Assault weapons ban, reducing litter, state parks, Medal of Valor



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Legislature passes ban on assault weapons

Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney General Bob Ferguson listen to the wife of a victim of gun violence.

Gov. Jay Inslee and AG Bob Ferguson listen to KeAnna Pickett recount the death of her husband DeVonne, shot dead outside of their family business in Seattle in October 2022.

The Legislature on Thursday passed HB 1240 [ [link removed] ], sponsored by Sen. Strom Peterson, to prohibit the sale of assault weapons. Gov. Jay Inslee is expected to sign the bill soon, along with legislation to require safety training and a 10-day waiting period [ [link removed] ], and a bill to strengthen accountability [ [link removed] ] for manufacturers and retailers.

Washington will become the tenth state to ban assault weapons.

"WA does not and will not accept gun violence as normal," tweeted Inslee [ [link removed] ].

Fifty-nine Americans died in mass shootings in just five years preceding a federal ban on assault weapons in effect between 1994 and 2004. Only 53 died during its ten years of effect, and mortality exploded [ [link removed] ] after its expiration. The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma [ [link removed] ] estimated that the ban reduced the likelihood of mass shootings by 70%.

"High-capacity assault weapons have no practical use in civilized society except to make it easier for people to easily kill multiple people," said Sen. Marko Liias in 2017, not long after a mass shooting involving an assault weapon left three dead in Mukilteo.

Washington state last year passed a ban on high-capacity magazines and so-called untraceable “ghost guns.” Washington voters have also approved policies to strengthen background checks and implement extreme risk protection orders, also known as red flags. Such policies are helping address various forms of gun violence [ [link removed] ] including suicide and domestic violence.

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Reducing litter is “Simple As That”

The state Department of Ecology’s latest litter study estimated 73,580 separate pieces of litter – or 1,579 pounds of trash – per mile per year on Washington’s interstate highways. Even on local roads, there are 18,051 pieces of litter – 143 pounds – per mile per year. 

Why do people litter? Ecology’s research identified “not having a trash bag in the car” as the top reason.

Each year, the state spends more than $12 million to fund cleanup efforts. Pickup crews and volunteers collected more than 3.2 million pounds of garbage off state highways in last year alone, and that’s only a small fraction of what is tossed or blown out of vehicles and onto the road. Millions of pounds of litter are left behind.

Car trash bags can reduce litter

Not having a trash bag in the car is a leading reason why people litter. Free car litter bags are now available at Fred Meyer locations.

Ecology’s “Simple As That” campaign offers tips to avoid littering, and motivates Washingtonians to talk to friends and family about reducing litter. It encourages every Washingtonian to:


* Get and use a car litter bag (offered free at Fred Meyer stores).
* Dispose of trash at the destination or a waste receptacle along the way.
* Help friends and family make good choices and live litter free.

Ecology has partnered with Fred Meyer stores across Washington to give away free car littler bags, available at the front customer service counter at Fred Meyer locations. Ecology has also partnered with the Refugee Artisan Initiative to give away upcycled litter bags. The bags are made from vinyl banners that would have been landfilled, and made by refugee and immigrant women earning a living wage through the organization. Those bags will be given away at community events in the Spokane area.

Ecology is also running statewide advertising in English and Spanish, and distributing a Litter Prevention Toolkit.

“This Earth Month, we want everyone to be part of the solution to keep Washington litter free by taking simple actions like holding onto trash until you see a bin or keeping a litter bag in your car,” said Ecology Director Laura Watson. “When you do your part, you set a good example for everyone else to do theirs.”

Ecology data estimates more than 38 million pounds of trash is littering Washington state.

Cigarette butts, construction debris, and single-use plastics account for much of the 38 million pounds of litter left all over the state each year.

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Your new favorite park awaits this spring – free entry on Earth Day

Rolling dune-colored hills; rocky snow-covered mountains; sandy beaches lined with tidepools and sea stacks; glacier carved azure-blue lakes; trails winding through mossy evergreen forests… Washington has some of the most varied geography on the planet. It’s all open for everyone to explore by visiting one of the state’s many parks. There is something for everyone here. And with spring in the air, Washingtonians have a new opportunity find their park right here in Washington. 

