Our all-volunteer Board of Trustees is made up of incredible folks from across the state who are united under common support for the conservation of Washington’s lands and waters. They give their time, expertise, and passion to make our organization stronger. Each year, we bring them together for meetings with lawmakers to discuss TNC priorities and further our advocacy efforts.
This year’s lobby day was especially energized by being back on the capitol campus in person for the first time since 2019. On March 15th, Trustees met with Governor Inslee, 16 lawmakers from both chambers and both sides of the aisle, and wrapped the day up at a reception with Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz.
The opportunity to sit down with lawmakers and learn more about their policy goals and approaches, and for trustees to share their perspectives, is extremely impactful to our work. Conversations spanned TNC’s legislative priorities, successes from long-term work like Floodplains by Design, updates like the recent hire of our new burn boss, and where we hope to go in the coming years. Trustees and staff appreciate the depth of the conversations with legislators and the awareness many of them had of our ongoing work across the state.
A common thread throughout the day was the importance of engaging local community members and bringing in all impacted voices when crafting policy solutions. This came up especially when talking about HB 1216, a priority bill to expand clean energy development while taking local needs into consideration. In service of deeper engagement, we applaud the efforts of legislators in expanding the ways the public can take part in the legislative session, like the new remote testimony option they implemented during the pandemic and have since made a permanent feature.
At this point in the legislative session, we’re thrilled that our policy priorities for clean energy expansion and climate resiliency planning have passed through both chambers and are on their way to the Governor’s desk for signature. The next major hurdle for the Legislature is to negotiate the final state budgets. Trustees were able to lift up some of our top priority investments for both the operating and capital budgets, including the most effective use of Climate Commitment Act revenue, and we’ll be continuing those conversations in the final days of session.
Trustee Lobby Day is a highlight every year for the Government Relations team here at The Nature Conservancy. It’s a wonderful reminder of the real reason for our advocacy and policy efforts: to strengthen the relationship between people and nature so that both can thrive.
Banner photo: The foyer of the legislative building in Olympia,
© Hannah Fitinich
Washington’s landmark climate law takes effect on January 1 — and you can still help shape it!
This week, the 2022 Washington state legislative session concluded, with a few notable achievements for the environment in our state. Here at The Nature Conservancy in Washington, we built off the achievements from the 2021 session by securing investments and action in key climate and conservation areas.
We are thankful to have many environmental advocates in the Washington state Legislature, but with limited time, we’re calling on leadership to ensure climate, wildlife, and our lands aren’t sidelined as we make it over the finish line.
This year, the Washington state Legislature has the opportunity to pass funding to build green stormwater infrastructure under the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge in downtown Seattle, the busiest freeway corridor in the state.
A clean and just transportation package would greatly transform Washington while helping achieve the state’s climate goals, reducing emissions, and investing in a greener and more equitable future for all Washingtonians.
Read about two major ways the Legislature can help salmon recovery efforts this year, and how you can help make it happen!
Speak up for forests, trees and the people who depend on them by urging your legislators to support the Keep Washington Evergreen proposal this session.
The success of the 2021 legislative session wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership of Tribal nations, Black- and Latinx-led organizations, and voices from communities of color calling for progress on climate justice.
Everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life, no matter where they live, which languages they speak or how much money they have. The HEAL Act is a step in that direction.
The state House of Representatives passed historic climate legislation today.
The Legislature is close to several BIG wins for people and nature — can you help get us across the finish line?
Here is a highlight of our most recent media successes related to fire funding and House Bill 1168, featuring a few of our own Nature Conservancy staff members!
Washington and the world urgently need climate action, and that action must not be taken in a way that exacerbates harm in communities already overburdened by pollution and other impacts of climate change.
Our spirits are high as we pass the halfway point in the 105-day Washington state legislative session. Many top priority policies have made it past the first major policy deadline, known as “House of Origin cutoff,” when bills introduced in the House must be approved by a House floor vote, and likewise in the Senate.
Why do we keep asking you to “sign in” on bill proposals? If you’ve signed in once, do you need to do it again?
Let’s make progress toward environmental justice in Washington with the HEAL Act.
Public conservation and natural resource programs really work - not just for restoring wildlife habitat and functioning ecosystems, but by supporting good jobs that often involve spending time in beautiful places.
The 2021 session - in Olympia and online - can mean a LOT of progress for people and nature in Washington.
Your voice makes a difference. Your actions matter. And there’s no time to wait - people and nature need everyone to learn, share and act toward a better future today.
A few highlights and a big missed opportunity marked the 2020 Legislature’s work for nature and people.