Legislative Updates & Chamber Advocate Newsletters

We send our Chamber Advocate newsletter periodically to keep subscribers informed of the Chamber’s advocacy efforts, calls to action for the business community, and other relevant news.

Chamber Advocate: March 14, 2023

  • Call to action on transportation budget: Speak out to preserve funding for Puget Sound Gateway (167/509)

  • Call to action: Register your opposition to ergonomics bill

  • Economic Forecast Luncheon set for May 23 featuring Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier

  • Register for Chamber Legislative Day

  • Government Affairs Council: Archived meeting

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3FnHU5o


Chamber Advocate: February 6, 2023

  • Government Affairs Council reminder

  • Register for Chamber Legislative Day

  • HB 1363: Link to Chamber board director’s testimony

  • Sen. Gildon’s op-ed: We must fix the state's police pursuit law

  • How to register your position on a bill

  • Links to your legislators

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3jyQsip


Chamber Advocate: January 23, 2023

  • Calls to action: SB 5217 and SB 5482

  • Register for Chamber Legislative Day

  • Homeless initiative update from Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier

  • How to register your position on a bill

  • Links to your legislators in the 25th and 31st districts

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3Xyo2DZ


Chamber Advocate: May 2, 2022

  • Call to action: Sign on to Chamber letter asking for special legislative session

  • Discussion on crime with CM Hans Zeiger and Rep. Kelly Chambers (25th Leg. Dist.)

  • Economic & Workforce Development Committee update

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3vB3A9K


Chamber Advocate: February 22, 2022

  • Call to action: Register opposition to HB 1837

  • 12@12 Chamber Chat update

  • Government Affairs Council: February meeting archive

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3542nxf


Chamber Advocate: January 31, 2022

  • EDB Excellent 10 Award for Chamber

  • CEO sign ons: Amendment to HB 2026; support of HB 1819

  • AWB editorial: More work to be done on Long Term Care Tax

  • Pierce Co. Professional Services Roster

  • How to register support or opposition to bills

  • Links to subscribe to your representatives in the 25th and 31st Leg. Districts

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3IVpEjw


Chamber Advocate: January 6, 2022

  • ICYMI: View archived recording of December Legislative Breakfast

  • ICYMI: View archived recording of January GAC meeting

  • Weigh in on Chamber Legislative Priorities for 2022

  • Link to pre-filed bills

  • Links to subscribe to your representatives in the 25th and 31st Leg. Districts

  • Employee Retention Credit overview

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3FYKpcO


Chamber Advocate: November 23, 2021

  • Legislative Breakfast: Dec. 7

  • Mingle & Jingle Public Officials Reception: Dec. 8

  • U.S. Chamber sign-on letter: Opposition to Reconciliation Bill

  • AWB sign-on letter: Opposition to Long-Term Care tax

  • Congratulations newly elected & re-elected officials

  • We bid adieu to outgoing Sumner Mayor Bill Pugh

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/30VmxHe


Chamber Advocate: April 1, 2021

  • Call to action: Register support for transportation funding (Puget Sound Gateway Project)

  • Meet & Greet with Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland

  • Government Affairs Committee next week with an update from Port of Tacoma

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/2PvbuPI


Calls to Action: March 12, 2021

Please take a moment to speak out in opposition against two MAJOR bills gaining traction in Olympia that will affect business. Both of these bills have public hearings on MONDAY.

You don’t have to sign up to testify, or even submit written testimony (although that’s great!), you can simply take one minute of your time to register your opposition for these bills, via the links below. The links below take you to the Committee Sign In - Remote Testimony page, but again, this will simply note your position for the legislative record​​. Choose “con” from the drop down menu to register your opposition. THANK YOU!

Here are the two bills:

2SHB 1076 - Qui Tam Legislation / Whistleblower bill: If passed, would allow third parties to sue employers on behalf of state agencies to enforce against possible violations of labor laws. The lawsuits can be filed on behalf of individuals who may not have any relationship, nor given permission, to the party bringing the lawsuits. This will result in excessive, frivolous litigation that can cost employers millions of dollars in litigation costs with no real benefit to employees. This bill passed the House (53-44) and we need to stop the bill in the Senate. There is a public hearing in Senate committee scheduled for Monday morning.
Register your opposition now

ESSB 5096 - Capital Gains tax: If passed, will enact a 7% "excise tax" on gains over $250,000 from the sale or exchange of certain capital assets. Washington State Constitution prohibits an income tax, and capital gains is not an excise tax - it is an income tax. Additionally, Washington's revenue has increased this past year, eliminating the need to increase taxes when we are still in a pandemic. Many businesses will be hit particularly hard by adding a state capital gains tax on top of the existing businesses taxes that are paid to the state, which is why we oppose this bill. This bill narrowly passed the Senate (25-24) and we need to stop the bill in the House. There is a public hearing in House committee scheduled for Monday morning.
Register your opposition now


Chamber Advocate: March 4, 2021

  • SB 5096 Capital Gains Tax Bill: Call to action to voice opposition

  • HB 1521 support for streamlined sales tax relief for manufacturing

  • Letter to Gov. Inslee asking for Phase 3 clarity

  • Chamber sign on to coalition urging PPP extension

  • Government Affairs Committee archived recording from March 2

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3sTfYOl


Chamber Advocate: January 22, 2021

  • Chamber CEO testimony for SB 5114 and HB 1135

  • Bills to watch: HB 1002, HB 1021, HB 1036, HB 1098

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3rh2r2n


Chamber Advocate: January 11, 2021

  • SB 5114 call to action

  • Archived recording of Chamber Town Hall, What’s Next (from 1/8/2021)

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3bzqX9N


Chamber Advocate: November 19, 2020

  • Letter from the CEO in response to new business restrictions

  • City of Sumner restaurant grants

  • SBA PPP forgiveness resources

View newsletter: https://conta.cc/3bzxDoe