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February 7, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you are enjoying a healthy and happy first few weeks of the new year. The 2023 legislative session kicked off on Jan. 9 and a lot has happened in the first month. Lawmakers have been extremely busy filing, considering, and voting on hundreds of bills already, and we still have till the end of April before session wraps up. In this update, I want to share some of the many things happening in Olympia.

Please Take Our Survey and Share Your Input

First, it’s an honor to be your state representative and I will make every effort to be your voice in Olympia. As we continue to progress through the 2023 session, I want to hear from you. What issues really matter to you? What do you think the Legislature should be focused on? Which policies do you support or oppose?

Please make your voice heard by taking the 17 District legislative priorities survey. Please click here to share your input. I plan to share some results from this survey in a future update.

And if you would like to meet with me in-person, or discuss any issues further, please contact me using one of the methods listed at the bottom of this email. I look forward to hearing from you.

Update on Key Legislation

My First Two Bills Scheduled for a Hearing: I recently introduced four bills as the primary sponsor. One is aimed at providing some relief to the many small businesses – especially restaurants and bars – that are struggling to hire and keep qualified employees. The second bill would benefit the hospitality industry, and the third bill is aimed at protecting people from a specific, but dangerous drug combination. Three of the bills have been referred to the House Regulated Substance and Gaming Committee. The first two are scheduled for a hearing on Thursday, Feb. 9. Click here to watch and click here if you’d like to participate in the hearing.

1. House Bill 1730 would allow, under specific and limited circumstances, youth between the ages of 18 to 21 to be employed in establishments traditionally classified as off-limits to persons under the age of 21. It would make it legal for anyone at least 18-years-old to perform services unrelated to the sale or service of alcohol to enter and remain on premises, but only to carry out the duties of their employment as a dishwasher, cook, chef, sanitation specialist, or other kitchen staff and only under certain conditions. This legislation would help many businesses in Washington that are struggling to fill job openings, by increasing the employee pool. It would also open more job opportunities for individuals younger than 21 seeking employment.

• House Bill 1731 would allow short-term rental operators, such as individuals who rent properties through Airbnb, to acquire permits to offer their guests complimentary alcoholic beverages upon arrival. This law is outdated and unnecessary; it actually dates all the way back to prohibition times. This would be a simple way for short-term renters to build positive relationships with their guests through a friendly gesture.

• House Bill 1772 would make it illegal to manufacture, import, offer, or sell in Washington a consumable product that contains cannabis or any form of tetrahydrocannabinol in combination with beer, wine, spirits, or any other type of liquor in the same product. Mixing alcohol and THC can be dangerous and this bill would make it illegal for products to contain both substances simultaneously.

• House Bill 1794: My fourth bill is aimed at helping innovators. It relates to research and development incentives intended to grow Washington’s long-term economy. This bill would provide Washington with an economic tool it currently lacks, but other states have: a tax incentive for investments in research and development (R&D). The incentive is in the form of a tax credit against the state’s primary business tax, the business, and occupation tax. The amount of the credits would be capped initially at no more than $10M per year.
  
  Studies have found that innovation through R&D has a more pronounced impact on job creation in the manufacturing sector compared to other sectors, including the services and agricultural sectors. Therefore, incentivizing more R&D in Washington will assist us with our state’s goal to double jobs, firms, and women and minority owned manufacturing firms by 2030. HB 1794 is waiting for a public hearing in the House Finance Committee.

Trust Land Transfer Program: I’m also excited to be working on House Bill 1460, which would formalize in statute a trust land transfer program run by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). DNR has a duty to log timber on its lands for the benefit of school construction. The state has been funding these land transfers for years through the budget without a statutory program. This bill would create a formal program and process for outlining which properties they want to divest and which ones they are looking at acquiring.

Essentially, it would give the DNR a way to move timberlands that are underperforming – or don’t have much value – out of its portfolio and acquire new, more productive lands with higher timber value.

This bill is important to me and many of my constituents. I would’ve been proud to be the primary sponsor of this bill, but I’m also happy to be the number two sponsor. And most importantly, I want to see it continue moving forward. It is currently scheduled for a hearing in the House Capital Budget Committee on Thursday, Feb. 9. Click here to watch or here to participate.

Legislative Profile

I recently recorded a legislative profile on TVW. You can watch this short video to learn a little more about me, my background, and my focus as a state lawmaker. Click here to watch.

Thank You for Your Support

As your elected public servant, I’m honored to represent you and be your voice in Olympia for the 17th District. Please feel free to reach out to me to share your input as this session progresses. You can reach me using the contact info below. I’m always open to hearing your input in person, as well. Just contact my legislative assistant to set up an appointment. I look forward to meeting with you.

It’s an honor to serve you!

Kevin Waters