First Decking Update

/

“First Decking” is on Friday, March 5th. This is the deadline when bills must emerge from all their committees and be “decked” to ensure a mandatory 48 hour final review period for legislators to read amendments made to bills before they vote on third reading. After third reading, the bills crossover to the other chamber and have to make it through another set of bill hearings. Below is an update on some of our top priorities:

Top good bills we support that are still alive:

  • HB554 and SB474 - SEA LEVEL RISE SELLER DISCLOSURE (SUPPORT) - Requires that mandatory seller disclosures in real estate transactions include identification of residential real properties lying within the sea level rise exposure area.

  • HB243 - SEA LEVEL RISE PLANNING (SUPPORT) - Requires all state agencies to identify infrastructure susceptible to sea level rise hazards, assess mitigation options, identify department point of contacts for statewide sea level rise coordination, and submit reports.

  • HB552 and SB920 - ESTABLISHES 100% CLEAN GROUND TRANSPORTATION GOALS (SUPPORT) - Sets statewide goals for state and county public vehicle fleets to transition to clean transportation vehicles.

  • SB512 - EXPANDS SNAP DOUBLE BUCKS FOR LOCAL FOOD PURCHASES (SUPPORT) - Expands the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program’s “Double Up Food Bucks” initiative to incentivize the purchase of local produce and proteins for low-income beneficiaries.

Top bad bills we oppose that are still alive:

  • HB686- ANTI-PROTESTER BILL (OPPOSE) - This bill would make it a Class C Felony to protest at energy infrastructure sites.

  • SB1237 - CUTS THE SOLAR TAX CREDIT (OPPOSE) - Reduces the renewable energy technologies income tax credit by 50%. Learn more here.

  • HB469 - TRANSFERS 93,000 ACRES OF WATERSHED “PASTURELANDS” FROM DLNR TO DOA (OPPOSE) - Requires that agricultural lands under the jurisdiction of the department of land and natural resources be transferred to the department of agriculture not later than 12/31/2023.

  • SB137 - WEAKENS THE STATE LAND USE COMMISSION’S AUTHORITY (OPPOSE) - Authorizes county land use decision-making authorities to amend district boundaries and reclassify agricultural lands to the urban district for the development of “affordable” housing.

  • HB497 - “STREAMLINING” COUNTY DEVELOPMENTS - Prohibits the counties from requiring, as part of a county zoning ordinance or county rule, a developer with more than one residential unit to obtain the approval of any state agency unless that approval is expressly required by law.