinstein and Rodney Tom led the way in the Senate, and Speaker Frank Chopp and Representative Steve Kirby delivered in the House.

Hurdles: After this bill made it through the House it went back to the Senate for concurrence. Attempting to block this vote were Senators Don Benton, Mike Hewitt, Janea Holmquist, Jim Honeyford, Linda Evans Parlette, Pam Roach, Mark Schoesler, Val Stevens, and Joseph Zarelli.

This bill adds more than 160 new rights and responsibilities for registered domestic partners in Washington, including nursing home visitation, veterans' benefits, community property, and testimonial privileges. It’s an important step in the right direction for gay and lesbian couples in our state.

Champions: 59 House members and 26 Senators co-sponsored this bill. Speaker Frank Chopp and Majority Leader Lisa Brown were also strong supporters. Representative Tami Greene deserves special thanks.

Hurdles: Senator Paull Shin co-sponsored the bill, but voted against it when it came to the floor. But Representative John Ahern of Spokane takes the cake – during a hearing on the bill, he asked if we needed a Gestapo to ensure that gay couples weren’t “gaming the system” by claiming a dog as a domestic partner.

The Working Families Credit will give a tax rebate to 350,000 families in Washington. It’s based on the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, one of the most successful poverty fighting programs in our nation’s history. It’s also an important step toward addressing Washington’s regressive tax structure.

Champions: Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Senator Craig Pridemore led the charge on this bill in the Senate. In the House, Speaker Frank Chopp was instrumental in moving it forward.

Hurdles: Remarkably, all but two Republican legislators opposed this tax cut. On the federal level and in other states, tax refunds for low-income working families has had strong bipartisan support.