WA Secretary of State Blogs

Washington Congressional Senators and Representatives sign off on legislation crucial to Washington.

Wednesday, April 8th, 2015 Posted in Articles, For Libraries, For the Public, Uncategorized | Comments Off on Washington Congressional Senators and Representatives sign off on legislation crucial to Washington.


From the desk of Rand Simmons

Rand0714Two pieces of legislation important to the people of Washington are working their way through Congress. Optimum support requires members of both the House and the Senate and from both parties sign on to “Dear Appropriators” letters.

The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) is administered by the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State. The Senate letter notes that “LSTA is the only federal program that helps public libraries meet community needs, provide enhanced services through technology, reach underserved populations, and retain librarians while recruiting new entrants to this important field. Robust federal support for the state formula program and competitive grant provided by LSTA is more essential now than ever.”

Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) chair the Senate committee to obtain maximum allowable funding for the Act. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) signed the letter. State Librarian Rand Simmons had urged her to do so. Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA 2nd) signed the House letter. Currently the State Library receives about $3.3 million annually in LSTA funding and all types of libraries in Washington are eligible to receive funding and services.

Innovative Approaches to Literacy (IAL) is a grant program under the Fund for the Improvement of education. The Senate letter states, “IAL provides competitive awards to school libraries and national not-for-profit organizations, including partnerships that reach families outside of local educational agencies, for providing books and childhood literacy activities to children and families in high need communities. The program also supports parental engagement and focuses on promoting student literacy from birth through high school.” Senators Blunt and Murray are also leading the quest for this funding.

Signers in the House include Representatives Denny Heck (D-WA 10th), Jim McDermott (D-WA 7th) and Adam Smith (D-WA 9th).

  • Learn more about how the Washington State Library administers the Library Services and Technology Act at the Library’s web site.
  • Information for this article came from the American Library Association’s Advocacy Works: Broad number of legislators back library funding. Links to Senate and House letters are provided.

2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 02/15/2013

Friday, February 15th, 2013 Posted in For Libraries, For the Public, News, Updates | Comments Off on 2013 Proposed Legislation Affecting Libraries 02/15/2013


Courtesy of the Legislative Planning Committee, Washington Library Association Library Related Legislation. The Washington Library Association (WLA) tracks state legislative activity that will potentially affect Washington Libraries. Their tracker is posted to the WLA web site and we will also post it weekly on this blog.

For information on the legislative process or becoming involved, see the WLA site referenced above.

Library 2-15-2013
Bill Title Sponsor Status Date Latest Cmte Mtg Info Companion Bills
HB 1019 Public records requestors Haler H Govt Ops & Ele

1/14/2013

Jan 23 PH House  Government Operations & Elections at 1:30 PM.
HB 1037 Public records cost recovery Moeller H Govt Ops & Ele

1/14/2013

Feb 19 Scheduled for EX in the House  Government Operations & Elections at 8:00 AM.
HB 1042 Metro park district tax levy Seaquist H Finance

1/14/2013

Jan 28 PH House  Finance at 1:30 PM. SB 5410(SGovt Ops)
HB 1055 Metro park district tax levy Angel H Finance

1/14/2013

HB 1057 Operating budget 2013-2015 Hunter H Approps

1/14/2013

Jan 15 PH House  Appropriations at 3:30 PM. SB 5034(SWays & Means)
HB 1058 Operating sup budget 2013 Hunter H Approps

1/14/2013

Jan 15 PH House  Appropriations at 3:30 PM. SB 5033(SWays & Means)
SHB 1128 Local agency public records Takko H Rules R

2/12/2013

Feb 8 EX taken in the House  Local Government at 1:30 PM.
HB 1136 Emergency med. services levy Van De Wege H Finance

1/16/2013

Jan 25 PH House  Finance at 8:00 AM.
HB 1197 Open public meetings Pollet H Govt Operation

1/18/2013

Feb 19 Scheduled for EX in the House  Government Operations & Elections at 8:00 AM.
SHB 1198 Pub. records & open meetings Pollet H Apps Gen Govt

2/14/2013

Feb 12 EX taken in the House  Government Operations & Elections at 8:00 AM.
HB 1203 Children’s personal info Farrell H 2nd Reading

2/7/2013

Feb 5 EX taken in the House  Government Operations & Elections at 8:00 AM. SB 5198(S2nd Reading)
SHB 1217 Property assessment system Takko H Finance

2/5/2013

Feb 15 PH House  Finance at 8:00 AM.
HB 1226 PERS/returning retirees Ormsby H Rules R

2/7/2013

Feb 5 EX taken in the House  Appropriations at 3:30 PM. SB 5633(SWays & Means)
HB 1264 Fire district mergers Haigh H Rules R

2/8/2013

Feb 7 EX taken in the House  Local Government at 8:00 AM.
HB 1268 Local government purchasing Springer H 2nd Reading

2/13/2013

Feb 8 EX taken in the House  Local Government at 1:30 PM. SB 5110(Ssubst for)
SHB 1298 Sunshine committee Springer H GOEDPS

2/14/2013

Feb 14 EX taken in the House  Government Operations & Elections at 10:00 AM. SB 5169(SRules 2)
HB 1418 Public records/hours Hunt H Govt Operations

1/25/2013

Feb 19 Scheduled for EX in the House  Government Operations & Elections at 8:00 AM.
HB 1443 Industrial/manuf. facilities Sells H Exec Action

