Why are these messages being sent?
Revised Code of Washington 43.135.031 requires that we accommodate everyone who asks to be sent information. Sending bulletins via GovDelivery is the most efficient way to serve a large number of subscribers.

How do I subscribe?
Visit Tax and Fee Proposal GovDelivery sign-up to subscribe.

How do I unsubscribe?
Visit your GovDelivery profile to unsubscribe.

I signed up for the notifications. Why am I not getting any press releases?
If you’re having trouble, it may be that your browser can’t read the email or that your spam filter is stripping out the link. Contact us at OFMmiTaxandFeeProposals@ofm.wa.gov to make sure the issue isn’t with what we are sending you.

If I “reply” to the email, will I get a response?
Not if you hit “reply.” Due to staff workload and spam concerns, this feature is not set up. If you have technical issues, contact us at OFMmiTaxandFeeProposals@ofm.wa.gov for help.

How many press releases does OFM typically send out?
The number of press releases sent each session varies. During the 2014 legislative session, we sent out 452. During the 2013 regular and special sessions, we sent 701. You can find statistics for each session on the Tax & fee proposals page.

Why do I get so many press releases for just one bill?
RCW 43.135.031 requires that an email press release be sent each time specific actions occur for a bill. If a bill moves through the entire legislative process without changes to the public hearing dates or times and without amendments, you will receive an email when the bill is:

1. First introduced, as soon as we have completed the 10-year cost analysis.
2. Scheduled for a public hearing.
3. Passed out of committee.
4. Passed by the house of origin. The house of origin is the legislative body that introduced the bill — the House of Representatives or the Senate.
5. Introduced in the opposite house.
6. Scheduled for a public hearing in the opposite house.
7. Passed out of the committee in the opposite house.
8. Passed by the opposite house.

The number of emails sent for a tax or fee bill can vary from one to 12, and sometimes more, depending on how the bill moves through the legislative process.

Can I limit the number of press releases I receive, or receive releases only when a particular bill has passed the House or Senate?
No. RCW 43.135.031 does not allow for tracking certain bills and GovDelivery does not include a feature that allows you to receive information for only certain bills. It’s an all-or-nothing option. You can monitor specific bills using a tracking service available on the Legislature’s Detailed Legislative Reports page.

How can I comment on the merits of a bill?
The Listserv is not used to collect public comments on bills. In the press release, you can click on bill sponsor’s name to share your comments by email or call the sponsor’s office number, which is provided in the release. The Legislature offers another way to comment on a bill, too. For instructions on using this feature, visit the How to comment on a bill page.

How do I find copies of the bills?
Visit the Legislature’s Bill Information page to download bills and bill reports, get the status of a bill or find additional details about public hearings. This page has other information that may be helpful. If you plan to visit the Legislature or testify on a bill, check out the Visiting the Legislature site for other information.

Why don’t the press releases provide more information about what the bill does?
RCW 43.135.031 requires the Office of Financial Management to determine a bill’s 10-year cost to tax- or fee payers only. OFM generally does not comment on the content or merit of a bill. The Legislature prepares a detailed description of the bill (bill report) if it is scheduled for a public hearing. Because the initiative requires us to release the cost analysis “without delay,” you may receive a press release before the bill report is completed. Press releases include a link to the Legislature’s website, where you can get more information about the bill.

Why are some press releases sent without a 10-year cost analysis?
Sometimes the Legislature schedules a bill for a public hearing before the 10-year cost analysis is completed. When this happens, we distribute a public hearing press release without a 10-year cost analysis. This is done to provide the public with advance notice of the hearing while the cost analysis is in process. We send another press release with the analysis when it is ready. While we strive to minimize these occurrences, sometimes the Legislature simply moves quicker than the analysis process.

How do I learn more about the legislative process?
Visit the Legislature’s Overview of the Legislative Process page. The Legislative Information Center is another helpful resource.