2022 legislative review
the advocates were not interested . AWB opposed the measure and the bill died .
HB 1694 concerning logistical processes for the regulation of priority chemicals in consumer products
Passed / AWB Supported
This bill had two separate areas of focus on different parts of the state ’ s Safer Products chemicals regulation process . The first required that Ecology include several types of firefighter PPE which contain PFAS to be included in the final report , due out this fall . The second part made some sweeping changes to the five-year Safer Products for Washington chemical management timeline . These changes would allow the Department of Ecology to start a new program whenever officials wanted , instead of having to adhere to the existing five-year cycle . It also changed the type of reporting requirement the department was required to present to the Legislature .
The first change presented a scenario where the department would have multiple ongoing five-year chemical review plans , increasing the regulatory requirements on businesses . Ecology officials also testified that the current statute creates a considerable amount of workload for just the existing program , so expanding it in this fashion would have also required the department expand funding for this program for new staff to meet the new workload . Since there is considerable pressure for Ecology to regulate more chemicals faster , AWB members were concerned this bill created a scenario where Ecology had as many ongoing regulation programs as they had staff funding to complete , which would have considerably increased the pressure on the business community .
The bill also showed a growing trend where Ecology is trying to shift from drafting formal reports to the Legislature and instead print them in the Washington State Register . The agency justifies this by saying it takes considerable staff time to draft these reports and they do not believe many legislators are reading them . Thus , the agency said , shifting to a different reporting standard would free up staff resources . AWB and its members are concerned that this change would lower the legislative oversight of the executive branch and limit the ability of legislators to oversee the implementation of the laws they pass . AWB opposed the Safer Products changes but was supportive of the ban on PFAS PPE . The bill was amended to only focus on the PFAS firefighting gear and the bill passed with AWB support , passing the Sentae 46-3 and the House 83-14 .
SB 5703 concerning the use and disclosure of toxic chemicals in cosmetic products
Failed / AWB Neutral
Matt Harris , director of government affairs and assistant executive director for the Washington State Potato Commission , meets with Sen . Jim Honeyford , R-Sunnyside , during the 2022 AWB Legislative Day & Hill Climb .
This bill banned certain chemicals in cosmetic goods which were known to be or were potentially toxic . It contained an environmental justice angle by requiring a review of all products sold to people of color to ensure they were not being disproportionately exposed to these chemicals . Overall , the bill had some issues with scope but if the language could match the standards California had established in a similar program , it would be workable . AWB supported several of our members to help get language changed in the Senate . The version that passed the Senate 26-21 was very close to being acceptable to AWB , with some small tweaks needed in the House . AWB was working to secure two final changes that would further align with California when the bill died in the House . AWB opposed , then shifted to neutral and the bill died .
26 association of washington business