With over 130 parks to choose from, here a few highlights from Washington’s state park network — places to go with kids, for accessible trails, and to ride a bike, hike or paddle. And tomorrow, you can visit all of Washington's state parks for free. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by visiting one of these beautiful places. 

*Read the full story on Gov. Jay Inslee's Medium. [ [link removed] ]*

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park

Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park is one of the geological wonders of North America. This park features a 400-foot-high, 3.5-mile-wide cliff, deep gorges and dark, reflective lakes.

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Legislative session - week 15 in review

Sine die – the last day of session – is Sunday, April 23. Legislators are finalizing votes on hundreds of bills and finishing negotiations on new two-year operating, transportation and capital budgets [ [link removed] ]. On Friday afternoon, legislators announced an agreed-upon capital budget [ [link removed] ] and convened transportation leaders to discuss the transportation budget [ [link removed] ].

Here are some highlights of bills the governor signed this week, including the formal repeal of Washington’s death penalty statutes.


* Inslee signs bill banning death penalty in Washington state [ [link removed] ] (KING 5)
* New law gives nurses stronger voice in setting hospital staffing levels [ [link removed] ] (Everett Herald)
* Washington establishes cold case unit to investigate missing and murdered Indigenous peoples cases [ [link removed] ] (Northwest Public Broadcasting)
* Gov. Inslee signs bill targeting illegal robocalls in Washington [ [link removed] ] (KIRO 7)
* New state law prevents utility shutoffs during extreme heat [ [link removed] ] (NonStop Local Tri-Cities-Yakima)

Hundreds of bills are being delivered to the governor. Once a bill passes both chambers it takes several days or weeks until the governor can sign it. Once the House or Senate delivers a bill to the governor’s office, it is reviewed and a recommendation is prepared for the governor. At that point, it will be scheduled for bill action. For anyone tracking a specific bill, bookmark the governor’s bill action page [ [link removed] ] to find schedules for upcoming bill action and lists of bills the governor has signed or vetoed.

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News you might have missed:

*U.S.** Supreme Court sustains distribution of mifepristone – for now*

The distribution of the abortion medication mifepristone may continue [ [link removed] ], according to a U.S. Supreme Court order issued Friday. On April 7, a federal judge in Texas partially granted a motion essentially revoking the FDA's approval the drug. The Biden Administration asserted that no judge had ever invalidated the FDA’s approval of a drug based on the court’s own assessment of a drug’s safety, and petitioned the Supreme Court to allow the drug to remain in use. The Supreme Court agreed, and ruled so as to halt the Texas judge's order.

Washington honors Work Zone Awareness Week

This week is Work Zone Awareness Week, and the state Department of Transportation (WSDOT) encourages Washingtonians to slow down when they see orange for the sake of roadside workers. WSDOT employees shared their stories [ [link removed] ] of being hit by reckless drivers in work zones, and the department observed a moment of silence [ [link removed] ] Friday to honor road workers killed over the years. Gov. Jay Inslee signed SB 5272 [ [link removed] ] on April 4 to permit traffic cameras in work zones to cite speeding drivers and save workers' lives - research indicates cameras reduce injury collisions by as much as 51%.

*Nominations open for Washington Medals of Merit and Valor*

The Office of the Secretary of State is accepting nominations for Washington’s Medals of Merit and Valor [ [link removed] ], the highest civilian honors awarded to the people of Washington. The Medal of Merit recognizes individuals who perform outstanding services for Washington and Washingtonians. The Medal of Valor is awarded to individuals who have saved, or have attempted to save, another at their own peril. Nominations for the Medal of Merit [ [link removed] ] or Medal of Valor [ [link removed] ] may be filed online by Sept. 15, 2023.

*Drew Shirk appointed to direct state Department of Revenue*

Gov. Jay Inslee appointed Drew Shirk to direct the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR) on Wednesday, effective June 16. Shirk has served as the executive director for legislative affairs for the governor since 2017, helping design and pass landmark policies in clean energy, gun violence prevention, education, and abortion rights, among other areas. Shirk began his long career in public service with DOR in 1989 and had served as the department’s assistant director for tax policy before joining the governor’s office. DOR’s acting director John Ryser will continue to lead the agency until Shirk assumes his role in June.

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