2/14/2013

Feb 14 EX taken in the House  Technology & Economic Development at 1:30 PM.
HB 1486 Fire protection authorities Fitzgibbon H Local Govt

1/29/2013

Feb 15 EX in the House  Local Government at 1:30 PM. SB 5331(SGovt Ops)
HB 1488 Fire protection districts Liias H Local Govt

1/29/2013

Feb 15 EX in the House  Local Government at 1:30 PM. SB 5332(SGovt Ops)
HB 1539 Annexation within code city Rodne H Local Govt

1/30/2013

Feb 19 Scheduled for PH House  Local Government at 1:30 PM. SB 5417(SGovt Ops)
HB 1654 Fire prot. service authority Riccelli H Local Govt

2/4/2013

Feb 14 PH House  Local Government at 8:00 AM.
HB 1665 Earlier retirement benefits Hunt H Approps

2/5/2013

HB 1666 Retirement vesting/5 years Reykdal H Approps

2/5/2013

SB 5652(SWays & Means)
HB 1667 Postretirement employment Moscoso H Approps

2/5/2013

SB 5651(SWays & Means)
HB 1668 Retirement/plan 2 members Cody H Approps

2/5/2013

SB 5650(SHealth Care)
HB 1714 Open public meetings act Pollet H Govt Operation

2/6/2013

Feb 19 Scheduled for PH House  Government Operations & Elections at 8:00 AM.
HB 1723 Early learning services Kagi H Erly Lrn/H Svc

2/6/2013

Feb 19 Scheduled for EX in the House  Early Learning & Human Services at 1:30 PM.
HB 1741 Retirees/insurance programs Cody H Approps

2/7/2013

SB 5654(SHealth Care)
HB 1763 Public records/hours Klippert H Govt Operations

2/8/2013

HB 1798 Taxing districts/property tx Haler H Finance

2/11/2013

SB 5705(SGovt Ops)
HB 1820 Avg. salary/pension purposes Bergquist H Approps

2/11/2013

HB 1828 Local govt fiscal conditions Springer H Local Govt

2/12/2013

Feb 19 Scheduled for PH House  Local Government at 1:30 PM. SB 5690(SWays & Means)
HB 1854 Annexations/public approval Schmick H Local Govt

2/12/2013

SSB 5013 Annexations Benton S 2nd Reading

2/5/2013

Jan 29 EX taken in the Senate  Governmental Operations at 10:00 AM.
SB 5014 Eminent domain Benton S Law & Justice

1/14/2013

Feb 4 EX scheduled, but no action was taken in the Senate  Law & Justice at 1:30 PM.
SB 5018 Public art purchases Benton S Ways & Means

1/14/2013

SB 5033 Operating sup budget 2013 Hill S Ways & Means

1/15/2013

HB 1058(HApprops)
SB 5034 Operating budget 2013-2015 Hill S Ways & Means

1/15/2013

HB 1057(HApprops)
ESSB 5110 Local government purchasing Tom H Local Govt

2/11/2013

Jan 31 EX taken in the Senate  Governmental Operations at 10:00 AM. HB 1268(H2nd Reading)
SSB 5169 Sunshine committee Roach S Rules 2

2/12/2013

Feb 11 EX taken in the Senate  Governmental Operations at 6:00 PM. HB 1298(HGOEDPS)
SB 5198 Children’s personal info Darneille S 2nd Reading

2/8/2013

Feb 7 EX taken in the Senate  Human Services & Corrections at 10:00 AM. HB 1203(H2nd Reading)
SB 5331 Fire protection authorities Hobbs S Govt Ops

1/28/2013

Feb 11 PH Senate  Governmental Operations at 6:00 PM. HB 1486(HLocal Govt)
SB 5332 Fire protection districts Roach S Govt Ops

1/28/2013

Feb 11 PH Senate  Governmental Operations at 6:00 PM. HB 1488(HLocal Govt)
SB 5383 Retiree return to work/PERS Benton S Ways & Means

1/28/2013

Feb 4 PH Senate  Ways & Means at 3:30 PM.
SB 5410 Metro park district tax levy Schlicher S Govt Ops

1/29/2013

Feb 11 PH Senate  Governmental Operations at 10:00 AM. HB 1042(HFinance)
SB 5417 Annexation within code city Mullet S Govt Ops

1/29/2013

Feb 12 PH Senate  Governmental Operations at 10:00 AM. HB 1539(HLocal Govt)
SB 5633 PERS/returning retirees Conway S Ways & Means

2/6/2013

Feb 12 PH Senate  Ways & Means at 3:30 PM. HB 1226(HRules R)
SB 5650 Retirement/plan 2 members Keiser S Health Care

2/6/2013

HB 1668(HApprops)
SB 5651 Postretirement employment McAuliffe S Ways & Means

2/6/2013

HB 1667(HApprops)
SB 5654 Retirees/insurance programs Fraser S Health Care

2/7/2013

HB 1741(HApprops)
SB 5690 Local govt fiscal conditions Hatfield S Ways & Means

2/8/2013

HB 1828(HLocal Govt)
SB 5705 Taxing districts/property tx Brown S Govt Ops

2/11/2013

Feb 18 Scheduled for PH Senate  Governmental Operations at 10:00 AM. HB 1798(HFinance)