We need your help to increase protection for urban and community trees and forests in Washington State. HB 1216 has been introduced by Rep. Ramos and 8 other sponsors in the Washington State Legislature. It is a high priority bill to pass this session.

HB 1216 would direct the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to assist Washington cities and towns and counties in our state conducting  tree inventories and canopy analysis, developing Urban Forestry Management Plans and drafting local Tree Ordinances.

This bill was requested by the Department of Natural Resources and is supported By Governor Jay Inslee. Governor Inslee has earmarked $2.1 million dollars in his proposed State Budget to support DNR’s efforts to increase protection for trees and urban forests. HB 1216 would help the state meet its goals of increasing climate resilience, protecting human health and addressing environmental equity.

HB 1216 is scheduled for a hearing on Tuesday, Jan 26 at 10 AM in the House Rural Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. To stay alive in the session, HB 1216 has to be voted out of the committee by Feb 15, 2021 and then out of the Appropriations Committee by Feb. 22, 2021.

The quickest and easiest way to let committee members know you support this bill is to send them an e-mail via Action Network. We have written a short e-mail draft supporting the bill to which you can add your own comments to personalize the message.  With one click it will be sent to all the Committee members as well as the bill sponsors. 

Submit Public Comments Now!

Thanks for your help.

Steve Zemke  – Chair
Friends of Seattle’s Urban Urban Forests
stevezemke@friends.urbanforests.org

PS – Committee sign in – House Remote testimony-
You can additionally go to the Committee’s website on the hearing to sign up in support of the bill, submit written testimony online and/or testify in person via zoom. To speak you must sign up at least 1 hour before the hearing starts, and if time permits have 1 -2 minutes to speak, depending on how busy their hearing is. Written testimony submitted via this site is given to committee members and becomes part of the record.
Bill information – HB 1216 – Go to this legislative page to see the proposed text of HB 1216, to see the sponsors of the bill, the House Bill analysis, the history of the bill, to indicate your support for the bill, to send an e-mail of support to your own Legislative District Legislators and to sign up to get e-mail notifications of any changes in the bill’s status.