SB5590 – Eliminates the expiration date for the Marine Advisory Council, which works on addressing the impacts of ocean acidification.
Prime Sponsor – Senator Wagoner (R; 39th District; parts of Skagit, Snohomish and King Counties)
Current status – Had a hearing in the House Committee on Environment and Energy February 24th, and passed out of committee. Referred to Rules, and passed by the House March 4th.
Next step would be – To the Governor.
Legislative tracking page for the bill.

In the Senate – Passed
Had a hearing in Environment, Energy & Technology January 19th; amended to keep an expiration date, but extend it to 2032, and passed out of committee January 27th. Referred to Rules, and passed by the Senate February 14th.

Comments –
The original section of the law establishing the Council says that it’s to deliver recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature, but it doesn’t actually ever specify what those are supposed to be about…

Summary –
Original bill –
The bill would eliminate the expiration date for the Marine Advisory Council, which works on addressing the impacts of ocean acidification. It’s currently June 30th, 2022.

The Council’s composed of 23 voting members representing State and tribal government, State agencies, and a range of stakeholders, with invited participation as non-voting members by representatives of NOAA and academic institutions conducting scientific research on ocean acidification. It’s to focus in a sustained and coordinated way on increasing the state’s ability to address impacts of ocean acidification; to advise and work with the University of Washington and others to conduct ongoing technical analysis on accidification’s effects and sources; and to deliver recommendations to the Governor and appropriate committees in the Legislature [presumably about ways to address those impacts], identifying actions necessary to implement them, and   taking the differences between in-state and out-of-state impacts and sources into consideration.

The Council’s also to seek public and private funding for resources needed for ongoing technical analysis to support its recommendations; and to help conduct public education about ocean acidification’s impacts,  contributions to those, and implementation strategies “to support the actions adopted by the Legislature”.

It’s to meet at least twice a year, and accept public comment on agenda items and other matters relating to the protection and conservation of the state’s ocean resources.